bk’s review published on Letterboxd:
Absurdity, violence, sexual tension, insanity; ideas expressed throughout this film to show the effects of two men being stranded on an island. Robert Pattinson and Willen Dafoe are two lighthouse keepers with an unknown past who wish to simply make a living off work. How the insanity of these men lead to some of the key ideas said earlier, creating a thin line between reality and fiction, additionally being supported by the unreliability of the narrator. The viewer becomes unsure of who to trust, and are left with their own individual thoughts to guide them through this 100-minute picture. Additionally, Eggers uses the black and white, 4:3 ratio cinematography to add a level of depth to this film, enhancing the mysterious atmosphere this film builds throughout. This also adds the uncertainty of the time of day, further thinning the line of what is and isn't known.
Then the mermaids and tentacles come in, amplifying the fantasy element of the sea, connecting with certain lines of dialogue throughout, making the viewer wonder "maybe these things really do exist". Your perspective and how you approach this film heavily influence your understanding of the overall plot. You can trust Howard and think that Wake is bad, or vice versa. Either way, you are still left with a highly entertaining and pure genius film.
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