Ooh, I loved this, thank you, Rebekah! 💕 There’s a wonderful Ray Bradbury story called “The Fog Horn” about a lighthouse and something in the Deeps. I was also reminded of Jeff Vandermeer’s “Southern Reach” trilogy, where a very spooky lighthouse features.
When it comes to more fantastic examples, Ray Bradbury’s “The Foghorn” is obviously on the list, but for friends trying to get into “Doctor Who” but not knowing where to start, I recommend the Tom Baker episode “Horror of Fang Rock.” The supernatural elements are explained as science (specifically, a shape-shifting alien known as a Rutan), but in some ways that actually makes it even creepier.
Fascinating. I had a friend whose brother was a lighthouse keeper. The brother had several bulbs from lighthouses as ornaments in his house. I used to stare at them in wonder.
One of my favourites books (though I have many favourite books) is Seashaken Houses by Tom Nancollas. It's about the rock lighthouses around the British coast. I was given it as a present and I hardly spoke until I had finished it.
I only watched Eggers The Lighthouse recently. It’s an excellent but difficult film I would say. I had no idea there was an opera based on the same theme.
The Flannan Islands case is chilling. I've tried to get my head around it before and it wouldn't surprise me if one or two of them got into difficulty in a storm, with enormous waves, and they were all washed out to sea. An awful way to die. But the isolation and the relentless bad weather and the cold, and the wind wailing like a voice does make me wonder about their mental states... All excellent fodder for horror.
I suppose because lighthouses are in liminal spaces, it gives them an instant sense of the uncanny. Maybe that's why the surreal Australian kids' TV series "Round the Twist" works so well.
As an aside, my dad's dream was to become a lighthouse keeper and study with the Open University at the same time. Unfortunately, Trinity House made all the lighthouses automatic, so he never got to realise his chunky arran jumper and isolation-induced madness dream.
I've been wanting to write about Round the Twist for AGES because it *shaped* me as a child. People can never believe the plot lines when you describe them.
It's a shame your dad couldn't fulfil his dream - but I'm sure he could still recreate the arran jumper vibe!
I *loved* that programme. It was completely mad! I found it streaming during lockdown, and introduced my very confused partner to it! Oooh, you need to write about it!
The Japanese version is far superior imo but I watched it again recently and I think the impact of “that” scene is largely because you don’t expect it so maybe it’s a one time only view.
I suspect you’re right about the ending though on a re-watch there were lots of smaller details elsewhere that I’d missed first time around which gave me chills. And I hate/love the cursed video tape it upsets me just thinking about it, it’s scary EVERY time.
Yes, the American version. I don’t recall having seen the Japanese version. (I have seen “Ju-on”, which is my candidate for scariest movie I’ve seen as an adult.)
Yes, looked it up. Hideo Nakata did "The Ring" (and sequels) as well as "Dark Water". And some others that sound interesting.
The Japanese versions are usually better. "Ju-on" was much better than "The Grudge". It did so much with just camera angles and simple tricks. It let you scare yourself.
This is perfect, as I have recently been thinking about lighthouses and working on a short story. I love the Flannan Islands case, though the likelihood is that they were all killed in the storm. "The Vanishing" is an amazing movie, though I kept thinking how depressing it was and that it could not get worse. But it did just keep getting more miserable. Loved it. I rcognize that "The Lighthouse" is fine filmaking, and acting, but it just didn't speak to me in the same way.
That makes sense as they are so different tonally. I am definitely in the minority when it comes to thinking it’s Eggers’ best film! Isn’t it interesting that the two were made so close together, was it a Covid thing I wonder? All that isolation and insanity? You must share your short story when you finish it, I need some resolution after that Poe fragment!
Ooh, I loved this, thank you, Rebekah! 💕 There’s a wonderful Ray Bradbury story called “The Fog Horn” about a lighthouse and something in the Deeps. I was also reminded of Jeff Vandermeer’s “Southern Reach” trilogy, where a very spooky lighthouse features.
Eggers’ “Lighthouse” is so good!
Thanks so much, Sheila, loads of people have recommended “The Fog Horn” to me, I’ll have to read it!
When it comes to more fantastic examples, Ray Bradbury’s “The Foghorn” is obviously on the list, but for friends trying to get into “Doctor Who” but not knowing where to start, I recommend the Tom Baker episode “Horror of Fang Rock.” The supernatural elements are explained as science (specifically, a shape-shifting alien known as a Rutan), but in some ways that actually makes it even creepier.
I really want to do a horror moments series for Doctor Who, I’ll have to include this one!
Fascinating. I had a friend whose brother was a lighthouse keeper. The brother had several bulbs from lighthouses as ornaments in his house. I used to stare at them in wonder.
One of my favourites books (though I have many favourite books) is Seashaken Houses by Tom Nancollas. It's about the rock lighthouses around the British coast. I was given it as a present and I hardly spoke until I had finished it.
Great post, Rebekah!
Thanks so much Roz! I love the idea of having the bulbs as ornaments, were they not enormous or are the lights made up of lots of little bulbs?
I’ll have to get my hands on Seashaken Houses…
I only watched Eggers The Lighthouse recently. It’s an excellent but difficult film I would say. I had no idea there was an opera based on the same theme.
I’m really glad I saw it in a cinema, its sound design is so good! Definitely not for everyone though.
I love the scene in Edgar's The Lighthouse that was influenced/inspired by the Sascha Snider painting, Hypnosis.
Yes! A very cool image
The Flannan Islands case is chilling. I've tried to get my head around it before and it wouldn't surprise me if one or two of them got into difficulty in a storm, with enormous waves, and they were all washed out to sea. An awful way to die. But the isolation and the relentless bad weather and the cold, and the wind wailing like a voice does make me wonder about their mental states... All excellent fodder for horror.
I suppose because lighthouses are in liminal spaces, it gives them an instant sense of the uncanny. Maybe that's why the surreal Australian kids' TV series "Round the Twist" works so well.
As an aside, my dad's dream was to become a lighthouse keeper and study with the Open University at the same time. Unfortunately, Trinity House made all the lighthouses automatic, so he never got to realise his chunky arran jumper and isolation-induced madness dream.
I've been wanting to write about Round the Twist for AGES because it *shaped* me as a child. People can never believe the plot lines when you describe them.
It's a shame your dad couldn't fulfil his dream - but I'm sure he could still recreate the arran jumper vibe!
I *loved* that programme. It was completely mad! I found it streaming during lockdown, and introduced my very confused partner to it! Oooh, you need to write about it!
I recall images of a lighthouse from the killer VHS tape in "The Ring". (Wikipedia informs me that it was the Yaquina Head Light in Oregon.)
Nice! Is that the American version? I still haven't seen it, I love the Japanese one so much.
The Japanese version is far superior imo but I watched it again recently and I think the impact of “that” scene is largely because you don’t expect it so maybe it’s a one time only view.
I suspect you’re right about the ending though on a re-watch there were lots of smaller details elsewhere that I’d missed first time around which gave me chills. And I hate/love the cursed video tape it upsets me just thinking about it, it’s scary EVERY time.
Yes, the American version. I don’t recall having seen the Japanese version. (I have seen “Ju-on”, which is my candidate for scariest movie I’ve seen as an adult.)
It’s great! Dark Water is amazing too, I think it’s by the same director.
Yes, looked it up. Hideo Nakata did "The Ring" (and sequels) as well as "Dark Water". And some others that sound interesting.
The Japanese versions are usually better. "Ju-on" was much better than "The Grudge". It did so much with just camera angles and simple tricks. It let you scare yourself.
There’s some uncanny ability Japanese directors have to scare the ghost out of you with just a tilt of a camera…
I have seen neither and will try to remedy that. Thank you.
Let me know what you think! The Eggers film is definitely not for everyone but I loved it.
Loved Edgar's The Lighthouse.
This is perfect, as I have recently been thinking about lighthouses and working on a short story. I love the Flannan Islands case, though the likelihood is that they were all killed in the storm. "The Vanishing" is an amazing movie, though I kept thinking how depressing it was and that it could not get worse. But it did just keep getting more miserable. Loved it. I rcognize that "The Lighthouse" is fine filmaking, and acting, but it just didn't speak to me in the same way.
That makes sense as they are so different tonally. I am definitely in the minority when it comes to thinking it’s Eggers’ best film! Isn’t it interesting that the two were made so close together, was it a Covid thing I wonder? All that isolation and insanity? You must share your short story when you finish it, I need some resolution after that Poe fragment!
You probably read this, but if you haven't, it's very much in the same vein we are talking about here. https://talebones.substack.com/p/the-keeper I love her stories.
I haven't seen this, it looks awesome thanks so much!!