While many horror films are scary, few can deliver a chilling narrative that stays with you for some time. When a movie manages to create an uncomfortable atmosphere filled with dread, the groundwork is built for a uniquely terrifying experience. Written and directed by Osgood Perkins. Longlegs portrays a startling vision of evil through the lens of an intriguing detective story. Uncomfortable in all the right ways, this is a horror film that won’t soon be forgotten.
Assigned to an unsolved serial killer case, a young FBI agent must navigate a strange personal life in order to combat a threat fueled by the occult. Maika Monroe leads the picture alongside Nicolas Cage, Blair Underwood and Alicia Witt.
It has been a while since a horror film has been this overtly evil. Dripping in a dreamlike atmosphere that pulls you right into the events unfolding, Longlegs succeeds in its goal of creating an uneasy feeling in every scene. Taking its time with each visual, the movie is a gorgeous nightmare thanks to the cinematography from Andrés Arochi. Propelled by Zilgi’s eerie score, Osgood Perkins has crafted one of the most stylish films in recent memory.
While her character conveys an introspective quality, Maika Monroe perfectly performs a pensive individual who is both strong and frequently distressed. She once again proves to be a superstar in the realm of horror thanks to her ability to communicate an abundance of information without speaking a word. Beyond Monroe, Blair Underwood is a surprising standout as her partner and Alicia Witt is solid as her mother.
As the titular villain, Nicolas Cage is stunning as Longlegs. As an eccentric yet pathetic killer, he is given room to be both wildly deranged and effortlessly disturbing. In comparison to the grounded tone of the rest of the film, Cage’s character feels as though he has walked in from another world entirely (an element that makes him all the more scary). Furthermore, his twisted appearance is not the visage you may expect but it is uniquely perverse in a manner that may be silly to some but will no doubt remain etched in your brain forever.
The journey of the film is one that begins as a detective story injected with elements of the supernatural, before bringing its satanic flourishes to the forefront as the finale draws nearer. Without getting into spoilers, Longlegs must be commended for having the confidence to go full force with its underlying threat. This may not work for certain viewers but many more will adore the fact that the film cuts to the core of what makes religious horror so scary. However, the one downside to this is that the movie oversteps the mark slightly in explaining the events taking place. A third-act monologue removes much of the narrative’s mystery and is one of the only noticeably poor elements of the film.
Longlegs is a vision of evil that will likely stay with you for a long time. Comprised of many fantastic qualities and some incredible performances, this horror film will undoubtedly be dissected and discussed for many years to come.