It is impossible to go to a movie theatre in the summertime and not see horror films that gear audiences up for the upcoming Halloween holiday. While scary flicks are a huge portion of Cinema, one film has stuck out this summer. ‘Longlegs’, directed by Oz Perkins, is said to be the scariest film of the 2020s. While some critics and audiences relic on the distinct horror of the film, others have been divided, saying that ‘Longlegs’ was way too overhyped. Dispute the divide ‘Longlegs’ is a success, relishing in a new kind of horror that audiences may not expect.
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WHO IS ‘LONGLEGS’?
‘Longlegs’ is the story of an FBI Agent, Lee Harker (portrayed by Maika Monroe), who is assigned an unresolved serial killer case. As Harker begins her research, a personal connection to the case is found, and Harker must navigate the unexpected twists and turns to stop the killer from striking again. ‘Longlegs’ features harrowing and violent imagery that might be hard for those who are faint of heart to view. Not to mention, the deaths of families with young girls is a large cornerstone of the storyline, so if this is a subject that is especially upsetting for you, it might be a good idea to skip out on ‘Longlegs’.
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IS IT THAT BAD?
Critics, as well as audiences on the internet, have been calling ‘Longlegs’ the scariest movie of the year, and quite possibly the decade. The buildup for the film featured harrowing imagery in the trailers and vague marketing attempts in order for audiences to truly be enticed to see the film. Even after the film was released in theatres, the buzz around ‘Longlegs’ has been all over, with a video of police officers storming an evacuated movie theatre due to an alleged serial killer in the audience of the film. Despite the TikTok from the ‘Longlegs’ evacuation being fake and from 2017, the discourse around ‘Longlegs’ has been strong, giving the film a strong online presence.
Audience members have argued on whether or not the film is truly as terrifying as critics are saying. ‘Longlegs’ is not a film that features excessive jump scares or shock value in order to scare the audience. However, the scary part of this film is that it feels realistic. Each of the characters feels incredibly real. Without giving too many spoilers, ‘Longlegs’ feels as though it could truly happen. The cases feel all too familiar in the world we live in, as the film has a true-crime vibe. Nicolas Cage has even stated that the film features a lot of real-life inspiration, some coming from close to his home.
Perhaps the horror of ‘Longlegs’ isn’t in the jumpscares or the theatrics of violence. The horror of ‘Longlegs’ is in the realism. Sequences in the movie are reminiscent of true police evidence and findings. One element of ‘Longlegs’ is religious connotation and cultlike behaviors, showing how much a person’s beliefs can shape their actions. That was the scariest part of the movie. Not only did the cases feel incredibly real, but the message of a person’s belief system shaping how they proceed and what they do really is what shakes audiences to their core.
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STYLE AND PERFORMANCE
The stylization of the film is one of its strongest elements. The screen size of the film physically changes in order to demonstrate certain moments of time, almost like you are watching the police footage and evidence. Horror films tend to skip out on stylization, relying on the horror of their films. ‘Longlegs’ can easily be put into the categories of horror, such as ‘Midsommar’ or ‘Get Out’ that feel as if they are a real, yet artistic, depiction of the horror.
The performances in this film are especially strong. Nicolas Cage is a standout in this film, derailing from his typical “good guy” act and his past in comedic roles. Cage is 100% in this character and fully committed to the terrifying character of Longlegs. Not to mention, this is truly Maika Monroe’s big break, as her performance in this film is truly captivating. It is easy to root for her character, despite the reserved nature of Lee Harker.
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Overall, ‘Longlegs’ is a truly scary story, deriving from the typical horror stories that we see. While ‘Longlegs’ is not scary in the nature of jumpscares or over-violent scenarios. The horror in ‘Longlegs’ is realistic and rooted in the true crime genre, giving it an edge that some horror movies are unsure of. You can catch ‘Longlegs’ in a movie theatre near you today.
Cast: Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Blair Underwood, Alicia Witt, Michelle Choi-Lee, Dakota Daulby| Director: Osgood Perkins | Writer: Osgood Perkins | Producers: Dan Kagan, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Nicolas Cage, Dave Caplan, Chris Ferguson | Cinematography: Andrés Arochi | Editing: Greg Ng, Graham Fortin
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Abigail Johnson is a New York City-based writing intern, screenwriter, actor, and director. Her main focus is women in the entertainment industry and authenticity, especially advocating for diverse storytelling and new perspectives. Abigail loves discovering indie films that may not be seen in a traditional movie theatre, as well as listening to pop music and trying to find the next big artist. Abigail connects to Hollywood Insider’s values of substance over scandal and focusing on compassion and philosophy in her writing at Hollywood Insider. Utilizing writing for good is the main Hollywood Insider value that Abigail connects with, as her main goal is to use her talents for good.
Abigail Johnson is a New York City-based writing intern, screenwriter, actor, and director. Her main focus is women in the entertainment industry and authenticity, especially advocating for diverse storytelling and new perspectives. Abigail loves discovering indie films that may not be seen in a traditional movie theatre, as well as listening to pop music and trying to find the next big artist. Abigail connects to Hollywood Insider’s values of substance over scandal and focusing on compassion and philosophy in her writing at Hollywood Insider. Utilizing writing for good is the main Hollywood Insider value that Abigail connects with, as her main goal is to use her talents for good.
