You seriously have to love what A24 is able to put out time and time again. The studio pushes the boundaries of cinema with their collection of films, which are directed by visionaries and great storytellers.

Take for instance Robert Eggers, the man behind this year’s The Lighthouse. Shot entirely in black and white, this maritime fantasy horror is also a dark comedy that delves into the madness that two lighthouse men, played by Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, go into when they find themselves seeing strange and mysterious things on a remote New England island in the 1890s.

A24 has released a new trailer for the film, and you can check it out below.

Described as a dark comedy, The Lighthouse is yet another period piece from Eggers. His previous film, The Witch, took place in 1630 New England, where panic and despair envelops a farmer, his wife, and their children when youngest son Samuel suddenly vanishes. The Lighthouse seems to walk a similar path, as it is another period piece that utilizes its setting to create a scary tone.

Here is the very brief and very vague plot synopsis:

From Robert Eggers, the visionary filmmaker behind modern horror masterpiece The Witch, comes this hypnotic and hallucinatory tale of two lighthouse keepers on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s.

Sure, the two engaging in a battle of “what” may look and sound funny, but it’s really getting into the madness of this “remote and mysterious New England island.” I mean, there are large squids, birds, and decaying bodies. Additionally, the film’s setting tells us that Eggers doesn’t give any of the cast a lot of room to work with. The tight quarters can only add to the madness and break down of the character’s psyche. Not only that, but the lack of light sets the tone for this creepy film.

My only problem with The Witch was that I went into it with the wrong mindset. I thought it would be one of those horror films filled with generic jump scares. However, after another viewing, I’ve come to discover that it’s a slow-burning, tension-building film that uses its setting to create a new take on the genre.

In a way, The Lighthouse feels the same way, with Eggers using the film’s setting to set the haunting tone, which is all captured beautifully by cinematographer Jarin Blaschke.

A24 has scheduled The Lighthouse for an October 18, 2019, release.

If you missed it, you can also find a previously released trailer below.

Trailers

[Source: A24 YT]