February 23, 2026
Fog horns and flame wars
The Lighthouse: How extreme isolation transforms the body and mind
Fans praise the madness, pedants demand (2020), and everyone’s chasing a ‘monkey pump’
TLDR: A haunting film about isolation and hallucinations sparked debates over release-year nitpicking, spiritual wilderness time, and whether AI “hallucinates” from loneliness. Fans shared real lighthouse docs, joked about a “monkey pump,” and praised Pattinson and Dafoe—proof that solitude, on screen and off, hits nerves and headlines.
The Lighthouse returned to the spotlight, and the comments erupted like a storm at sea. Some swooned over the eerie black‑and‑white psychological horror and its descent into isolation-induced delirium, while the pedant patrol barged in first: “Add (2020) to the title!” Others simply yelled “Great film!” and kept it moving. One power commenter brought receipts with real-life lighthouse docs and modern vlogs, plus a running gag hunting for the mythical “monkey pump.” Meanwhile, a philosopher in the thread invoked ancient wilderness retreats (think Lent) as a mental cleanse—cue debates over whether isolation can be spiritual, soothing, or straight-up mind-melting.
The article itself leans hard into the science: hallucinations bloom in solitude, especially with sensory deprivation; a 1950s experiment had volunteers tripping in hours. The film’s tempest, forbidden lantern, and booze-fueled bromance get framed by researcher notes on oxytocin, the trust/bond hormone that spikes under stress. Fans cheered Robert Pattinson’s frantic range and Willem Dafoe’s feral unpredictability, while clutching pearls over an, ahem, legendary solo scene. The biggest curveball? A techie asked if AI “hallucinations” mean machines need social lives—so yes, the foghorn sparked a flame war about robots. If you want to revisit the madness, here’s The Lighthouse.
Key Points
- •The Lighthouse is a black-and-white psychological horror by Robert Eggers set on a remote island in the late 19th century.
- •Isolation and sensory deprivation in the film lead to hallucinations and mental deterioration for the characters.
- •Psychologist Sarita Robinson explains that hallucinations are common in isolation, especially with sensory deprivation.
- •A 1950s McGill University experiment found isolated volunteers hallucinated within hours, leading to early termination.
- •Stress can increase oxytocin, potentially fostering temporary social bonding, reflected in the characters’ interactions.