Submerging its audience in total atmospheric dread, Longlegs is one of the most unsettling horror films of the year. It teeters on the verge of style over substance, but this is ultimately a movie that aims to get under your skin - and does so within its opening moments.
This is, at its core, a relatively straightforward FBI procedural with a slight supernatural twist. Structurally, it follows a well worn path, as the feds search for an elusive serial killer before he strikes again. It unleashes a grounded psychological terror on the viewer, which is its biggest strength. The looming sense of unease lingers in the background of every moment. Even when there’s no threat physically present, you’ll always feel as if the characters aren’t truly alone, or safe.
On a technical level, this is some truly masterful filmmaking. The way the camera tracks and lingers is brilliant. It’ll draw your gaze to the focal point, but observant viewers will notice the devil is in the details. There are plenty of subtle visual flourishes and clues hidden within a handful of shots, which makes this all the more enticing for a rewatch. The use of 4:3 during flashback sequences is a welcome touch, complete with rounded edges that resemble a clipping from a film reel. The score is appropriately eerie, and the sound design further builds upon the uneasy feeling you’ll have in your gut.
A cardinal rule of the horror genre is “less is more”. This works in the film’s favour when it comes to creating effective tone and atmosphere, but hurts it on a narrative level. The investigative angle is appropriately ominous, but there are some logic gaps in favour of moving the story forward. We don’t really get any satisfying detective work, and the explanation comes in the form of an expositional monologue during the final act.
Nic Cage does great work as the titular character, but the performance comes with a caveat. He’s had so much exposure in his decades-long career, that it’s sometimes hard to separate the man from the performance. As I said, he delivers a great performance, but I was still frequently aware I was watching Cage. Had this exact performance been given by someone less established, I believe it would be exponentially more effective. It’s not an entirely fair criticism, but it does hurt the film’s ability to truly immerse. Maika Monroe on the other hand, embodies her role perfectly. Her character feels haunted, and always one step removed from being present at all times. Monroe expertly captures that distant sense of terror as she descends deeper into the case.
Longlegs is a chilling atmospheric descent into the mind of a serial killer, that may leave you shaken after the credits roll. The narrative quality never matches that of the stunning technical elements, but for horror fans, this is definitely a movie worth investigating.
3.5/5