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Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Yooooooo, it has been a while since I’ve been creeped out by a film. If I know it’s going to be a slasher film, I can prepare for the jump scares. When it comes to a psychological horror film that is straight-up creepy, it makes me feel uncomfortable. I’m talking about the hair on my arms standing up, hands getting all clammy, and my NOPE senses going through the roof. That is the sensation I got from watching Longlegs. I had to rewind a few times because something caught my eye, and then I shook my head and said, “Nope.” This film is good, but so damn creepy.
Written and directed by Osgood Perkins, Longlegs is a Halloween season joy. This creepy film begins in 1974 on a beautiful snow-covered day in Oregon. A young girl spots an unfamiliar car parked outside her home. She grabs her Polaroid camera and decides to investigate. She notices someone in the car, and before she approaches it, a voice behind her speaks. She quickly turns around and is greeted by a creepy ass pale white face with big white teeth. If you are not creeped out yet, strap the hell in.
20 years later, FBI agent Lee Harker (Monroe) and her partner are on a manhunt to find a serial killer. Lee gets a funny feeling when her partner knocks on one of the house’s doors. When the door opens, her partner is shot in the head and unalive. Shit gets real for Lee real quick. Lee enters the house and manages to capture the man. Lee is later tested and shows signs of psychic abilities. As a result, her supervisor, William Carter (Underwood), thinks she would be the best person to help solve the Longlegs case. Each case consists of a father losing their mind and killing his entire family. The only thing left is a letter with Satanic coding written by Longlegs (Cage). Lee uses her psychic abilities and soon learns Longlegs’ pattern. As Lee investigates further, her world turns upside down in a demon-filled world that will fuck her up for years to come. She really will need lots of therapy.
I want to give all the credit to Osgood Perkins for creating an amazing, messed-up film. This film was creepy and good in all the right areas. The story unfolded in a way that a creepy movie should. When dude got shot in the beginning that should’ve set the tone, but Osgood had more up his sleeves. He takes us on this journey where Lee tries to uncover why these fathers are killing their families. When something significant happens, Osgood makes sure to have this eerie silence or a creepy scene.
What is great about the film is the entire story. You have fathers killing their families, and you don’t know why. When Perkins reveals Longlegs, you can tell dude needed some sun, but he worshipped Satan. Perkins let the story unfold in a way that made it unclear whether Lee would save the next family, while also showing that she was up against a supernatural force that would never stop. It made you wonder how Longlegs was getting away with the murders until it was discovered that Longlegs had an accomplice. As you watched the film, you wondered if Lee was clairvoyant, even though she said she was more wrong than right. Yet, the film made you sense what she was sensing, and you wanted to yell at her to run or not go somewhere.
Some examples of the great work and creepiness Perkins did in this film were when Lee was looking at one of the letters. She was in the room alone, and then she looked out the window. Something pulled away slowly, and when the camera moved back to her, something was standing behind her. Made the hairs on your skin stand on end. Another scene involved the dolls. That metal ball was creepy, but when Lee went to Carter’s family home and her mom was sitting there, you knew shit was going to go down. Oh, when Lee found a doll made after her and she shot it, black smoke rose up; it was strange, and you didn’t know what was going to happen.
The cinematography of this film is excellent. First, being a horror film, it had a gloomy feel, but also incorporated supernatural elements. The way the camera moved with Lee gave you a sense that you were viewing her as she tried to solve the case from a point of view that made you want to help. The camera captured close-ups that revealed people were slowly losing their minds. How about the scene where Lee first gets the case, and she is looking at the photos? It is located in a dark room with a blood-red carpet. You feel that she is alone, and how the imaginary of wild thoughts enters the scene is nerve-racking. How about the scenes where Lee is alone? She hears a banging and looks up, and a shadow slowly fades away. Let me pack my shit and leave. The scene that really creeped me out was when the girl was telling her story. The next scene showed the woman in black and those snake eyes. Then the father went crazy, killing the cows and the priest. This shit was insane.
Let’s give it up to the acting. Damn, everyone was good in this film. First, let’s give some major credit to Maika Monroe as Lee Harker. Monroe was excellent in this role, as she played Lee as a person who seemed a little weird and off-putting. She kept to herself and really didn’t want to work with anyone, but she was good at her job. Monroe made sure to show that when things got weird and scary, it showed on her face.
I also want to give some love to Alicia Witt as Ruth Harker. Witt looked like the super crazy and religious mother. How are you going to do that to your daughter? As Lee’s religious mother, she was strict but also did things out of love. You could also tell that she was completely insane by watching what people did.
I want to give a HUGE shoutout to Nicolas Cage as Longlegs. Cage is unrecognizable in this film. Yet, he is so good even though his part is small. Cage creeped me the fuck out as Longlegs. His voice was creepy, and his look was horrifying. Cage is a great actor who can bring any character to life, and it’s evident in this film. The interrogation scene will leave you speechless. The ending, with him yelling “Hail Satan,” is a creepy cherry on top.
I know I keep saying creepy, but this is one of the few films that really creeped me the fuck out. Perkins did an outstanding job writing and directing this film. The cast was excellent, with Monroe, Witt, and Cage excelling. This is a great Halloween film to watch and get creeped out with.
