Longlegs (2024) spoiler free review
“Take a nice, long look”. Longlegs is a 2024 American crime horror thriller film written and directed by Osgood Perkins and produced by Nicolas Cage. The film was released by Neon on July 12, 2024 in the United States.
FBI Agent Lee Harker is assigned to an unsolved serial killer case that takes an unexpected turn, revealing evidence of the occult. Harker discovers a personal connection to the killer and must stop him before he strikes again.
Film synopsis
The cast includes Maika Monroe as Lee Harker, Nicolas Cage as Longlegs, Blair Underwood as Agent Carter, Alicia Witt as Ruth Harker, Michelle Choi-Lee as Agent Browning, Dakota Daulby as Agent Horatio Fisk, Kiernan Shipka as Carrie Anne Camera, Jason Day as Father Camera, Lisa Chandler as Mother Camera, Ava Kelders as Ruby Carter, Rryla McIntosh as Adult Ruby Carter, Carmel Amit as Anna Carter, Peter James Bryant as Senior FBI agent, Lauren Acala as young Lee Harker, and Maila Hosie as young Carrie Anne Camera.
My opinion
Set in the 1990s, FBI agent Lee Harker, who possesses mild psychic abilities, is assigned to the case of a serial killer named Longlegs. As the investigation progresses, Harker discovers a connection between her and the killer that dates back to her past, leading her to reveal a dark family secret.
Creating a tense and claustrophobic atmosphere from minute one thanks to the sound and visual aspect, Longlegs gets under your skin, reaching the depths of your mind with no intention of leaving. An immersive experience that takes you to the exploration of evil in a disturbing way. The performances of Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage exceed expectations, without them the film would not be the same. Monroe does not need to speak to convey the emotional burden that her character carries while Cage gives that disturbing touch.
The plot happens at the right pace, even making the film seem shorter than it is. Full of symbolism and hidden messages, the film achieves the balance between the supernatural and the psychological. This pushes the viewer to interpret various elements for themselves, including the ending that ambiguously closes the story. Something that stood out about this film was its strange but effective marketing campaign, which left riddles that once seen the film, make sense. But even though it created buzz around the film, if you saw every promotional poster you saw key plot moments that were easy to fit in once the film progressed. Thus removing the element of surprise from the plot twist.
Longlegs is so far the best horror offering we have had in 2024. There are still films to be released and it is not perfect but for the moment Longlegs takes the first place. Don’t miss the opportunity to see it in theaters, you may regret it later.