Longlegs: Is The Buzzy Horror-Thriller Worth The Hype?
Last year, M3GAN, the film about a killer robot doll, became a surprise horror hit- and it looks like 2024’s breakout horror equivalent is here. Longlegs, which stars scream queen Maika Monroe, has been a hit so far at the box office, in part due to its cryptic viral marketing and the star power of one Nicolas Cage. It follows an FBI agent in her investigation into a particularly disturbing serial killer, and her delicate mental state as she wrestles with the increasingly bizarre and personal case. Is it worth the hype? Here’s what you need to know:
What is Longlegs about?
It’s been compared to Silence of the Lambs— with the obvious parallel of a young FBI agent dealing with a twisted murderer, but the characters and feel of the film are quite different to the Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins classic. Longlegs feels closer in tone to films like Seven and Zodiac, grim and often claustrophobic tales with washed-out imagery. Our lead character is Lee Harker (Monroe), who’s new to the FBI and has a keen intuition. She’s very reserved, finding it awkward to interact with others, and seemingly always troubled by something- not least the case she’s been assigned to. A killer, who’s claimed multiple victims and has a disturbing interest in Satan, has been terrorising the local area, and leaves coded messages with the signature of “Longlegs”. Lee and Agent Carter (Blair Underwood), her superior and investigative partner, are left trying to piece together clues and uncover the killer’s identity.
What makes Longlegs worth a watch?
If you’re into mystery crime films, Longlegs does the genre well, but it’s also very much in the horror category. There are a number of jump scares throughout, but not too many and they’re well done rather than overly loud and annoying. It’s most effective in the slower moments, with a sequence early on in a house in the woods being a particularly creepy scene that sticks with you. Without giving too much away, the film takes the idea of Satanic rituals and devil worship pretty seriously, adding another unnerving layer to an already skin-crawling plot.
Longlegs’ best asset is the performances, with Maika Monroe creating a very watchable and uniquely interesting heroine, quite different from your usual Hollywood FBI agent. Blair Underwood also does well as Carter, and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina star Kiernan Shipka has a brief but memorable appearance as one of Longlegs’ surviving victims. Longlegs himself is played by Cage, in a performance that’s weird, creepy and suitably Nicholas Cage-y. There are some genuinely bizarre and unsettling scenes with him where it’s hard to know whether to be freaked out or bewildered- which is a good thing for the character as you’ll see.
What else should I know?
It’s best to go into it knowing as little as possible, and to expect some well-shot and stylishly engrossing cinematography and editing. There are some twists and turns that you won’t quite expect, but it’ll certainly stay in the mind after it ends. So if you like a healthy dose of horror mixed in with your detective dramas or just want to check out one of 2024’s buzziest films, Longlegs is definitely worth a watch.
