Longlegs

Rating 7/10

Maika Monroe has cemented her status as a modern scream queen, bewitching audiences with compelling turns in horror films. From the breakout role in It Follows, to a memorable portrayal in The Guest, Monroe has consistently proven her talent. Her filmography also includes appearances in Tau (2018), Greta (2018), Villains (2019), Watcher (2022) and Significant Other (2022). Each performance further solidifying Monroe’s reputation. In the latest venture, Monroe showcases once again why she is one of the genre’s most formidable talents.

Monroe is newly recruited FBI agent Lee Harker. Lee’s boss, Agent Carter (Blair Underwood), is impressed by her insightful, almost psychic deductions. He assigns Lee to a decades-old case. It involves a series of family murders committed by the fathers that coincide with the daughters’ birthdays. Each involves satanic letters with cryptic symbols signed “Longlegs.” As she delves deeper, eerie events unfold, including her connection to this mysterious “Longlegs.” This only increases her mother Ruth’s (Alicia Witt) concern for Lee’s safety.

Maika Monroe conveys a palpable sense of dread as the star. She manages a skillful balancing act, grappling with the unnerving presence of a killer she is investigating. She is a bit of an enigma and not a smiley type, so a sense of anxiety heightens the feeling that something is always amiss. Monroe’s nervousness ensures we never have a chance to relax. It’s worth mentioning Nicolas Cage is in the cast, and he delivers. His portrayal, supported by his famously unique approach, makes his character a mesmerizing entity. Initially allocated in limited doses, Cage presents a villain who is deranged yet oddly captivating. His achievement leaves a lasting and memorable impact, drawing us into a disturbing account with an audibly and visually intense demeanor.

Viewers will note that an inexperienced female FBI agent within a male-dominated environment hunting for a notorious serial killer, has a resemblance to Silence of the Lambs. The dynamic between Monroe’s character and the sinister figure she’s pursuing is similar. Their high-stakes game where each move by the predator is met, is an escalating bid for survival. It draws us into a battle of wits—however, Longlegs charts its own course with mood and characterizations.

Writer and director Osgood Perkins, the son of actor Anthony Perkins, has crafted a nifty horror film that exploits a foreboding mood. Cinematography by Andrés Arochi contributes to that feeling as the images are artfully composed to add a sense of unease. The chronicle unfolds gradually, building stress and suspense over time rather than giving surface-level action or thrills. The underlying mystery develops at a deliberate pace. This keeps the audience engaged and enhances the impact of those gotcha moments. The atmosphere ensures the ongoing tension lingers but injects a few well-timed jump scares to keep things on edge. Perkins (The Blackcoat’s Daughter, Gretel & Hansel) has established himself as a distinctive voice in contemporary horror cinema. His reputation continues here with an unsettling narrative that unnerves viewers from start to finish.

07-16-24