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Minor spoilers for Longlegs below

The highly anticipated horror film Longlegs from director Osgood Perkins has finally been released into the world. Starring scream queen Maika Monroe as FBI Agent Lee Harker, and Nicolas Cage as Longlegs in the 1990s, Perkins throws audiences into his own version of Mindhunter, if Mindhunter was birthed in the pits of hell. Longlegs fills you with a sense of overwhelming dread as it looms over you with performances and visuals you cannot escape. Buzz for this film has spun the narrative for audiences ahead of its release that it’s one of the scariest films of all time, but does it live up to the hype?

Zero to One Hundred

Right from the start of Longlegs, Perkins has the audience locked in with its eerie tone and drawn-out pauses in visuals. With a haunting soundtrack and cinematography that skillfully builds tension, the film plunges the viewer into a world of dread and unease. Centering around the often quiet and reserved Lee Harker, the narrative immerses us in her solitary dedication to investigating crime as a member of the FBI. It is quickly made known that there is something special about Harker that makes her extraordinarily successful within her work in the FBI. So much so that she is assigned to work on the Longlegs case, a serial killer who has spent decades causing the deaths of numerous families. This pale-faced man, known for leaving notes written in his own coded language. As Harker and her partner Agent Carter portrayed by Blair Underwood sift through the demented clues left by their elusive suspect, the more uneasy and sinister the film becomes.

Perkins has managed to weave a complex story within Longlegs as he not only directs the film but also was the writer as well. His clever storytelling allows the audience to delve deep into the minds of the characters, unraveling their intricate backgrounds and motivations. Not only is the film effective in being extremely tense in many moments but it also plays to crime procedural tropes that are staples, creating a sense of familiarity while offering unexpected twists and turns. Many of its best moments come between the interactions between Harker and Carter, with Carter being the family man wanting to introduce his new partner to his wife and kids, adding a layer of warmth and relatability to the characters. Or having Harker talk shop with him while he throws back a few drinks even though she is not a drinker, illustrating the contrast in their personalities and adding depth to their dynamic. These moments help build their relationships, and show that Perkins not only has given us all the scares but also some great comedic moments as well, creating a wild array of emotions throughout this film.

A friend, of a friend..

The audience is in the know on who the serial killer is, as the marketing labels Nicolas Cage as Longlegs, but this doesn’t hinder the way the film makes you feel terror and almost discombobulated throughout. The pacing of the first two acts is well done, letting the audience sit with the imagery at a rate that is easy to digest. Once the third act kicks in, this is where the film speeds up at an incredible rate and attempts to dump a lot of exposition in a short amount of time. The film goes fully supernatural here and doesn’t let the audience sit with these elements long enough for them to fully take it in.

Longlegs has no shortage of phenomenal performances, with Monroe and Cage being the standouts. Monroe plays Harker with reserved nervousness, speaking only when it’s a necessity. As the film progresses and we learn more about her, it becomes more aware why she acts the way she does. Her work in the final act shows how far her character grows throughout the film from where she was first shown. The moment Cage first shows up on screen in Longlegs is brief and it stuck with me until he is seen again; he is unsettlingly uncanny. Cage brings an electric performance to Longlegs that makes you want to look away with your entire being, but it’s magnetic enough to where you can’t break your gaze. Both Cage and Monroe share a scene where they are in an interrogation together, and that is where they both do their best work. They both bounce off of each other incredibly well—Harker is desperate for answers from the suspect she’s after, and Longlegs is overjoyed to be in her presence for his own twisted reasons.

Bow All The Way Down

Outside of Monroe and Cage, a shoutout has to be given to Alicia Witt, who plays Ruth Harker, Kiernan Shipka as Carrie Anne Camera, and Blair Underwood as Agent Carter. Harker has a complicated relationship with her religious mother Ruth that is handled incredibly by Witt and Monroe. A lot of what makes Witt’s performance is shrouded in heavy spoilers, but she brings a traumatic performance that anchors Harker to her past. Shipka plays the only survivor of Longlegs and delivers a monologue that made me shift in my seat; a small role that is felt throughout the film. Underwood is the much-needed comedic crutch in an utterly dark film, with the third act being where he shines the most.

Enough cannot be said about the visuals and sound design for this film, something that it will be praised for for years to come. Cinematographer Andres Arochi’s winter scenes are some of the most beautifully shot scenes I’ve seen all year. Arochi’s ability to frame a shot added to the overwhelming feeling of anxiety, especially in scenes where audiences are staring through a doorway at an inevitable murder. Paired with the soundtrack by Zigli and sound designer Eugenio Battagila, and Melody Carrillo with Elizabeth Wight, my senses truly never experienced a moment of peace.

Longlegs delivers on the promise of being a genuinely terrifying and emotionally gripping horror experience. Osgood Perkins masterful direction and storytelling immerses the audience in a world of dread and unease, enhanced by exceptional performances from Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, and the supporting cast. The film skillfully melds crime procedural tropes with supernatural elements, creating a unique narrative. While the pacing in the third act may feel rushed, the stunning visuals and chilling sound design contribute to an overall sense of unease and tension. Longlegs stands out as a must-see for horror enthusiasts, offering a blend of scares, emotional depth, and unforgettable performances.

Synopsis & Rating

“FBI Agent Lee Harker is assigned to an unsolved serial killer case that takes an unexpected turn, revealing evidence of the occult. Harker discovers a personal connection to the killer and must stop him before he strikes again.”

4.5/5

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