Introduction:
‘Longlegs’ is a psychological horror movie directed by Osgood Perkins, starring RT nominated talented actress Miranda Cosgrove; Perkins’ movies are appreciated for their psychological twist in storytelling and masterly built atmosphere. The major acting workforce includes Nicolas Cage in the leading role while Maika Monroe portrays an FBI Agent Lee Harker, and what bibliophiles as well as cinophiles are offered is the director’s vision about a cynical serial killer involved with occult practices. Given that the film is dark and intense, given the powerful performances by Lupita Nyong’o and Josh O’Connor, “Longlegs” has to be a movie to leave a viewer feeling like there a barely any oxygen left in the theatre after the possibility is exhausted.
Release Date:
The theatre release for “Longlegs” was on July 12, 2024. The film has only an English audio version but there is information that the film will be released with subtitles in several languages such as Spanish, French, German etc to reach a broader audience.
Crew:
| Role | Name(s) |
|---|---|
| Director | Osgood Perkins |
| Producer | Dan Kagan, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Nicolas Cage, Dave Caplan, Chris Ferguson |
| Music Director | Zilgi |
| Story Writer | Osgood Perkins |
| Screenplay | Oz Perkins |
| Editor | Greg Ng, Graham Fortin |
Cast:
| Actor/Actress | Character Name |
|---|---|
| Nicolas Cage | Longlegs |
| Maika Monroe | Lee Harker |
| Alicia Witt | Ruth Harker |
| Kiernan Shipka | Carrie Anne Camera |
| Blair Underwood | Agent Carter |
| Dakota Daulby | Agent Horatio Fisk |
| Erin Boyes | FBI Agent |
| Lisa Chandler | Mother Camera |
| Ava Kelders | Ruby Carter |
| Rryla McIntosh | Adult Ruby Carter |
| Lauren Acala | Young Lee |
| Vanessa Walsh | CSI Agent |
| Charles Jarman | Priest |
| Anita Wittenberg | Older Female Orderly |
| Michelle Choi-Lee | Agent Browning |
Story:
The movie is based on the FBI a case of parents slaughtering their families by psychopathic sadist Longlegs performed by Nicolas Cage with Lee Harker being the agent performed by Maika Monroe. However Harker, as she begins investigating the murder, notes that the killings are related to evil cults and that the murderer could well be one of her friends. Spearheaded by nine chapters, the Picqiue is a steeped-in crime thriller with hints of horror that unveils the further Harley goes.
Review:
The movie “Longlegs” directed by Osgood Perkins fits into the horror subgenre but has psychotropic thriller elements and fragments of police procedural thriller subgenre. It is a horror thriller film in which the FBI agent in the title Lee Harker is fascinated to determine what is the connection between serial killings associated with Longlegs and the terrible portrayal of this role by Nicolas Cage.
What the film does do very well though is create a constant feeling of oppressiveness that is created through both the camera work and the sound that places the audience into the mindset of Lee. These are fairly plotted but this serves as a built-up of expectation toward the audience and feels like being locked in a room with the protagonist. Monroe gives an impressive performance where she has to show the fragile but also a strong woman who survives in a trauma.
Some people may get bored with it due to a slow tempo and some plotline clichés, but so far the most focused message of Lon Gle and the unique relations between characters. In other words, it is quite an original drama of a thriller that makes everyone catch a shiver and look nervous after the show.
Positives:
- Atmospheric Direction: Osgood Perkins does a phenomenal job of maintaining the horror and feeling of fear over the entire course of the movie with ways like the use of long takes and very, very little camera movement.
- Compelling Performances: I loved it when Nicolas Cage played Longlegs; it proved he is as versatile for eccentric and scary roles as he is for action, comedy and romance. Maika Monroe also did a reasonable job in portraying Harker; she brings the vulnerability, and the fighting spirit in that movie.
- Impressive Cinematography: The Cinematography of the film is done by Andrés Arochi Tinajero and the use of lights and a dark, colour scheme in the film elevated the psychological horror temperatures.
Negatives:
- Pacing Issues: Few observers pointed out that the film pacing may be a problem, where some scenes may be too slow and some others fast and may reduce audience interest.
- Predictable Elements: That idea actually might mean that the story will copy-paste many of the cliches known in the horror genre which will make some of the scenes too predictable.
- Underdeveloped Supporting Characters: On some occasions, there are some problems in this movie and the problems are as follows, the side characters of the film are not well developed and although they are changing during the movie the audiences may fall short of the character transformation.
Technical Aspects:
- Direction: Perkins’ direction was good in incorporating creepy horror too psychological thriller, but it fails at times to explain the events somewhat interrupting the dream feel of the movie.
- Sound Design: Eugenio Battaglia’s sound design adds to the movie’s eerie feel since the score matches the tension and creates a prelude to building an oppressive outlook.
- Editing: There is also the problem of time, where flashbacks and relevant transitions used within the film add to the film’s unique storytelling technique but some transitions may feel interrupting.
Performance:
Longlegs, played by Nicolas Cage is quite mysterious and bizarre or rather creepy but still very nuanced as one of the leaders of Cage’s performance skins. Maika Monroe is also very powerful and resourceful as Agent Harker; the movie is very backed by the protagonist. This antagonist swiftly evolves into a more well-developed character because of the relations with the lead and their performances show tension as well as mutual interest.
Moviepoptime Review:
I thought Longlegs became too distributed, going in different directions. It wasn’t sure whether it wanted to be a demonic horror movie or a serial killer story. Had it focused on agricultural production or the development of oil fields it would be a lot better. This left the movie to not ensure that fear, dread, suspense or it was created as this movie did not know what it wanted to be.
Despite a good performance by the score, acting(especially on the part of Cage), and cinematography, it was the script that hampered Longlegs from becoming something more! It was like Sinister and Silence of the Lambs met and had this unremarkable offspring called Longlegs I loved both these movies but wasn’t sure how they blended in Longlegs.
Conclusion:
In detail, I could not believe my eyes when it comes to the fact that ‘Longlegs’ is an emotionally twofold horror flick; making this movie intense with the incorporation of features of psychological horror to its climactic storyline. The movie can be criticized for some pacing problems as well as for the voьme of obvious and foreseeable plot twists, nevertheless, the cast, especially Cage and Monroe, brilliant cinematography is enough to classify the movie as a noteworthy representative of the given genre.
The complexity of the play constructor Osgood Perkins needs to be noticed, as he moved the viewer to the awareness of the possible evolution of shoulder “Longlegs” is best seen as not just horror but rather an intellectual experience that leaves one anxious after the film is over. Depending on expectations and feelings, ‘Longlegs’ is a phenomenon of atmospheric horror that poses people with more than visions and provides thoughts about matters of trauma and evils.
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