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Serial killer movies are about a dime a dozen in cinema. There are forgettable ones, and then there are ones that stick with you. More often than not, those that stick with you are the ones that manage to present a memorable character as "the killer"; the one whose presence you can still feel in the film even when they are not on screen.
Anthony Hopkins only had 16 minutes of screen time in The Silence of the Lambs while Kevin Spacey only appeared in the last act of Seven; and yet, you could argue that their presence is felt all through each film. Even when they're not there, they're "a little bit of everywhere, waiting in the wings." That is a bit of what's happening in this eerie horror film from Oz Perkins.
Set in the mid-90s, Longlegs follows Lee Harker (Maika Monroe), a young FBI agent that is tracking down a serial killer that's murdering entire families in Oregon. Harker is incredibly skilled as an investigator, but is a bit of an introvert and socially awkward. This might come from her religious upbringing, which has led to a strained relationship with her mother Ruth (Alicia Witt).
It's funny that I mentioned The Silence of the Lambs and Seven, because there's certainly a bit of both in here; from the rookie cop tracking down a serial killer while under the tutelage of a veteran cop. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but some of the story beats might feel familiar. What does make it feel different is Perkins direction and overall style.
Perkins showed a lot of promise with his debut film, The Blackcoat's Daughter. This one has a similar eerie and dreadful vibe. His direction is very impressive with some nice framing and patient camera work, all of which contribute to an atmosphere of uneasiness that just gets under your skin from the very first scene, which is our introduction to the titular serial killer.
On that vein, all the performances are pretty good, but Nicolas Cage proves once again why he has to be considered one of the best working actors nowadays. He certainly throws himself fully into this role and delivers a wholly committed performance as the disturbed killer. Like those other examples, his presence is one of those things that creeps under you and sticks with you, even when he's not on screen.
Unfortunately, the film decides to go in a slightly more conventional route in the last act, as the script pulls the curtain of what's happening and tries to explain too much. The way those reveals where handled resulted in a slightly disappointing resolution. However, Longlegs still gives us a finely crafted thriller with an amazing performance from Cage; where even when he's not on screen, he's a little bit of everywhere, waiting in the wings.
Grade:
LONGLEGS
(2024, Perkins)
(2024, Perkins)
"I am done. But I won't only be in here. I'll be a little bit of everywhere. Waiting in the wings. In the father's wings."
Serial killer movies are about a dime a dozen in cinema. There are forgettable ones, and then there are ones that stick with you. More often than not, those that stick with you are the ones that manage to present a memorable character as "the killer"; the one whose presence you can still feel in the film even when they are not on screen.
Anthony Hopkins only had 16 minutes of screen time in The Silence of the Lambs while Kevin Spacey only appeared in the last act of Seven; and yet, you could argue that their presence is felt all through each film. Even when they're not there, they're "a little bit of everywhere, waiting in the wings." That is a bit of what's happening in this eerie horror film from Oz Perkins.
Set in the mid-90s, Longlegs follows Lee Harker (Maika Monroe), a young FBI agent that is tracking down a serial killer that's murdering entire families in Oregon. Harker is incredibly skilled as an investigator, but is a bit of an introvert and socially awkward. This might come from her religious upbringing, which has led to a strained relationship with her mother Ruth (Alicia Witt).
It's funny that I mentioned The Silence of the Lambs and Seven, because there's certainly a bit of both in here; from the rookie cop tracking down a serial killer while under the tutelage of a veteran cop. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but some of the story beats might feel familiar. What does make it feel different is Perkins direction and overall style.
Perkins showed a lot of promise with his debut film, The Blackcoat's Daughter. This one has a similar eerie and dreadful vibe. His direction is very impressive with some nice framing and patient camera work, all of which contribute to an atmosphere of uneasiness that just gets under your skin from the very first scene, which is our introduction to the titular serial killer.
On that vein, all the performances are pretty good, but Nicolas Cage proves once again why he has to be considered one of the best working actors nowadays. He certainly throws himself fully into this role and delivers a wholly committed performance as the disturbed killer. Like those other examples, his presence is one of those things that creeps under you and sticks with you, even when he's not on screen.
Unfortunately, the film decides to go in a slightly more conventional route in the last act, as the script pulls the curtain of what's happening and tries to explain too much. The way those reveals where handled resulted in a slightly disappointing resolution. However, Longlegs still gives us a finely crafted thriller with an amazing performance from Cage; where even when he's not on screen, he's a little bit of everywhere, waiting in the wings.
Grade: