Overview
Shadow Play is a 1986 American supernatural horror film directed by Susan Shadburne and starring Dee Wallace and Cloris Leachman. It follows a playwright who lost her fiancé seven years prior. She begins having reoccurring dreams about his death and suffers from writer's block. The film centers around the lighthouse where the tragedy took place. Throughout the film there are many subtle lighthouse effects and references. The Shadow Play within the story itself is literally a timing of each beat after another on the spinning of the beacon light of the lantern room.
Plot
Morgan Hanna wakes up in the middle of the night after having nightmares involving the sudden death of her fiancé Jeremy, seven years ago. Struggling to write a comical play and struggling to find inspiration, she talks to a therapist who informs her that this is all just beginning. In his wisdom he expresses that it's not over judging by the way she is still heavily affected by his death. The nightmares continue to haunt her.
After receiving a heartfelt letter from her would-be mother-in-law inviting her back to the Northwest where the tragedy took place, Morgan opts to face what she's running away from and stays with Jeremy's mother who is also affected by his death as well as her own husband's death. While settling in, Morgan begins to formulate a play about the loss of her beloved and the text takes on an almost supernatural tone. Morgan begins to see Jeremy's reflection in windows and mirrors.
Jeremy's brother John still confirms that Jeremy killed himself as he was the only one present when Jeremy fell from the lighthouse. Everyone has been made to believe that is what happened.
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).