Longlegs

Longlegs is a gripping horror film that debuted in the United States on 12 July 2024. Directed and written by Osgood Perkins, the movie features a stellar cast including Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Alicia Witt, and Blair Underwood. With a budget under $10 million, it has grossed an impressive $127 million worldwide, making it a major success for distributor Neon.

The film is set in the 1990s and follows FBI agent Lee Harker, played by Maika Monroe. She is assigned to catch an occult serial killer known as Longlegs, portrayed by Nicolas Cage, who has been terrorizing families in Oregon. The plot unfolds with a series of chilling murder–suicides, where fathers inexplicably kill their families before taking their own lives. Each case is signed with a mysterious note from "Longlegs," who leaves behind a coded message that Lee must decipher.

As the story progresses, Lee discovers a disturbing pattern: each murdered family had a nine-year-old daughter born on the 14th of the month, with the murders occurring within six days of the child's birthday. This investigation leads Lee down a haunting path, revealing connections to her own childhood and the unsettling events surrounding her mother, Ruth, who has a hidden and sinister involvement in the case.

The film’s atmosphere is both captivating and eerie, enhanced by the moody cinematography of Andrés Arochi Tinajero and the haunting score by Zilgi, a pseudonym for the director's brother, Elvis Perkins. The editing by Greg Ng and Graham Fortin adds to the film's tense pacing, ensuring viewers remain on the edge of their seats.

Critically, Longlegs has received positive reviews, holding an 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 77 on Metacritic. Critics have praised Cage's performance, noting the film’s blend of crime procedural elements with supernatural horror. David Rooney from The Hollywood Reporter remarked on the film's effective combination of various genres, while Bob Strauss from the San Francisco Chronicle highlighted its unique take on psychological horror.

The marketing for Longlegs has also drawn attention, employing creative strategies reminiscent of the viral campaigns seen with films like The Blair Witch Project. By releasing intriguing promotional materials and engaging audiences through coded messages and visual clues, Neon successfully built anticipation ahead of the film’s release.

Longlegs is not just a horror film; it explores deeper themes of family loyalty, trauma, and the dark corners of human nature, making it a thought-provoking experience for viewers. With its combination of engaging storytelling, strong performances, and chilling atmosphere, Longlegs is set to become a standout title in the 2024 horror genre.

For more information on the film, check out its pages on IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and Metacritic.