On Friday, July 12, “Longlegs” was released; the entire theater was packed and all tickets had been sold out. Maika Monroe as Lee Harker, Blair Underwood as Agent Carter, and Nicholas Cage as Longlegs star in the psychological horror film. This film plays on mood and has an incredibly unsettling vibe throughout. Combining flashes with loud heart-pounding noise to eerie stillness and quietness, Longlegs becomes an attack on the central nervous system of the viewer.
Synopsis
"Longlegs" follows FBI Agent Lee Harker, who receives an assignment to find out who the serial killer Longlegs is. Agent Carter goes on this creepy adventure with Lee and it takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a personal connection to the killer. She is shocked by this revelation and becomes determined to learn Longleg's identity.
Highs
There are a few highs in this film. A major standout that this horror film has over others is the proper usage of tone. Historically, horror films rely on a quiet buildup and a dramatic jump scare to frighten viewers. This film throws that out the window by using dark imagery and unsettling music to place you in the character's shoes. The tone that director Oz Perkins used stays with you throughout the movie and adds to its creepiness.
Another highlight of this film is the makeup. Nicholas Cage was almost completely unrecognizable as the character Longlegs. The makeup and prosthetics used were nothing short of horrifying and fascinating. This clever use of makeup adds to Cage’s dark and twisted character.
Aside from makeup, the acting was also good. Cage’s performance as Longlegs was impressive and outright creepy. The director piques how deranged this character is— he screams song lyrics at the top of his lungs while driving —making Cage’s performance somewhat comedic in a sick way.
Lows
There were some lows when it came to this film that mainly centered around a disorganized plot. The plot was hard to follow at times due to jumping from scene to scene without giving much context as to what was going on.
Another weak point of this film was that the main character Lee Harker’s childhood lacked context. It only mentions her mother without any knowledge of her father's whereabouts. Although it appears to be a single mother caring for her child, the plot might have been strengthened by including some sort of bigger family picture.
Lastly, the ending left viewers desiring more. The ending of this film cuts off when the suspense reaches its peak leaving the viewer unsatisfied, and again, without much context as to what happened. It creates a sense of a missing piece and it could've had a better ending.
Verdict
Overall this film, although different in unique ways from traditional horror films, it is not perfect. Its flaws take away from the plot at times, but it still has many positives that make it a worthwhile watch.
Rating: 6 out of 10.
