Have you ever watched a movie while resting your head on your hand, or pretending to have an itchy nose, just so you can cover your eyes at any moment? Have you ever been desperate to look at anything but the movie you’ve payed to see? Longlegs was this movie for me, I was squirming in my seat and desperate to make jokes with the friend I saw it with purely to distract from the sheer tense horror of what I was watching.
Longlegs stars Maika Monroe as FBI Special Agent Lee Harker, who is seemingly slightly psychic and has recently joined the case of Longlegs, a serial killer who seems to never even visit the sites of his murders, only leaving encrypted notes behind. Nicolas Cage plays Longlegs, who looks as insane as he acts, with prosthetics hiding Cage’s face behind a terrifying facade, however his signature insanity shines through in the best of ways. Longlegs only has a few terrifying scenes when he is present in the movie, but his shadow is cast across the film’s runtime as you constantly expect him to appear and scare the living daylights out of you. Longlegs is directed by Oz Perkins, son of Anthony Perkins who starred in Alfred Hitchcock’s genre defining Psycho. A film like longlegs could only be made by someone with a history with horror movies, as the extreme tension throughout is almost too much to bare. The characters are frequently placed in the centre frame with a wide angle, featuring a doorway or window in the background, leaving you constantly anxious that something will suddenly pop up to scare you. Tension is expertly woven throughout the movie, invoking other horror masterpieces like Silence Of The Lambs or The Thing.
Longlegs, 2024. Directed by Oz Perkins.
While the marketing for the film wasn’t widespread, as it’s only a limited release, however it was a fantastic campaign, the standout being a video explaining how Maika Monroe’s heart rate reached 171 beats per minute from a resting 70 upon seeing Nicolas Cage in the Longlegs prosthetics for the first time. Ads also featured Longlegs’ cypher text which he left at the scenes of all his murders, heightening the mystery surrounding the film, leaving the audience unsure if it will be a supernatural thriller or not.
Maika Monroe’s performance as Lee Harker is an absolute standout of the year, constantly seeming disconnected from the present scene, hinting at a deeper connection to the case, as well as furthering the tension of every moment. Another standout performance, of course, being Nicolas Cage as Longlegs who is, as usual, giving 110% to the role. Cage has had a bit of a renaissance in recent years with movies like Mandy, Pig, Renfield, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and Dream Scenario, with Longlegs being another award-worthy performance to add to the collection.
With palpable tension and a runtime stuffed with outstanding performances, Longlegs is a horror film that will be remembered for a long time, and is sure to influence future and emerging filmmakers. It isn’t for the faint of heart, but is sure to be a phenomenally chilling experience for anyone that can stomach it.