'Longlegs' Review: The 'Viral' Horror Does Not Disappoint
while not as scary as anticipated, perkins’ longlegs effectively fills the viewer with dread and surprisingly, inspires a few laughs - cage is one to remember as he channels the devil himself in this eerie mystery.
There has not been an original horror movie as anticipated as Longlegs has been for quite some time, and for social media scrollers everywhere, Longlegs is inevitably on the mind. Marketing for the newest horror film written and directed by Osgood Perkins (known for The Blackcoat’s Daughter and Gretel & Hansel) has been wildly successful, with cryptic trailers and coded messages effectively fuelling high levels of excitement. How could horror fans ignore a cipher published in the Seattle Times, including a link to a website detailing the killings attributed to the mysterious Longlegs? Interested viewers can still view this website, which can be accessed HERE.
Starring legend Nicolas Cage and scream queen Maika Monroe, who gained acclaim after her lead performance in It Follows, Longlegs follows an FBI agent as she traces the past crimes of a seemingly invisible killer. Clearly taking inspiration from David Fincher’s Se7en and Denis Villeneuve’s Prisoners – a mystery through the eyes of law enforcement in extra moody lighting – this film will undoubtedly satisfy fans of gritty detective work and memorable characters. Unfortunately, however, Longlegs may not fill the shoes of these films that have come before. While extremely entertaining and majorly full of dread, some moments lack punch or even, unintentionally, inspire a laugh.
From the opening scene, the viewer is sold, following a little girl as she comes across a trespasser on her lawn – a friend of a friend, perhaps? Set in 1990s Oregon, FBI agent Lee Harker (Monroe) is assigned a case involving a series of murder-suicides, all which have featured a cipher on scene, signed by Longlegs. With no DNA or leads to speak of, Harker relies on her eerily accurate intuition to piece together clues and track down the note-writer (Cage), thought to be somehow responsible for tens of killings without being physically present. Ideally, this is a movie to go into blind, so knowing less about the plot is likely best for potential viewers; this movie depends on its surprises, leaving a sinking feeling in viewers’ stomachs as they can’t imagine what’s to come.
Despite a promising plot and all-consuming atmosphere, the film’s choice to depend on supernatural elements takes away from the final product. A special quality about many of the most beloved mysteries is how possible it is that they could unfold in our reality; it’s this quality that leaves viewers checking under beds and keeping the lamp on at night. Not only does this film dance with supernatural qualities, but it goes all the way, embracing demon worshipping and dark magic. For the first act of the film, the viewer remains convinced, uncomfortably squirming with the idea that Longlegs-like killers could be lurking, but once the movie completely embraces the involvement of otherworldly religion, the film becomes a little less impactful. This is only exacerbated by Nic Cage’s wild performance, who, as always, promises something memorable. While this film’s spirit channels the ominous and creepy, Cage is larger than life – at times, this adds to the film, but can also detract from the experience, with some of his antics causing laughter instead of dread. His performance is at odds with Monroe’s, who remains quite one-dimensional, a permanent look of trauma and tension on her face – again, this can add to the film, but it also creates a plateaued feeling – viewers heart rates won’t be bouncing up and down as much as they could be if Monroe was more dynamic.
Supporting roles, on the other hand, are fantastic, with Blair Underwood serving hilariously stereotypical FBI agent and Alicia Witt creating discomfort and fear with her every look and move. The cinematography is phenomenal, boosting the film’s impact with changing ratios and unnerving angles. For fans of slow horror that leaves feelings of dread and discomfort, this is a great watch, and watching this mystery unfold will grasp viewers’ attention from beginning to end. Accompanied by an unnerving score and fitting soundtrack, Longlegs totally transports the viewer into Harker’s world. Watching this in a theatre stuffed with people sitting on the edge of their seats is a thrilling experience that shouldn’t be missed. Longlegs unfolds like a nightmare, making it one of the most compelling horror movies of the year, but, like a nightmare, may not have a lot to say beyond a creepy feeling.
All in all, while Neon’s Longlegs may not be on par with Prisoners or Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cure, it is well-worth a watch. Cage’s performance, especially, will be top of mind for many viewers long after the screen goes dark. Come autumn, the season of procedurals and eerie mysteries, this film will inevitably be added to watchlists everywhere. And remember, Hail Satan!