Longlegs Review: Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage Face Off in a Chilling Tale of Terror

Longlegs

Midway through Longlegs, the unsettling horror-thriller by Osgood Perkins (known for The Blackcoat’s Daughter and Gretel & Hansel), we encounter a young woman emerging from a catatonic state years after a traumatic event. When she describes her experience, she likens it to being “between here and there”—a sort of limbo, a gray, non-existent middle ground. Longlegs excels as a horror film, standing out as one of the best of the year, thanks to Perkins’ skill in immersing the audience in a similar state of unease.

Although the narrative echoes familiar themes seen in films like Se7en and The Silence of the Lambs, Perkins adds a new dimension of malevolence that makes it uniquely disorienting. Even as the story progresses and clues emerge, the audience remains disoriented, contributing to a gripping and unsettling experience from start to finish.

Directed by Osgood Perkins, Longlegs is a chilling horror thriller starring Maika Monroe as Lee Harker, a rising FBI agent tasked with solving the mystery of a notorious serial killer portrayed by Nicolas Cage. As Harker delves deeper into the investigation, she uncovers disturbing evidence of occult practices linked to the murders.

What Is ‘Longlegs’ About?

Lee Harker (Maika Monroe), an FBI agent dealing with her own feelings of uncertainty, is assigned to a case involving a serial killer. Described as “half-psychic,” Harker has inexplicable premonitions. A series of killings in Oregon has left ten families dead, murdered by their own fathers under mysterious circumstances. The suspect, known as Longlegs, leaves cryptic birthday cards at each crime scene, filled with Zodiac-like messages.

Despite extensive investigation, the FBI is baffled by Longlegs‘ identity and methods. Harker’s involvement seems to progress the case, especially after she deciphers a birthday card left at her home and identifies patterns others missed. However, the deeper understanding she gains only adds to the confusion surrounding the case.

Osgood Perkins Captures the Perfect Tone for This Haunting Serial Killer Story

Perkins excels in placing the audience in Harker’s shoes, making us feel her frustration as she pieces together the clues. The film immediately introduces us to the enigmatic Nicolas Cage as Longlegs, a character whose unsettling appearance resembles a fusion of Pennywise and ’70s rock. While we understand the method of the killings, the connection between Harker and Longlegs remains elusive, a challenge for both her and the audience.

Perkins creates an atmosphere of dread by using medium and long shots, allowing us to explore the scene with Harker as she searches for clues in the dark. The cinematography by Andres Arochi enhances the sense of lingering evil, keeping us on edge and making us feel as though something malevolent is always just out of sight.

‘Longlegs’ Takes Time to Establish Its Unique Approach to Madness

Initially, Longlegs can feel like a slow burn, divided into three chapters that only fully come together in the final segment. The first chapter’s rapid cuts and abrupt scares might seem more akin to a horror-themed TikTok than a work by Jonathan Demme or David Fincher. Early scenes attempt to unsettle with quick, jarring images before the opening credits, but these scares often fall flat compared to the slow-building tension Perkins establishes later. The film’s conventional scares are less effective, relying on predictable shock tactics rather than the nuanced suspense that Perkins excels at.

Monroe, Cage, and Underwood Enhance the Mystery

Although Longlegs revisits familiar murder mystery tropes, it excels in developing characters that feel both distinctive and familiar. Maika Monroe, building on her previous horror roles, delivers a nuanced performance as Agent Harker, whose uncertainty mirrors our own confusion about the case. Blair Underwood’s Agent Carter plays the conventional cop role but fits into an unconventional mystery that defies easy answers.

Alicia Witt, as Harker’s mother, Ruth, begins as a typical concerned parent but reveals a more compelling layer as the story progresses. Nicolas Cage, as Longlegs, blends subtlety with flamboyance, playing a character who, like his previous roles, is both enigmatic and unsettling. Perkins wisely limits our view of Longlegs, using Cage’s performance to enhance the character’s eerie presence without overexposing him.

Longlegs’ Gradual Build-Up to Its Climactic Revelation

While Longlegs takes time to find its rhythm, it ultimately succeeds as a slow-burn horror film. The final chapter brings the story together, clarifying the nature of the evil and enhancing the film’s overall impact. Perkins manages to make the reality of the evil even more unsettling than our initial fears, creating a satisfying conclusion that encourages a second viewing. Despite a rocky start, Longlegs establishes itself as a potent entry in the horror genre, capturing the unsettling space between reality and nightmare.

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