Day 8: Longlegs: A Serial Killer Story With a Sinister Twist.
Longlegs might be one of the most disturbing movies I’ve ever seen. No joke, I didn’t even watch the trailer before diving in. I like surprises, and honestly, I’m not sure anything could have prepared me for this. It is a wild ride that leaves you with more questions than answers, but for horror fans and anyone who enjoys intense on-screen violence, strictly on-screen, it is a must-see. What starts as a simple cat-and-mouse detective story quickly spirals into something much darker and heavier, but somehow it still manages to be totally gripping. Let’s get into the story.
Longlegs is a 2024 horror film directed by Osgood Perkins that follows FBI Agent Lee Harker as she investigates a string of murder-suicides. In each case, the father seemingly snaps, killing his entire family and leaving behind a letter with satanic codings signed Longlegs, before taking his own life. Now, you might be wondering how such a simple concept could result in one of the most disturbing movies I’ve ever sat through. Well, that’s thanks to the one and only Nicolas Cage. His performance as the eerie and unpredictable Longlegs sticks with you long after the credits roll. It’s completely out of left field, but then again, it’s Nicolas Cage, so maybe that’s exactly what we should expect.
Even though the movie is disturbing in all the right ways, one of its biggest weaknesses is that it never fully commits to the absurd and mysterious ideas it introduces. Some stories, especially ones rooted in horror, are stronger when they leave certain things unexplained. Instead, the film tries to clarify who Longlegs is and how he manipulates his victims from a distance, which pulls back the eerie veil a little too far. Another drawback is how little attention is given to Lee Harker’s abilities. The film hints that there is something uniquely powerful about her, but it never explores it in a satisfying way. If the story had focused more on her inner world and allowed the darkness around Longlegs to remain unexplained, the film could have been even stranger, scarier, and more hypnotic.
Outside of the story itself, Longlegs is a technical achievement. The film is beautifully shot, anchored by strong performances and a pace that keeps you uneasy without wearing you out. The muted colour palette works perfectly with the bleak world Osgood Perkins creates, a place where fear lingers in every quiet corner and the presence of Longlegs feels inescapable. It is a chilling experience that will leave most viewers stunned once the credits roll. Coming from a conservative country like Trinidad and Tobago, I can only imagine the reactions if some of our older folks sat through this on a Friday night. Yet that shock is part of what makes the movie so fascinating. If you’re a fan of horror that crawls under your skin and stays there, Longlegs is absolutely worth your time.
