User Reviews

Longlegs is an interesting film. It's sometimes good, sometimes scary, and sometimes laughably goofy. The marketing for the film was undoubtedly the greatest thing about it. It was so overhyped and well sold that I was convinced I'd be seeing a movie completely different than the one I just saw a few hours ago. The end result wasn't bad at all, it's just.. not the ultimate horror fright fest it was made out to be. The critics, filmmakers, and Nicolas Cage all raved about how Cage is unrecognizable and how he gives a skin crawling performance that you wouldn't be able to tell was him. I'm just gonna break the news and say that you can definitely tell it's Cage and he absolutely makes it a very Nicolas Cage role. He did a great job but I really wasn't quite sure if I was supposed to find him hilarious or terrifying. It was a memorable performance but I was way more puzzled and confused than scared. The rest of the movie is beautifully shot, scored, and paced. The story is riddled with plot holes galore and the twist veers into pretty silly territory. It's a good movie but it's not the scariest film of the decade or even the whole year.

Long Legs is yet another movie that underperforms its hyped and deceiving trailer. I went into this movie with high expectations but those expectations slowly dissipated.

The first 45 min are a great slow burn, the visuals and shots are great, the vibe is ominous, the sounds and music are great, you could feel the suspense in the theater, the next 30 or so minutes though it becomes very stale and the heart rate slowly returns to normal.

The idea of the movie is pretty original I must say, but the second half of the movie is where it misses its mark. Everyone starts to wonder what is the point of it all what is going on, and to finally answer that, the movie literally narrates to you exactly what has been going on for the first half of the film with the murders and satanism . I can think of a hundred different and better ways they could've showed us what was going on instead of literally saying it word for word.

And then finally the ending, while entertaining it is also very abrupt and you think all this slow burn for that? It lost all its suspense after the scene where the writers of the movie literally explain narration style what is going on.

Long legs had great potential but missed the mark, it is worth your time, it is not bad by any stretch but definitely doesn't match the trailer or hyped premise.

I saw the film for the second time last night at the official premier. I definitely enjoyed and appreciated the film more the second time. It's a slow burn. The atmosphere Perkins creates (with his team) is top-notch. In fact, the overall vibe of the film is the best thing going for it.

I can't recall a horror film receiving so much anticipation and hype as this one (especially for a non-franchise horror film), which I fear might hurt the satisfaction for some audiences... especially the die-hard horror fans out there.

Nicolas Cage completely commits to the role and creates a very disturbing and memorable character. But Cage's fame removes some of the fear you need from this character. You always know your watching Cage, even with the heavy make-up and prosthetics.

Maika Monroe does a fine job as the main protagonist. But she doesn't give her character many levels. I wanted to care more about her and her story.

I miss seeing a horror film without knowing much about it beforehand, which seems harder these days. Had I not heard about this film so far in advance, I think I would've been more satisfied by it.

But this is definitely one of the better horror films I've seen in the last few years... and I look forward to seeing more from Perkins.

To say I was excited for this movie was an understatement. I watched all the trailers, the reviews, and was SOOO excited. A somewhat arthouse serial killer horror film, that's also satanic? With NICHOLAS CAGE? Hell yes!

And to be fair, there is a lot of stuff I loved in this movie. The cinematography is GORGEROUS, if you like cinematic films, this is one for you. The performances are all great, I love Nicholas Cage (though I wish he were in it more) and loved the quirky protagonist. The sound design was great, and the concept was interesting. I was hooked by the opening of the movie.

However, the plot and main twist in this movie really dumbs it down for me. As many pointed out, this movie was mis marketed. It's not a serial killer movie, and it's not a scary movie. It's much more of a supernatural thriller, and maybe some would find it scary and disturbing, but I found it to be neither. The main idea of the movie is revealed early on, (how the killings happen), and the end reveal is just... eh? But this movie really lacks on the tension. You don't feel stakes, or urgency, or any tension in the scenes, even when they very much could have tension. I hate comparing horror films, but a sort of similar film with its demonic aspect is last year's Talk to Me, and that film really shows how you can use that demonic concept to have a great amount of tension, urgency in the plot, and stakes with the characters.

This movie feels like a mish mash of silence of the lambs and sinister, but it doesn't really lean into either side of it and lacks the tension of it.

Cage side quests of dedicating himself to any role thrown at him with sheer brilliance and utter passion is something to behold . This role even for him is quite uncanny and depraved unlike anything he's ever done . It's something he can truly say he's never come close to in a long list of projects and that makes this even more of an event to be witnessed . Sure he's been in some bizarre and intense films but this one takes the bar and raises it to new heights.

When I saw the trailer for this I will admit I thought it was another artsy attempt at serial killer horror . Stylish shots with tumultuous sfx and vibrant colors were intriguing enough. Then I saw a lunatic figure with a ridiculously wacky yet terrifying voice. I realized who it was and immediately verified Cage being part of it . I was completely on board .

After seeing this film and being well aware of the hype along with it, I must say it's one of the best of the genre in quite some time .The level of detail and thought put into crafting a more retro style serial killer study /horror is phenomenal here. The director seems to really nail the anachronistic niche. There's an overall feel akin to Silence of the Lambs and Prisoners with foreboding imagery and depressingly strange settings: it's everything visually you'd want for a film like this.

But what makes this whole thing fun is Cage giving it his absolute all to this provocative and twisted character full of nastiness and almost comedic idiosyncrasies. It's one of his most unique roles and that says something. The other supporting actors are solid in their own right as well.

This is easily the best horror film of the year so far so believe the hype this time . Brings me back to a time where psycho/thriller type films were top tier. Cage is masterful.

It is hard to think of a better promotion strategy than that utilised by production company Neon for Osgood Perkins' 'Longlegs.' Their guerrilla marketing tactics- focused on powerful, vague clips, images and coded messages- ensured that Perkins' entertaining, though far from magnificent, horror became a must-watch event. Speculation and interest were at an all-time high before it was released, as no-one was quite sure exactly what it was about, only that it looked terrifying.

The film follows Lee Harker, a rookie FBI Agent who possesses some kind of psychic ability. After proving herself in the field, she is assigned to a series of murder-suicides. They go back some thirty years, and are connected by coded-letters found at each scene, signed by a mysterious figure calling themselves Longlegs. As Harker investigates, it becomes apparent that she has a personal connection to the case, and that the Devil may be in the details.

It is a headily atmospheric, tense film, that is- at its best- reminiscent of 'The Silence of the Lambs,' or the work of David Fincher. For the first two acts, Perkins keeps proceedings running along smoothly, slowly immersing viewers in an atmosphere of sheer dread. Terror lurks in every corner, and the innocuous- open doorways, snow-capped fields- become conduits of horror. Alongside cinematographer Andres Arochi, Perkins ensures that, visually, the film is a masterpiece of the macabre.

Arochi makes excellent use of low angles, giving viewers a stooped perspective, like one was cowering in fear. Skies and ceilings tower over the frame, oppressively boxing one in with no escape, while the muted lighting used throughout casts a palpable gloom over proceedings, heightening the darkness of Perkins' narrative. Danny Vermette's desolate production design adds to this immersive despondency, which Trevor Johnston's minimalist set decoration compounds.

Furthermore, the sound design is evocative and startling; every scene bubbles with an electric undercurrent of unsettling agitation. Sounds don't just jump out at you, they grab you by the shoulders, giving you a short, sharp shock. Moreover, Elvis Perkins- working under the name Zilgi- crafts a score so creepy it would be hard to forget even under the deepest of hypnosis. In addition, it is a very well-edited picture- at least for the first two acts- moving at its own pace through a mire of menace and malaise.

Unfortunately, however, it is not without its issues. Considering the mystery of Longlegs and the murders is so engaging, and so effective at instilling fear in the audience, the last act- when all is revealed- comes as a bitter disappointment. For some reason, Perkins suddenly adopts a "tell, don't show" attitude, treating his viewers to a poorly executed, exposition-dump that infuriates rather than enlightens, followed by a cliched ending that feels like it was ripped from another film entirely.

Additionally, a cynical critic might suggest there are a few too many elements to his story, meaning some get lost along the way: namely, Harker's psychic abilities. Initially, they seem like they'll be important to the plot, though are never really mentioned again after two brief scenes at the start of the movie. One wonders whether or not the inclusion of these barely mentioned mystical powers came from a first draft of a screenplay that was considerably altered, or as a 'get out of jail free card', in case Perkins felt he needed a gimmick to explain his main character's competency at her job.

Whatever the case, they aren't important to the plot, nor to the development of Harker's character, which is- in fact- rather lacking overall. She is not a multifaceted personality, rather a one-note, rather dour person, whose lack of charisma is matched only by her lack of humour. Secondary characters don't have much more depth, although at least Harker's boss Carter gets to enjoy the pleasures of a drink or two, and has something approaching a light side.

Having said that, Maika Monroe delivers a strong performance as Harker, credibly portraying someone totally committed to their job, with nothing else in their life. It might not be a very showy or multidimensional role, but she handles it well nevertheless. Blair Underwood, as Carter, also does fine work, bringing a dryness to the role that is much appreciated. Furthermore, Alicia Witt is great as Harker's mother Ruth, who has some serious issues, and Kiernan Shipka totally steals her solitary scene as a survivor of Longlegs' spree with a remarkable ease.

However, towering over the film and everyone else in it, dominating every scene he's in and most of the ones he's out of, is Nicolas Cage, as the eponymous Longlegs. To borrow Nigel Tufnel's phrase and say he turns it up to eleven would be putting it mildly. Under heavy prosthetic makeup, he looks like a cross between a bloated Marc Bolan and Frosty the Snowman, with the voice of an insane asylum escapee sinisterly muttering a Crispin Glover impression. Cage has never been creepier- nor has he been much funnier- and his performance is never likely to be forgotten by those who see it.

While it is not the pinnacle of terror, as its marketing would suggest, Osgood Perkins' 'Longlegs' is an entertaining, disquieting venture all the same. Although its narrative has its shortcomings, it is still engaging, while the cinematography and sound design is of a particularly high quality. Maika Monroe does a fine job in the lead, though is ultimately overshadowed by the satanic brilliance of Nicolas Cage. At the end of the day, despite its faults, and much like its titular character, 'Longlegs' is devilishly good.

I was way too hyped for this, obviously the comparison upfront (Se7en, Silent of the lambs) and the whole style and atmosphere from the trailer lead to my over excitement.

Considered that this genre is pretty rare (mystery, thriller, horror), it's a good movie. It's slow, however I don't mind that at all. Cage and Monroe are outstanding. It just don't help the rather predictable plot & the huge missed opportunity to give this movie an ending it deserves. Especially the ending is unbelievable, doesn't really tie in and as mentioned above was kinda obvious (however I was hoping throughout the movie that there is a better and bigger twist). I like that the mystery and psychic personality components are absolutely up to the viewer. There's lots of atmospheric stuff in the background which is beautifully visually captured, reminds a bit of 'It Follows'.

To sum it up, lower your expectations, this isn't Se7en, which isn't the point anyway as comparisons are usually not helpful, and still we often rely on them or put too much measurement into it. It definitely entertains.

From the very first scene I was completely locked in. The first shot of Nic Cage as Longlegs gave me quite the fright. The atmosphere Oz Perkins crafts is wonderfully bleak and dreadful, all that stuff people are saying about the dread and scare lingering afterwards is very true - and that is the movie. It achieves its intent. I do not think it's the scariest movie of all time, but it has absolutely earned its spot (for me) among some of the bleakest. 'Longlegs' is a dark tale, portraying a theme of how children live under a veil, with rose-colored glasses, but eventually those come off and you become very alert of the horrors surrounding you and the world. Sure, you can actually find some bits of humor in the film (mostly in how over-the-top Nicolas Cage can be (complimentary)), but past that sense of humor, it is a disturbing and miserably sad story.

Longlegs is the latest movie in the resurgence of Nicolas Cage. I saw it on opening night without watching a trailer or knowing anything about it other than "new Cage flick." I love watching movies this way, I never know what to expect.

This might be the highest quality of all the recent Cage theatrical movies. The filmmaking is pristine. You can feel a distinct style that makes you feel uneasy throughout. It does a good job of building intrigue and the mystery had me hooked.

Overall, I found the movie to be good for a single viewing. I was a little disappointed there wasn't more, especially during the climax. And the reasoning behind the killings is something I'm generally not a fan of in movies.

I also see this being marketed as the scariest movie of the decade. Maybe for horror novices. There was a lady next to me covering her eyes at so many scenes. But it was just violence. It's not actually scary.

I still had a good time with this movie. I just wish it had a better payoff or better pacing. I enjoyed Massive Talent, Dream Scenario, and Arcadian more.

(1 viewing, opening Thursday 7/11/2024)

Phrases like "the best horror film of the decade" or "the best film of the year" honestly do not apply to it.

The film "Longlegs" revolves around a serial killer committing shocking crimes, and a federal agent seeks to uncover him.

Nicolas Cage, despite his brief appearance, spread feelings of fear and anxiety throughout the entire film. The role suits him very well, and we can say, "Welcome back, you genius." The actress Maika Monroe excelled in her role, and I believe this is the second film I've seen her in after "It Follows."

The film's shooting style was excellent, with a wide angle ensuring that all the main characters were in the center of the screen. The source of evil and the driving force of the events were very good.

However, the film, in general, honestly did not offer anything new, and I expected it to be more terrifying or mysterious, given its genre. At least something more shocking should have been revealed, considering the events were too slow to reward the viewer after such a long wait. Many films like "Zodiac" or "The Silence of the Lambs" have preceded it with this type of story and appeared better in terms of puzzles and shocking brutality.

In the end, it's a good horror and mystery film, but it doesn't deserve such high praise.

The effective marketing for 'Longlegs (2024)' has made a point of not showing Nicholas Cage, and - while I think there's definitely a risk that it overhypes his transformation just a tad - I'm really glad it doesn't. His first in-character appearance in the picture is suitably alarming and genuinely quite unsettling. While I feel it gets less creepy as it unfolds (although that may just be a combination of you settling into its unnerving atmosphere and the film necessarily becoming less enigmatic as its ominous events occur, rather than any actual failing on the part of the filmmakers), the same can be said for the majority of the affair. I don't scare particularly easily, but there are segments of this that certifiably get under my skin and crawl around. I'd even go so far as to say it's not only frightening, it's one of the more frightening horror movies I've seen in recent memory. Of course, I don't intend to overplay its affect on me; I have a pretty thick skin after all. It's just that I have to acknowledge when a film feels genuinely scary in one way or another because it simply doesn't happen all that often. I don't want to dive too deeply into the experience because it really doesn't go where I expected it to, even if it does eventually rely on some reveals that are more straightforward than you may imagine. With its dread-soaked atmosphere, confidently idiosyncratic direction, compelling performances (Maika Monroe is sublime), and mercilessly uncanny feel, the picture keeps you engaged from the very moment it begins. It's all just a little bit off, just a little bit wrong, and that really gives it an almost insidious effect, with its on-screen evils constantly threatening to seep out of the frame itself. It's a captivating affair that's as thrilling as it is disconcerting, as engrossing as it is eerie. Its power only grows the further away you get from it. I'm still thinking about it, and I like it more and more with each passing moment. It totally eclipses its few flaws (including the fact that its eponymous villain is arguably given just a little too much screen time considering he's at his most effective when his very absence is the thing that most cruelly dominates the frame and those within it) and emerges as a distinct effort with a deft execution. I can't wait to watch it again, which isn't something I say all that often. It's a spine-tingling, bone-chilling, wholly entertaining horror picture. It's really good.

And, yes, it has just occurred to me that I watched this on the 14th...

Just got back from the film. Here's my quick breakdown of the positives and negatives without spoilers.

Pros: Cage is great for the time he's in the film. Great cinematography if you're into visual flare and style. Some decent elements of horror that are very interesting.

Cons: Hardly any visceral horror or gore whatsoever, feels incredibly "safe" for a film like this. Story is really competent and well-written until the very last act of the film and feels like a cliched trope we've seen in too many horror films in the last few years.

Overall, you'll have a good time. It's got moments of pure horror that can be easily expanded on or brought to light more, but the story itself takes a massive nosedive that just felt really jarring and too on the nose as if the audience wasn't intelligent enough to figure it out themselves. Just felt too safe to me to be considered the horror film of the year. There are significantly far better horror films that easily can make Longlegs run for its money and honestly the hype glorified this too much to be enjoyed as it set out to be. It's got great moments that show the potential of what it could have been, but it just detoured into something that everyone has seen already.

This movie from the beginning makes you uncomfortable. It pulls you in and doesn't let go. You keep wondering what's next which keeps you on the edge of your seat. Don't expect a lot of jump scares but expect a lot of tension and dread. The deaths are brutal and feel real. Maika Monroe & Nicolas Cage were outstanding in this! Maika shows how underrated she really is and this movie, people will see how talented she truly is. Nicolas Cage, well the man has serious range and we know that but, I don't think anyone is ready for what he brings to this. This is so far the best horror movie this year and the best since hereditary in my opinion.

Maybe I'm being harsh, but it could've been better. My wife agrees too. I expected to be scared out of my mind from the hype, but most of the time I was bored. The scariest thing was Nick Cage's character (sometimes) and the music. Some scenes were a bit frightening, usually a Jumpscare. But it felt like a whole bunch of nothing. The end gave me more questions than answers. I was more scared during Late Night with the Devil, Talk To Me, and Terrifier 2. The movie was a bit predictable as well. The cinematography was great though I'll give them that. Acting was good too, but overall I wouldn't say it's the scariest movie of the decade. It did give Silence of the Lambs vibes, I like the psychological aspect as well as the editing in some placed.

Really, the less you know about the plot details of this surreal and bewitching film, the better. The first five minutes get you going and you're hanging on until the relentless end. It's a Lament Configuration of magnetic anxiety and paranoia, exactly the thing films in this subgenre need to be. Also more clarity to the story than Perkins previous works. Nicolas Cage is so submerged in the part, his screen time is electric. Maika Moore is perfect for the part and her cipher of a character has us guessing about her and riveted, as well as asking questions about why she tends to make the choices she does. She does seem a little like she sleepwalking through her own life and work and you do wonder about that. While it borrows from different conventions and films, I don't think this is a weak point. Even if you think you have guessed something that may be true there are surprises in store for you as the dread and tension keep building. As the story progresses it becomes less about uncovering the mystery and more about dreading the outcome. I actually had to watch MAXXXINE in the theater right afterwards, to sort of clear my head of LONGLEGS. That film felt like a 80's Movie of the Week by comparison.

Longlegs is a new horror thriller directed and written by Oz Perkins, director of Gretel & Hansel.

FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) is another new recruit. She is assigned to the case of the strange serial killer Longlegs (Nicolas Cage).

In murders surrounding this murderer, the victims appear to have died in separate ways. There is just no real evidence or traces that the Longlegs killer was actually present at these murders. Lee must now find out how the Longlegs killer is able to carry out his dark actions before there are new victims.

They ultimately turned this film into more of a crime thriller, only with a strange murderer. The film is reminiscent of the classic psychological thriller The Silence of the Lambs. This film just has a different kind of atmosphere. Around the last part of the film the film changes genre a bit, so it suddenly seems to have become a different film.

Oz Perkins manages to come up with creative ways with how he frames the film at moments. Sometimes it would even have been better or more creative if he had kept some of these mannerisms longer in the film. This could have made the film a bit more unique.

Maika Monroe gives a good and appropriate performance as the lead. Her character sometimes has some special sides, which are not always explained well in the film. As a result, her character sometimes comes across as a bit undeveloped at times. By casting Nicolas Cage as this special killer and giving him some freedom to make this role his own, they ended up with a special killer. Unfortunately, Nicolas Cage doesn't appear much in the final film. When he does appear on screen, he is only in full make-up. Still, Nicolas Cage seems to have had fun playing this role. While promoting this film, Nicol's Cage's presence was only kept somewhat under wraps.

The film is also somewhat falsely promoted as one of the scariest or best horror thrillers of recent times. This means you can go in with high expectations and high legs, but then leave the film more disappointed when it's over.

I thought Longlegs was spread too thin. It didn't know if it wanted to be a demonic horror film or a serial killer thriller. Had it leaned more into either of these areas it would be a lot better. This left the movie to not really create that much fear, dread, or suspense because it didn't know what it wanted to be. While the score, acting(especially on the part of Cage), and cinematography were really good, the writing held Longlegs back from being something great! It felt like a love child between Sinister and Silence of the Lambs I love each of these movies but I'm not sure how well they combined in Longlegs.