‘Longlegs’ Review: Oz Perkins Is More Ambitious Than Ever

Longlegs was one of the most eagerly anticipated horror films of 2024. It features a great cast and writer-director, and it was effectively marketed—something that doesn’t always happen for movies in this genre. It has been dubbed the “scariest film of the year,” and moviegoers rushed to the theater expecting to be thrilled. Horror fans have heard the buzz before; is the hype real?

The film takes place in the 1990s and centers on a disturbing string of domestic murder-suicides that appear to be linked to a single murderer known only as “Longlegs,” but no one can figure out how, who, or why. After an incident demonstrating her high level of intuition, FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe: It Follows, Watcher) is assigned to the gruesome investigation. Together with her boss, Agent Carter (Blair Underwood: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Sex and the City), they work to solve a more intricate and personal case than anyone could have predicted.

Filmmaker Oz Perkins (The Blackcoat’s Daughter, Gretel & Hansel) is a master at establishing a gorgeously dreary, oppressive atmosphere. Although I was viewing during Texas July, the snow-laden flashbacks of a young girl meeting Longlegs (Nicolas Cage) chilled my spine. Perkins uses the ordinariness of a scene to great advantage, as does cinematographer Andres Arochi. Elvis Perkins’ score and the outstanding work of the entire sound department help with this. The film’s beautifully shot scenes and audio are reasons enough for watching Longlegs on the big screen.

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The movie is divided into three acts, each denoted by a title card, and it can feel like three different movies. This isn’t always advantageous to the film. There isn’t enough time to develop the plot fully because it has many components. What begins as a cat-and-mouse game reminiscent of Silence of the Lambs ends up exploring themes of demonic possession, satanism, clairvoyance, and eerie lifelike dolls. While all of these elements can make for great horror, the story loses impact when it keeps changing before finishing its thought.

Longlegs shines brightest in the film’s first half as Agent Lee and Agent Carter work the case. The mystery is riveting as we see Lee connect the dots in her own unique way. Maika Monroe is an outstanding actress who gave an impeccable performance. Agent Lee is painfully awkward in an endearing way, making her seem too timid to handle an investigation of this complexity. Monroe effectively balances those all-too-relatable qualities with boldness and strength.

Blair Underwood was an excellent casting choice for Monroe’s co-star. He helps advance her character without taking over the scene, which could have been easy given that Agent Carter is the complete opposite of Lee. Underwood is commanding yet understands when to dial back and let Monroe shine. Alicia Witt (Urban Legend, Orange Is the New Black) is also captivating as Lee’s mother, Ruth Harker. Her performance is based on Witt’s ability to tell a tale, and she is riveting.

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Of course, there is Nicolas Cage, the legend himself. He gives an outrageous performance as the movie’s titular antagonist, complete with lip and cheek fillers, a white wig, and thick pale makeup. We all know by now that Cage adds his own flair to his work, which is one of the reasons we love him. Does that aesthetic work with this atmospheric movie? Not exactly. It was hard to stay in the moment as he came in like a manic, Satan-worshiping cartoon character. Still, Cage delivers an entertaining performance. He accomplishes exactly what he came to do, but it could have been more effective in the ideal situation. However, it’s simply too much for an already-packed film and doesn’t allow for many scares.

Longlegs has many of the elements we want in a horror movie, but its overall lack of focus keeps it from being a home run. Still, Oz Perkins deserves kudos for remaining true to his ambitious self. Bravo to Neon’s marketing team, too; it’s always wonderful to see horror films do well at the box office.

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Fuente: https://www.horrorgeeklife.com/2024/07/17/longlegs-review-oz-perkins/