Longlegs Review
Longlegs opened recently after a widely praised,
frightening yet compelling advertising campaign that saw the film become the
most anticipated horror movie of 2024. Directed by Oz Perkins, Longlegs
follows FBI Agent Lee Harker (played by Maika Monroe) as she attempts to catch
a mysterious serial killer, the titular Longlegs, played by Nicolas Cage.
Perkins’ most impressive accomplishment in this film is his ability to manipulate space and sound to evoke the same fear and paranoia that Monroe conveys so convincingly. At the beginning of the film, it is established that Agent Harker possesses a kind of psychic ability to sense danger, immediately identifying the location of a criminal through a kind of sixth sense. This subtly sets a precedent for the remainder of the runtime: every glance becomes a warning, every creak, groan or murmur a threat. This anxiety is only consolidated by Perkins’ unnerving application of negative space, the audience is invited to share in Harker’s terror as they are made aware of each staircase, door and window Longlegs could next appear. This technical virtuosity is tied together by his decision to employ physical and psychological violence overwhelmingly in the setting of the family home - nowhere is safe.
Stylistically, Longlegs proudly adorns its influences on its sleeve, with clear nods to Silence of the Lambs, The Shining and Se7en to name a few. However, this is arguably where the film becomes stifled as this amalgamation of ideas feels less than the sum of its parts, borrowing elements from each without capitalising on them: Perkins’ tightly woven narrative unravels, revealing a lacklustre conclusion.
Despite this, the performances of Monroe and Cage contrast
wonderfully, juxtaposing subdued unease with animated, dramatic menace, further
contributing to the oppressive atmosphere of the film. Longlegs is
disturbing, mesmerising and without a doubt, the scariest film of the summer.
Watch Longlegs at Showroom Cinema here: Longlegs
