LONGLEGS: Unsettling Horror With the Most Terrifying Antagonist

A decades-long string of killings leads a young FBI agent on the hunt for an elusive man with a peculiar moniker. Written and directed by Osgood “Oz” Perkins, Longlegs is an unpredictable cat-and-mouse thriller whose horrors are only amplified by one wildly unhinged performance by Nicolas Cage.

For decades, the FBI has been baffled by a group of murder-suicides committed by the father of the household, with no warning signs. Nothing connects the families except for strange letters left behind with ciphers, ominously signed by “Longlegs” (Nicolas Cage).

Agent Harker (Maika Monroe) has recently been assigned to the case, to which she has a strong intuition. With her boss Agent Carter (Blair Underwood) supportive of her instinctive detective work, Harker will get closer and closer to the truth behind the supposed killer while uncovering a disturbing link to satanic worship.

From the start of its marketing campaign, Longlegs teased a horrifying cinematic experience. Steeped in mystery, the film did a spectacular job of capturing your attention and curiosity, but leaving much to be discovered upon viewing. What was delivered was a deeply unsettling film that, while likened to The Silence of the Lambs, is a terror all its own.

Perkins knows how to lead with suspense but on a more reserved level. You can’t exactly call it a slow burn because he certainly sprinkles in moments of horrifying surprises, but he’s not afraid to let subtleties take the wheel. As with his other films, Perkins delivers an atmospheric setting and incredibly unnerving visuals. While not in-your-face scary continuously, Perkins lets the story marinate in the creepiness.

For her part, Monroe adds a unique softness. Her character, although very savvy and focused, is more often anxious and reserved. The established scream queen consistently delivers performances that feel so multidimensional and complex. This is something I’ve always loved about Perkins’s films is that he places his female lead characters in a spot that also showcases their vulnerabilities.

So let’s talk about Longlegs himself. Portrayed by Nicolas Cage, the actor is completely unrecognizable in the role and maniacal in his performance. He fully disappears behind the makeup and facade to become, without a doubt, the most terrifying horror antagonist of the year, decade, and perhaps beyond. And it’s such a testament to his talent that he can deliver this type of frightening performance on the heels of a tender portrayal in this year’s Arcadian (streaming on Shudder this weekend).

His performance becomes even more unhinged as we enter the third act, which takes a pretty wild and unexpected turn as the film dives deeper into his religious themes.

Perkins truly showcases his amazing style and vision as a filmmaker with Longlegs. The film captivates viewers from its unsettling opening to the horrors that unfold, not to mention Cage’s nightmare-inducing persona and the eerie score. It’s a must-see for anyone who appreciates a masterful and chilling cinematic experience.

Longlegs is in theaters now