The Lighthouse (2016 film)


The Lighthouse is a 2016 British psychological thriller drama film directed by Chris Crow and written by Paul Bryant, Chris Crow and Michael Jibson. The film is based on the Smalls Lighthouse incident which occurred in 1801.

Plot

In 1801, Thomas Howell and Thomas Griffith are stationed at Smalls Island Lighthouse to man the lighthouse 25 miles from land in the Irish Sea. After a storm strands the men, they begin developing cabin fever and slowly lose their minds.

Cast

The film was released in the United Kingdom on 8 July 2016 and in the United States on 6 July 2018.

Critical reception

The film has a 71% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes with 7 reviews. James Berardinelli of Reelviews gave the film a positive review stating "the high production values, excellent acting, and strong writing make this a cut above what is often accorded this sort of release pattern". Noel Murray of The Los Angeles Times gave the film a positive review stating, "Jones and Jibson play this material like an intimate theater piece, finding the finer nuances in their characters' simmering animosity". Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter described the film as "tensely atmospheric" and "benefits immeasurably from the powerful performances by Jones and Jibson". Guy Lodge of Variety gave the film a negative review stating the film is "a bleak nugget of Welsh maritime history is given a Gothic spin by British filmmaker Chris Crow, to resolute but less-than-gripping effect".