Lighthouse (1999)

A prison ship on its way to a remote island prison runs aground on rocks and sinks. Mixed survivors of cons and prison guards struggle ashore, only to discover to their horror that another ... See full summary »

Director:

Simon Hunter

Writers:

Simon Hunter, Graeme Scarfe (story)

Stars:

James Purefoy, Rachel Shelley, Christopher Adamson

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Purefoy	...	Richard Spader
Rachel Shelley	...	Dr. Kirsty McCloud
Christopher Adamson	...	Leo Rook
Paul Brooke	...	Captain Campbell
Don Warrington	...	Prison Officer Ian Goslet
Christopher Dunne	...	Chief Prison Officer O'Neil (as Chris Dunne)
Bob Goody	...	Weevil
Pat Kelman	...	Spoons
Peter McCabe	...	Prison Officer Hopkins
Norman Mitchell	...	Brownlow
Howard Attfield	...	Sykes
Jason Round	...	Spitfield
Stuart Callaghan	...	Ship's Mate
Yolande Davis	...	Young Prison Officer
Sarah Wateridge	...	McCloud's Mother

Storyline

A prison ship on its way to a remote island prison runs aground on rocks and sinks. Mixed survivors of cons and prison guards struggle ashore, only to discover to their horror that another survivor has made it ashore before them. Murderous psychotic, Leo Rook, who not only had a hand in the ship's sinking but has decapitated all but one of the island's lighthouse crew. Stranded, with no means of escape or call for help, the survivors must face a night of terror as they know that since they've learned that Leo survived going down with the ship he can't let any of them live and is hellbent on adding their severed heads to his collection.

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Plot Keywords:

rock | severed head | night | lighthouse | person on fire | 

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Taglines:

Evil lurks in the light.

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong horror violence/gore and some language

Details

Official Sites:

Official "Lighthouse" Website

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 July 2002 (UK)

Also Known As:

Dead of Night

Filming Locations:

Cornwall, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$1,800,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Screen Productions, Arts Council of England, Winchester Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The lighthouse is identified in a framed cross-section as "Gehenna Lighthouse." According to Wikipedia, Gehenna is the special section of Hades reserved for wicked persons. In the New Testament, it was a place where children were sacrificed by fire.

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Quotes

Weevil: Excuse me but is there something you're not telling us?
Prison Officer Ian Goslet: Leo Rook.
Weevil: What about him?
[flashback of Leo chained up on the cell of the ship]
Dr. Kirsty McCloud: He was on the boat tonight.
[Weevil gasps in horror]
Richard Spader: Why didn't you tell us?
Chief Prison Officer O'Neil: No one has to tell you anything Spader"
Dr. Kirsty McCloud: I'm the prison psychologist, I'm writing a book on him.
Spoons: Well, two words would sum him up; sick fuck.
[...]

User Reviews

Killer Mime???

The plot is simple yet promising, but it's executed in as many inept ways as seemingly possible. First, the killer is the least scary I've seen in any slasher flick -- he looks like a friggin' MIME, for god's sake! Second, the victims are all so annoyingly helpless, they just stand there and look at the killer like a deer in headlights. Third, the pacing and direction are slow and undramatic -- and when the film does try to get dramatic, it goes overboard with slow motion, soaring music, and extended (i.e. aggravating) sequences where the victim is just HIDING and HIDING and HIDING, hoping that the killer looming over him won't find him. Fourth, the characters are undeveloped; who are these people and why should we care? I was HOPING they'd get killed. Finally, the sound is so soft at times, you can't hear the dialogue... not that it really matters anyway. A great opportunity wasted due to ineptitude.