His acting partner here is Robert Pattinson. No one can seriously suggest that he and Mr Dafoe are on an equal footing. For the first hour or so, Mr Pattinson's lack of depth is not a hindrance. But the second hour requires a different gear. To my amazement, he upped his game. This could be because he couldn't help but do so in the presence of such an artist as Willem Dafoe. Or perhaps Robert Eggers is, amongst his other talents, a fine director of actors. I think it more likely that even second-rate actors can be brilliant when their characters have to go to the extremes that are required here. Whatever the reason, Pattinson rises to the occasion, especially in the astonishing final 20 minutes of the film. If the experience stays with him and he manages to hold on to some of the discoveries he's made here, he may go on to be worthy of the challenges he's taken on in a career that has gone out of its way to play against his pretty-boy looks.