Longlegs is dark and atmospheric, catching me off guard from what I expected based on its marketing. It unfolds like a chilling police procedural mixed with eerie tones of Silence of the Lambs and The Exorcist III. I am neutral regarding slow burns, but the gradual buildup of dread throughout the film is incredibly effective. Director Oz Perkins ensures every set design is hauntingly beautiful. The choice of how much of Nicholas Cage to reveal to sign empty spaces for suspense enhanced the film and had me questioning as the movie progressed. The simple camera movements with tense scores and sharp sounds made my heart race. Maika Monroe delivers my favorite performance of hers to date. Monroe portrays Lee Harker with awkwardness, fear, and determination. She's an underrated horror heroine. Nicholas Cage shines as well in this unhinged and terrifying character. It's also refreshing to see Alicia Witt in a horror role and delivering a stone-cold preference as Lee's religious mother.
In the film, a series of murders occur six days before or after the 14th of each month and coincide with a daughter's 9th birthday in each family. These killings are done by the father with no sign of an intruder but are always accompanied by a coded letter with the sign "LONGLEGS". The protagonist, Agent Lee Harker, is drawn into this disturbing pattern. Oz Perkins skillfully builds an eerie atmosphere that intensifies as Harker delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding the murders, culminating in a climax with much anxiety in the film's final act. I think Longlegs is a powerful story about family trauma, mainly how it affects children even after their family falls apart.
The production design was probably my favorite thing about this film. All the walls were dark and wooden, with very gray coloring that fits the story, so each setting connects and nothing feels out of place. I enjoy how it captures rural northern America. It makes me not want to take a road trip up there, especially at night. The film is just so visceral and original with its cult religious elements that may scare audiences depending on growing up religious, which can play questioning one's upbringing and remembering fears they once had tied to religion. Even when something scary was not happening on screen, it was still palpable, and you can feel the anxiety that Lee has because you don't know where this case might lead.
This film is a meaningful addition to the horror genre. As someone who watches a lot of horror, I feel desensitized to most things, but this genuinely scared me. I felt like a weight of something indescribably sinister, dragging my body down where I had my legs up to my chest and held onto them in the theater, convincing myself to relax. What struck me most about Longlegs is how it delves into the impact that family dynamics can have on a child. The film's mechanics effectively show how often children become vessels for unresolved darkness within their families. Perkins crafts a narrative rich in atmosphere and suspense, drawing inspiration from iconic thrillers while forging its path of psychological mystery. The film's attention to detail and the unsettling characters add layers of depth, navigating themes of family and the supernatural. Longlegs leaves a lasting impression by delving into human darkness, and the impact family bonds can have on us. Through its storytelling, standout performances, and thought-provoking themes, Longlegs lives up to the hype and invites audiences to confront an unsettling mystery of the haunting human psyche, solidifying a well-deserved place in the horror genre.
Written By Daniel Rojas