I will preface this review with the fact that this (I) is a Nicolas Cage stan account. I actively seek out Nicolas Cage’s Horror/Thriller movies. The Good, The Bad, and the Abysmal. Of course, I would be front and center at a Thursday showing of Longlegs. It was a chaotic surprise! I only saw the trailer with the vague red screen and symbols, garnished with the sounds of Nicolas Cage screaming and (or?) moaning. The movie did not disappoint.
Longlegs reminds me of crime thrillers from the late 90s and early 2000s like Fallen (1998), Kiss The Girls (1997), and Frailty (2001), with a splash of comedic relief mostly provided by Blair Underwood. The film follows the familiar police procedural setup. A sadistic killer is on the loose, and the audience follows an adept detective and their partner’s journey to solve the crimes. Much of the horror lives in discovering victims, crime scene investigations, and the chilling evidence of what humans are capable of. However, Longlegs kicks this premise up a notch, by sprinkling in the devil and creating a layer of supernatural horror that mingles well with the real-life terrors we see onscreen. I do not think it’s as scary as the internet indicates, but it is scary and worth a watch.
Here’s the drop on the pros and cons:
Pros:
The performances were phenomenal! Maika Monroe knows how to convey fear in so many different ways. She also provided comedic relief via Agent Harker’s awkward social moments. Blair Underwood did a great job shifting from comedic relief to a chilling performance towards the end. I have mixed feelings about Nicolas Cage’s performance, although he is the main reason I showed to the theater. In some moments, he’s perfectly creepy and cryptic. At other times, the performance seems over the top (for the movie, not for Nicolas Cage). I think the singing was a line too far. However, I immediately frown when characters burst into songs of any kind in any movie.
The cinematography and wardrobe were interesting, which could be surprising with the drabby color scheme. There are so many great tracking shots through crime scenes and beautiful wide shots lit by the white of the snow. The camera work highlights an interesting story by showing glimpses of the puzzle pieces before they are put together at the end. The visuals are partnered with disturbing dialogue and unsettling music. Often, cryptic lines are delivered by Longlegs, or Harker discovered a chilling and vague message through investigation. That dialogue stood out, especially if you enjoy the element of religion. The score played unsettling chords mixed with pulsating sounds. The music feels like a soundtrack to a dream where you can’t scream or run.
Cons:
There were a few moments where I had to stifle a giggle in the theater due to some of the singing scenes. Those moments took me out of the incredible atmosphere the movie had built. The runtime felt heavy because the multiple flashback scenes began to drag towards the end. About 35 minutes into the movie, I had already nailed down the general ending, so the flashbacks felt unnecessary. I have questions about the Longlegs character design. I did not think his physical look was scary, but his movements and dialogue were disturbing.
Overall, Longlegs is worth a watch in theaters. The tracking shots, wide shots, performance, and score are worth the theater ticket.
