The summer of 2024 was one dominated by horror films. Horror ‘flicks like “Maxxxine,” “A Quiet Place Day One,” and “Alien: Romulus” all ruled the box office, but one horror film stood out. From the minute the first teaser dropped, “Longlegs” led conversations online. Horror fans everywhere raved about the quality of the trailers and impatiently awaited its release. The anticipation for the film was seemingly incomparable to any other horror movie release of the summer.
“Longlegs” is a horror-thriller film directed by Oz Perkins and released on July 12, 2024. The film stars Maika Monroe as Detective Lee Harker, a quick-witted FBI agent who has recently been assigned a new case. Under the mentorship of an older detective and haunted by her childhood, Harker works to find a chilling serial killer and satanist: Longlegs.
Portrayed by Nicholas Cage, Longlegs has been responsible for one family annihilation on the same day each month, and if Harker is unable to uncover his identity another family will fall victim. As she delves further into the mystery, it becomes apparent that Harker has a connection to the killer and there are supernatural forces at play.
The beginning of the film was a fantastic strong thriller with elements of horror and the supernatural. As the film progressed, it left the thriller behind and fully committed to being a horror. This is where the film’s problems began, with the most prevalent being the revelation of Longlegs’ appearance.
Described by filmmakers and advertised as being something so horrific that actors on set experienced carnal terror just by looking at him, the audience awaited the reveal of Longlegs’ face in fear. The disappointment when he was shown to look like a glam rocker with poorly executed plastic surgery was the scariest part of this reveal.
While Cage’s performance was fantastic, his facial prosthetics were straight out of an SNL sketch about a cheap facelift. All of the dread and horror surrounding the killer instantly disappears when his face is revealed. All scenes with Longlegs – he being the film’s center – turn into pure comedy. The Longlegs character has become a comedic figure on the internet, with what was intended to be skin- crawling scenes turning into popular jokes. It does not help how the film’s marketing team ran a media campaign solely centered on the vile appearance of Cage’s character. It was impossible to open TikTok or YouTube without being flashed a video containing the beating heart rates of those who had seen Cage in the prosthetics. In a way, the advertising team behind “Longlegs” set themselves up for failure by promising far too much. It was said to be full of jumpscares that would keep one up at night, a scream-inducing movie- going experience. This led to disappointment when no screams were heard in the theater, but instead a few giggles filled the dark room when Longlegs began to burst into song in his car for no apparent reason.
The movie itself was not unenjoyable, it is like a demonic “Silence of the Lambs.” There were jump scares here and there, but nothing remarkable. The movie was at its best when Detective Lee Harker follows clues to uncover who Longlegs is and why he is annihilating families on the same day each month. The unknown and anticipation that is built in the rising action of the movie makes for a thrilling watch – before Longlegs’ face is revealed – and is perfectly tense and unnerving. It feels like one long breath-hold.
The cinematography stands out above all things in the film. Each shot creates a chilling and ominous feeling. Set in 1970s Oregon, the scenery takes on a rural gothic feeling. The atmosphere is unnerving before the actors even step foot on screen. The dim lighting and gloomy skies do not allow for even a second of relief.
While it does fall into horror cliches in the second half, the first half of the movie is unique. It follows a demonic theme, often hinting at involvement with the devil, and it does this without ever following a religious theme or showing any religious imagery. A black veiled figure can be seen in the background of many scenes, hinting towards the presence of Satan. “Longlegs” depicts Satan not as the usual red man with horns, but as an ambiguous presence.
Though “Longlegs” falls short in executing an appalling villain and a lasting effect of terror on viewers, it is overall a satisfying movie experience. It has its shortcomings, but it is an entrancing and unnerving thriller. Viewers are left questioning everything they just watched and filled with a feeling of utter dread.
