Longlegs Film Review

Longlegs Film Review | Osgood Perkins‘ Longlegs is a must-see for horror fans. For those who aren’t horror enthusiasts, it may or may not work, but the experience is still worth delving into.

Longlegs is the latest film from writer-director Osgood Perkins, who has a significant connection to the genre. His father, Anthony Perkins, famously played Norman Bates in Psycho, and Osgood himself portrayed a younger version of Bates in Psycho II. This lineage has surrounded him with cinema and great filmmakers throughout his life.

This film is not Perkins’ first feature, but it is garnering the most attention, and deservedly so. Prior to this, he was most well-known for The Blackcoat’s Daughter, a 2015 film picked up by A24 and available on Netflix. The Blackcoat’s Daughter involves overlapping themes and is set in a Catholic boarding school. The line “Hail Satan” becomes quite prominent in Longlegs, suggesting some religious trauma that needs exploring. Perkins demonstrated in that film that he is a capable writer and director, but he stepped up his game significantly in Longlegs.

The film follows FBI agent Lee Harker as she searches for a mass serial killer named Longlegs, played by Nic Cage. As Agent Harker delves deeper into the case, she starts to unravel it and realizes she might share a connection with Longlegs that she was not initially aware of. This connection adds depth to the narrative, making it more than just a standard horror thriller.

For those whom the film works, it does so almost perfectly. It stays true to the horror genre and the psychological thriller crime genre while also being unique in many ways. It features haunting, slow dolly zooms typical of the genre, but the score and sound design are elevated. The sound design doesn’t force the viewer to feel fear or show its hand too early. When it does hit, the percussive beats in the sound design are enough to make anyone jump out of their seat.

The pacing of Longlegs is slow at times, but this is highly effective. The film slowly eats away at you, creeping closer and closer until it feels like it’s crawling inside your skin. While this might not sound desirable for a casual film-watching experience, it successfully provokes a real sense of anxiety. Every shot and frame is painted with this anxious feeling, making the overall experience intense and immersive.

The film is set in the 1990s, and Perkins has been outspoken about the influences for this aesthetic and vibe. He mentioned influences such as Silence of the Lambs and crime films like Seven. These influences are evident in the pacing, the composition of the frames, and the color palette. The film honors these classics while also setting out on its own path.

While most of the film is rooted in the 1990s, there are flashbacks to the 1970s, which are arguably the most visually captivating parts of the film. Working with his cinematographer Andres Arochi, Perkins crafted something gorgeous. These scenes appear to be shot in a 4:3 aspect ratio with rounded corners and a grainy texture, reminiscent of old Polaroid photographs, which are also incorporated throughout the film. These shots are visually compelling, making the inevitable scares and violence that emerge from these 70s flashbacks even more impactful because viewers are so drawn into each frame.

The strongest aspects of Longlegs are its aesthetics, slow creeping pace, and the atmosphere of anxiety it creates. These elements work together to build a compelling horror experience.

Discussing the cast, the performances and dialogue are not as strong as the visual and atmospheric elements, but they still contribute significantly to the film’s overall impact. Maika Monroe plays the main character, FBI agent Lee Harker. Her performance is somewhat monotone and withdrawn, likely reflecting the character’s backstory and repressed emotions. While her character can feel a bit flat at times, it is a deliberate choice that adds to the film’s unsettling tone.

Most viewers are likely excited to see Nic Cage’s performance. Cage, who also served as one of the producers, collaborated closely with Perkins to develop the character of Longlegs. This collaboration extended to the character’s aesthetic, voice, and mannerisms. Cage’s portrayal is one that requires the audience to suspend disbelief and buy into the character’s eccentricity. While some might see it as “classic Cage” doing over-the-top things, those who can look past this will find a dark and compelling performance. Cage’s character slowly creeps into the viewer’s psyche, making it a memorable performance.

Blair Underwood provides a supporting performance as Agent Carter, embodying a somewhat stereotypical senior FBI officer. His character dynamics with the junior female officer, played by Monroe, are rooted in familiar tropes, but his performance is solid. Underwood shines particularly in the film’s final act, delivering a powerful line that becomes a standout moment for his character.

The dialogue in Longlegs can be cheesy at times and isn’t always pitch-perfect. This is a recurring issue in Perkins’ work, where the strength lies more in visual storytelling and atmosphere rather than dialogue. However, the film’s technical strengths overshadow these minor limitations, making the occasional contrived or unnatural line less significant.

In addition to the performances and atmosphere, the film features great music from the band T-Rex, with some of their lyrics incorporated into the film. For fans of T-Rex and rock music, this adds another layer of enjoyment to the movie.

At the end of the day, Osgood Perkins has proven himself to be a brilliant director of horror. He has a clear vision and is willing to take risks to push his narrative forward, even if it sometimes seems unconventional. Perkins adheres to many horror tropes but elevates them both aesthetically and tonally, making them work much better than standard horror pictures. His artistry behind the camera is evident, and his commitment to his vision is unwavering.

Perkins also directed a film that is set to come out next year, which should be interesting. Although the full cast isn’t confirmed, it’s known that Elijah Wood is involved. The film is adapted from a short story by Stephen King called The Monkey, and the film shares the same name. Given Perkins’ demonstrated talent, there is a lot of anticipation surrounding his future projects.

Longlegs is a testament to Osgood Perkins‘ ability to craft a horror film that is both deeply unsettling and artistically impressive. It stands out in the genre for its unique approach and the strong, anxiety-inducing atmosphere it creates. This film, along with Perkins’ previous and upcoming works, cements his place as a noteworthy director in the horror genre. | Longlegs Film Review

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