In Murder at the Lighthouse, Jessica Vickers (Skye Coyne) is trying to escape her abusive husband, Colton (Mark Justice). She meets up with Rory (Brandon Brooks), an old friend from college who now runs a charter boat service with his brother Anthony (Tyler Noble). It’s implied that Rory has always had romantic feelings for Jessica and, when she asks him to help her escape from Colton, he agrees to use his boat to take her to Canada.
The only problem is that they sail straight into a storm. While Colton is murdering Anthony on the mainland, a tidal wave is capsizing the boat. Rory drowns. Jessica washes up on a nearby beach where, the next morning, she is found by Adeline (Shelli Manzoline). Adeline takes Jessica back to the lighthouse that she calls home. When Jessica wakes up, Adeline explains that the lighthouse is pretty much isolated from the rest of civilization. The nearest town is a few miles away. There’s no landline. There’s no cell reception or WiFi. There’s just Adeline, the lighthouse, and a goldfish.
At first, Jessica keeps her past a secret from Adeline. But, when Colton shows up at the lighthouse and asks Adeline if she’s seen Jessica or Rory, Jessica finally breaks down and tells Adeline everything. Adeline reveals that she is also a victim of abuse and she promises to protect Jessica from Colton.
At first, I was like, “Yay!” Women have to stand up for other women and I was very much looking forward to Adeline protecting Jessica from Colton in much the same way that Lillian Gish protected the children from Robert Mitchum in Night of the Hunter. However, as the film progressed, I noticed that there seemed to be something a bit off about Adeline. I was so happy that she was going to stand up to the vile Colton that it took both me and Jessica a while to notice that she had a possessive streak of her own. It turns out that Adeline has some secrets as well.
Murder at the Lighthouse is a superior Lifetime film, one that plays with the genre’s conventions and successfully lulls the audience into a false sense of security before tossing a few new twists at them. Skye Coyne, Mark Justice, and Shelli Manzoline all give strong performances. Mark Justice is especially intimidating at Colton, a husband who is not just an abuser but also a corrupt cop as well.
What really makes Murder at the Lighthouse stand out, though, is its ominous atmosphere. From the opening shots with the wind howling in the background to the final confrontation at the lighthouse, Murder at the Lighthouse makes a wonderful use of its isolated and stormy setting. The lighthouse is a wonderful location and the movie does a good job of keeping Jessica and the audience disorientated. About halfway through the movie, I was truly asking myself, “How is she ever going to find her way out of there?”
Murder at the Lighthouse is a bit of somber film, especially by Lifetime standards. That said, it keeps you guessing and it ultimately embraces the melodrama in that way that we all love.
Through the Shattered Lens 