“Longlegs,” written and directed by Oz Perkins, follows FBI Agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) as she’s put on a case to discover who the serial killer “Longlegs” (Nicolas Cage) really is. As she digs deeper into the countless murders, she begins to realize she may be more connected to the killer than she initially realized.
Perkins set out to tell a horror story similar to “Silence of the Lambs” with a demonic twist, and does so to perfection. As both the writer and director of the film, Perkins built out the world and made stylistic choices that tie together the overarching narrative neatly and horrifyingly. The best example of this would be the hidden demons sprinkled throughout that watch over Harker as the mystery unfolds, as well as the killer’s look and personal goals.
Some may call the story predictable, but the reveal of the mystery at the end feels satisfying nevertheless. The narrative spins the tale in such a fashion that audiences enjoy all the pieces to the puzzle, but cannot see the connective tissue until the final act. The dialogue assists the plot beats by giving scenes time to breathe, enabling the audience to really take in certain moments rather than throwing everything at them at once. Beats of dry humor sprinkled throughout help break the tension and eeriness of the story at hand.
All of the performances are great, but Monroe stands out the most. Playing Harker as the antsy FBI agent with a foggy memory of her past makes the mystery of the story feel authentic. The terror the character feels is the same terror the audience feels, allowing for the true horrors of each scene to engage viewers on a more personal level. In one of his more memorable roles, Cage also does a great job as Longlegs.
Cinematographer Andres Arochi makes “Longlegs” stand out visually with wide angle lenses and muted lighting. The composition of each shot prioritizes characters in the middle of the screen. Something eerie looms in the background if they stand in another third of the frame. It’s a unique way to set a tone visually even when the scene merely shows characters breaking down evidence from a crime scene.
The horror of “Longlegs” is not scary in the traditional jumpscare sense. Its terror comes from the feeling of unease and anxiety it invokes. The film never eases its atmosphere, making audiences feel like something awful could happen at any moment. It’s a unique take on horror that doesn’t get utilized often enough in the genre.
“Longlegs” is a nice addition to the continued trend of original horror stories and will cement Oz Perkins as one of the best writers and directors of modern horror. It’s a pleasant surprise for horror and non-horror fans alike and should be seen on the big screen.
4 ½ hidden demons out of 5
