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Robert Pattinson has been working on off-beat and independent projects ever since his stint with the blockbusterTwilightfranchise ended. The actor has made it a point to explore various genres and upcoming filmmakers who do not confine themselves to mainstream sensibilities. One such experiment was his filmThe Lighthousewith director Robert Eggers.
Pattinson starred as a light-house keeper stranded along with Willem Dafoe’s Thomas Wake in the horror-esque film. The film had many surreal and weird elements as is the case in all of Eggers’ films. Though Robert Pattinson had done his fair share of ‘weird’ films, Eggers’ ambiguity reportedly irked him to the next level.
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Robert Pattinson Was Frustrated With Robert Eggers OnThe Lighthouse
Robert Eggersis known for his surrealist horror imagery which blurs the lines between what is real and what is not. His debut featureThe Witchwas lauded upon its release for being a horror film that creates fear through its atmosphere and adding psychological conflict. Eggers’The Lighthousetoo blends multiple genres to give an ambient experience.
WhileTenetstar Robert Pattinson loved the work of Eggers onThe Witch, he mentioned that the lack of definitive answers from Eggers would frustrate him a lot. Since the film was a psychological exploration of the characters while also being a survival drama, Pattinson revealed that he needed many answers to make sure he got the emotion right.
However, Robert Eggers did not provide him with any, and Pattinson was left wondering. He said in an interview withIndieWire,
“I’d want things to be explicit in the beginning and I’d ask Robert all these questions like, ‘Is this in my mind or his?’…I would come up with a bunch of concepts and would blather away at Robert for ages and I would ask, ‘Which one is it?’ and he would say, “Kind of all of them.’”
Pattinson mentioned that he gradually understood what Eggers wanted to say without needing specific answers and then could give an honest performance.
Also read:Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart Were Horrified By Twilight Director After She “Warned” Them Not To “Get Involved”
What Is Robert Pattinson’sThe LighthouseAbout?
Since his time on the young-adult romance filmTwilight,Robert Pattinsonhas been avoiding the blockbuster realm and has worked hard to establish himself as a ‘serious’ actor. TheHarry Potterstar has worked with acclaimed directors such as the Safdie Brothers, David Cronenberg, and James Gray.
In 2019, Pattinson collaborated withThe Witchdirector Robert Eggers on the filmThe Lighthouse. Set in the 1890s, Pattinson starred as Ephraim Winslow, a light-house keeper who is stranded on an island for months with the only companion being the weird former sailor Thomas Wake, played by Willem Dafoe.
Also read:“I just think I’m a bad person”: Robert Pattinson Doesn’t Believe Hating Twilight is Cool After Roasting the Franchise for Years
The film was acclaimed upon release and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. It was noted for its distinct visual style and cinematography, the latter of which got nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar. Pattinson and Dafoe’s performances were particularly praised, especially due to their eccentricity.
When asked how he decided to choose the role inThe Lighthouse,Pattinson toldGQ,
“I’m constantly doing risk assessments, which drives everybody crazy, trying to predict every single element that could possibly happen. And then, at the end of it, just being like: Ah, fck it! I’ll just play a lighthouse keeper who fcks a mermaid! I think this is the right move!”
However, despite the actor’s penchant for weird and ambiguous films, Robert Pattinson was reportedly frustrated with Robert Eggers’ exceeding commitment to ambiguity.
Also read:5 Best Car Chases in Iconic Movies That Will Outshine Robert Pattinson’s Car Chase Scene With Penguin in The Batman
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2417
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
