The 'William Dafoe Looking Up' meme features a still image of actor Willem Dafoe from the 2019 psychological horror film 'The Lighthouse.' In the film, Dafoe's character, Thomas Wake, is often depicted with a look of intense awe, despair, or madness. The meme typically captures this dramatic upward gaze, often with a stark, foreboding, or surreal blue tint, as seen in this image. It is widely used to express feelings of existential dread, profound realization, being overwhelmed, looking up at something vast or intimidating, or a general sense of awe mixed with confusion or frustration. Its versatile yet distinct emotional range makes it a popular choice for reacting to difficult, absurd, or powerful situations.