Longlegs

Movies are meant to ignite all kinds of feelings in you when you watch them, which is the main reason most of us do. Most of the time, you take those feelings with you, but every so often, a movie comes along that leaves you feeling something, unexpected. I am not talking about a good or bad feeling, but more in the realm of: unsettling, like you need a mental bath afterward. That is exactly what Oz Perkins has done with his new film Longlegs, a movie that you won’t soon forget.

The world is not right as a serial killer walks among us, leaving a trail of murdered families. The cases span almost thirty years and are connected by one thread: they all seem to fall close to a birthday on the 14th of a month. The F.B.I. is at a standstill, but they bring in a promising young agent named Lee Harker (Maika Monroe), who might just be the key to solving this case. With the help of Agent Carter (Blair Underwood), Harker starts to examine the clues and seems to have a third eye for the case, discovering things that no one else seems to see. Soon Harker is finding the X’s that mark the spot and getting the F.B.I. closer to solving a case that has eluded them for so long. But just as the case is seemingly on the path to being solved, more puzzle pieces appear, suggesting something bigger than first suspected. What you are left with will both unsettle and disturb you, all while strangely making you want more.

Perkins delivers an atmosphere and character-driven story that is a slow burn, blending true crime aspects with supernatural overtones that are pure evil. Tension is high, and Perkins maintains it throughout the film, from what he shows us to what he doesn’t through the clever use of sound. Everything feels deliberately placed, including the camera, showing us exactly what we need to see while always keeping us on our toes for what might be out of sight. All of this makes Longlegs almost like a physical experience you have to get through, with its oppressive feeling that a dark companion is next to you while you watch. This only adds to the feeling of unstoppable danger lurking throughout, making even the quiet moments feel suspenseful.

Longlegs is not just another horror film; it is simply the best one to date. I wouldn’t call it a “scary” movie, but for some, it certainly will be. Instead, I call it an unsettling experience that will stay with you long after the credits roll. You never really know where the next scene will go, and when you think you do, it will shock you with its choices. Maika Monroe grounds the film, while Cage gives a performance that will revisit you when you go to sleep for nights to come. Longlegs was one of my more anticipated movies of the year, thanks to Perkins and the excellent and clever marketing by NEON. It lived up to the hype and then some, and Perkins has introduced us to a new nightmare that you will not want to miss.