LongLegs: A Terrifying Masterpiece by Osgard Perkins - Movie Review
LongLegs Review 2024
Introduction
LongLegs is an exceptional horror film that primarily
scores in the 9s. It stars Micah Monroe as Lee Harker, a rookie FBI agent with
slight psychic abilities. Harker is tasked with investigating the mysterious
serial killer known as Longlegs, who manipulates his victims into committing
murder-suicides, particularly targeting families.
LongLegs Movie Trailer
Fun Fact
Here's a little fun fact: the director of this movie,
Osgard Perkins, is the son of Anthony Perkins, who famously played Norman Bates
in the movie Psycho. I've been a fan of Osgard Perkins for a while, and his
first feature, The Blackcoat's Daughter, is one of my favorite horror films.
Check that one out if you haven't seen it yet; it is really good. Perkins is
also directing a new Stephen King adaptation, The Monkey.
Directing Style
Perkins is excellent at creating waking nightmares. His
movies have a certain vibe that sticks with you long after the movie is over,
and LongLegs is no exception. This movie is seriously unnerving from the
outset. The first 10 minutes alone are really tense. What I love most about
this movie is the constant eerie tension. Even when Agent Harker is just having
a simple conversation with someone, you can feel something evil lurking over
every single scene. It feels like something could jump out at you at any given
moment. There are two very prominent jump scares, but they are built up well
and add to the film's atmosphere. However, LongLegs is scary all on its own and
doesn't need any jump scares. If I were the editor on this film, I would have
taken at least one out.
Cinematography
The cinematography definitely helps with the unsettling
vibe. The composition and framing are beautiful and creepy at the same time,
with lots of wide-angle shots and deep shadows. Like all of Perkins's movies,
this film is slower-paced. It intentionally crawls towards the climax without
giving away any spoilers. I can say that the third act is very clever and
surprising. It reminded me of the highly underrated movie Excis 3, another
movie I highly recommend. I even cut a modern trailer for it, which I'll link
in the description.
Performances
Micah Monroe is excellent in this film. She doesn't
have a lot of dialogue, and when she does speak, it's very reserved, but she
says a lot with subtle facial expressions. She is one of the highlights of this
film. The other standout performance is by Nicolas Cage. Terrifying is the only
word to describe Cage's performance in this film. His face is reminiscent of
that guy who's had all this plastic surgery to look like a Ken doll. I'm
willing to bet that guy was the inspiration for the character. Every time he's
on screen, you feel on edge. When you combine that with the unpredictability of
Nick Cage, you've got yourself a villain scarier than Kimberly Guilfoyle.
Conclusion
All in all, this was an exceptional horror film.
Everything about it is designed to creep you out: the cinematography, the sound
design, the makeup effects. The whole time, I felt like I was watching
something cursed. The film does telegraph something in the beginning; again,
I'm not going to spoil it, but there is an interaction between Agent Harker and
someone that kind of gives away the ending a little bit. Other than that, I
have no notes. This movie really gets under your skin and stays there for a good
while. I highly recommend LongLegs.
Summery
LongLegs is an exceptional horror film directed by
Osgard Perkins, son of Anthony Perkins. The story follows Lee Harker (Micah
Monroe), a rookie FBI agent with psychic abilities, investigating the serial
killer Longlegs. The film excels in creating an eerie tension with beautiful
yet creepy cinematography, slower pacing, and a highly unsettling atmosphere.
Micah Monroe delivers a standout performance with subtle expressions, while
Nicolas Cage's terrifying portrayal of the villain adds to the film's fear
factor. Despite some minor plot giveaways, LongLegs is a must-watch for its
ability to deeply unsettle and leave a lasting impression.
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