15 'WTF Did I Just Pay To See' Horror Movies
6. The Lighthouse
Unlike the other films mentioned so far on this list, The Lighthouse doesn't necessarily have that much of a narrative going on. Rather, it's more of a dream-like mood piece which follows two lighthouse keepers (William Dafoe and Robert Pattinson) losing their minds while stranded at their lighthouse. And in all honesty, the audience might also feel like they're going slightly crazy when watching this horror masterwork.
An exhilarating piece of pure cinema, The Lighthouse uses every technique in the cinematic playbook to scare the bejesus out of everyone fortunate enough to see it. It's got a jarring and unconventional soundscape, it's got bonkers imagery ranging from mermaid sex to killer seagulls, and it's got a pair of powerhouse, brilliantly mad performances from its leads - it is a completely unhinged film in the best sort of way.
As for what the film really means, that's open to interpretation. It can be read in a multitude of ways, thanks largely to the rich array of visual symbols and folkloric references (ranging from the Greek myth of Prometheus to the Rime of the Ancient Mariner) that writer-director Robert Eggers deploys. Anyhow, while you might not understand The Lighthouse you will most definitely feel its gloriously mad vibes, and you'll never forget it either.