It's hard to determine if decency or disappointment will win in my head. I want to like this movie, but it was a bit too corny. I do enjoy Poe and I do enjoy low budget movies and like to give them a chance. I'm just so conflicted on this one. Would I watch it again? Quite possibly. Not a complete waste of time. Just odd.

LIGHT HOUSE KEEPER is an indie horror flick based on an unfinished story by the master of horror, Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a guy who gets a job at a remote lighthouse only to find himself haunted by the supernatural denizens dwelling therein. Attempts to give the film a period look and feel don't really pay off, but the one trump card is the presence of the great Vernon Wells in the cast. Wells was, of course, the villain of MAD MAX 2: THE ROAD WARRIOR and COMMANDO back in the day, and he's the perfect fit here as the salty sea dog. Sadly, he's the only decent thing about this.

Love Edgar Allan Poe, from reading his timeless stories and the Roger Corman and Vincent Price films where the best of them were creepy and entertaining. Based on an unfinished short story, 'Edgar Allan Poe's Lighthouse Keeper' intrigued me with a great concept and the reviews here were nowhere near as bad as feared.

Especially when the rating was very low, which from personal experience recently has not been a good sign. Most of my recent low-budget viewings with low rating and mediocre to terrible reviews have been as bad and in some cases even worse. But I went with my gut instinct and saw 'Edgar Allan Poe's Lighthouse Keeper' anyway because it did seem like it would be one of my better recent low-budget viewings. And it actually was, not perfect and the potential is not completely lived up to but in no way is it wasted.

Starting with the good things, Vernon Wells is great and generally the main performers were better than average. The music is both quirky and ominous and the direction when the film gets going is assured. 'Edgar Allan Poe's Lighthouse Keeper' wisely plays it straight with a little tongue-in-cheek going on and appreciated and admired the more ambitious storytelling when the action properly kicked in.

The characters were not as annoying as feared and don't make as many frustrating and illogical decision making like some films seen recently did (this is always also including bigger budget films that were box office successes if variable critically). Parts are creepy and there is are a few fun set pieces. The threat actually has personality and generated creepiness.

Low budget however does show, the film did need a grander and more elaborate setting while the photography can be too claustrophobic and the effect ropy at best. The dialogue has a lot of cheese and awkwardness and the secondary cast are wooden and some of the chemistry bland.

As said, 'Edgar Allan Poe's Lighthouse Keeper' can drag and the first third is really uneventful and makes one want to bail. Then there is the ending which is rushed and on the wrong side of silly.

Overall, better than expected though very flawed still. 6/10 Bethany Cox