Longlegs starring Maika Monroe and directed by Osgood Perkins is a chilling psychological thriller with an unforgettable performance by Nicholas Cage.
Opening with the shot of a quiet house on a cold winter day, we see a car parked at a distance. There’s a little girl in the house. The car catches her eye and she steps out to take a closer look. The car’s empty. On her way back into the house, a tall presence appears behind her. Talking to her now, the person is dressed in all white. As this chilling scene unfolds, it builds the anticipation that carries us for the rest of the film.
Maika Monroe stars as Lee Harker, an FBI newbie who has a special talent for hunting killers. Her boss, Agent Carter (a reliable veteran of film and TV, Blair Underwood), wants to know what makes her tick. He can use her skills on a long-unsolved case—the case of Longlegs, a serial killer that kills entire families, following a strange pattern. You decode the pattern, you catch the killer.
As Lee follows Longlegs’ dangerous trail, we discover Lee’s personality. She is awkward, and asocial and has a distant relationship with her mother (Alicia Witt, in a solid performance). Writer-director Osgood Perkins (son of the legendary Anthony Perkins) has emulated Lee much like Jodie Foster from The Silence of the Lambs, minus the charm. Playing Lee with utmost sincerity, Monroe has added another unforgettable horror movie performance to her filmography.
With music, cinematography and scenes, Longlegs sets a slow pace. It’s atmospheric, and the atmosphere is creepy and unsettling. With long, silent takes, Perkins gives it a realistic but eerie feel. Hence, when the scares come, they have a unique bite. And the best scares are brought by Nicholas Cage’s portrayal of Longlegs. This is a performance that can go head-to-head with the best in cinema. Cage is hiding so deep in the role that you don’t see, hear or sense him at all. You may have seen Cage act crazy in front of a camera before but nothing will prepare you for Longlegs.
Longlegs’ character on the page doesn’t seem as exceptional as he is, in his visible form. He looks like an old, out-of-shape rock musician who completely lost his marbles. Seeing someone look like that in person, you’d be advised to run in the opposite direction. As fast as possible.
The mystery that’s at the core of the movie may not satisfy all viewers. It may seem traditional, in a sense. What elevates the movie though, is its style and mood. While the third act doesn’t deliver on the promise of the first, it still gives us several scenes that refuse to leave our minds.
A surprise hit, Longlegs made ten times its budget, ultimately reaching the $100 million mark. With this movie, Osgood Perkins is on his way to being one of the most sought-after genre directors right now. Longlegs is an exciting and arresting experience that horror movie fans will enjoy. And if you are a Nicholas Cage fan, you absolutely cannot miss this one.
Longlegs – ‘Cuckoo! There she is, the Almost Birthday Girl! Oh, uh but, it seems I wore my long legs today. What happens if I…?’