LONGLEGS
Starring: Maika Monroe, Blair Underwood, Michelle Choi-Lee, Alicia Witt, Nicolas Cage, and Dakota Daulby
Director: Osgood Perkins
ADRIANO
Longlegs is the kind of horror film that we don't get nowadays. Nothing about this film is cheap or intends to shock the audience just for shock value. Writer/director Osgood Perkins and star Maika Monroe come together to create an unnerving and sinister tension that’s felt from the opening scene all the way through to the moment the credits roll. From the sound work to Andrés Arochi's cinematography to Nicolas Cage's monster performance, everything converges to make this police procedural film an unforgettable descent into hell that had me shaken.
NICK
Longlegs is going to get a lot of attention for the performances of Nicolas Cage and the under-casted Maika Monroe, and rightfully so. It's the direction of Osgood Perkins, however, that really caught my attention. What he's crafted is a film in a similar vein to Zodiac, but with a horror tinge, and it makes for a fascinating and unsettling watch. Whether it’s the noir-crime style of the film or Perkins’ decision to use Cage sparingly (which only adds to the mystique and gravity of his character), Perkins has created something sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.
QUENTIN
First, let me temper expectations. Longlegs is not a traditional horror movie full of traditional horror “scares” (although, there are a couple); however, it’s one of the most unsettling and tense suspense thrillers in years. It’s like Seven, but slathered in a malevolent dread and palpable atmosphere so thick you can cut it with a knife. Yes, Maika Monroe is quietly terrific, but the star of the show, of course, is an unrecognizable Nic Cage, who creates a lasting, nightmarish, and memorable character with very limited screen time. This was one of my most anticipated for a reason (see why HERE), and, hot damn, did it deliver.
AMARÚ
My distaste for horror is due to the genre’s eerie tendencies usually having idiotic payoffs, and Longlegs’ first scene initially had me saying, “here we go again,” but writer/director Oz Perkins quickly changed my mind. He created a deeply intense mystery-thriller, utilizing camera work that’s simultaneously intimate and disconnected, enhanced by the excellent acting pairing of Blair Underwood’s practical approach with the fabulous Maika Monroe’s detached affect. Add in Nic Cage’s entertaining brand of crazy, and Perkins delivers a compelling, dread-fueled detective story that intelligently utilizes all the weird shit horror fans love.
PAIGE
Longlegs' amazing marketing campaign did not disappoint because you can almost feel the satanic spirit of this movie invading your personal space. It perfectly conveys the diabolical nature of its themes and characters. Writer-director Oz Perkins does a fantastic job of building tension and an eerie atmosphere through the use of great sound design and camera work. Maika Monroe gives an incredibly distraught performance, and Nicolas Cage's unsettling presence is palpable throughout. All things considered, Longlegs is a painstakingly made and disturbing journey into hell that will stick with you long after you've seen it.
KATIE
Longlegs is not the terrifying horror film that the marketing suggested, but more a chilling criminal procedural thriller that I enjoyed, nonetheless. From the incredible opening scene, the film establishes an atmosphere of increasing dread and continually hints at the malevolent forces driving the evil acts, emphasised by nightmarish sound design and restrained camerawork that doesn’t rely on jump-scares to unsettle the audience. Some aspects of the film didn't quite come together for me, with the supernatural elements distracting from rather than emphasising the detective drama, but the craftsmanship is so evident that I was still immersed in the story.
PRESTON
Longlegs suffers from a hype train that overpromises and underdelivers. Its stylistic composition is a successful mix of things like The Silence of the Lambs, The Shining, and In a Violent Nature, and Maika Monroe (Agent Lee Harker) helps along the uneasiness that can be viscerally felt throughout the first half of the film. Eventually though, the long, slow buildup allows all adrenaline to peter out. Nicolas Cage (Longlegs) looks like he is having fun while continuing to show off his versatility, but the ultimate conclusion is a let down compared to the buildup, both prior to watching and during it.
SHADAN
I’m so happy I forced myself to overcome my horror genre bias and give Longlegs a chance. This crime thriller is horrifying, but in subversive and surprising ways. Oz Perkins’ script and confident direction brilliantly set the tension, which radiates from the screen for an uncomfortable, can’t-look-away viewing experience. Nicolas Cage is reliably unsettling, and star Maika Monroe turns in a bold and commanding performance. From top to bottom, Longlegs is an exceedingly well-crafted film.
