Listen to this post:
|
The Catholic horror genre boasts some genuine classics among its ranks with the likes of The Conjuring, The Omen, and one of the greatest horror films of all time, The Exorcist. Delivering haunting depictions of demons, the devil, and other beings of pure evil, these films have long captured American audiences’ attention and fears for decades. Longlegs, written and directed by Oz Perkins (The Blackcoat’s Daughter), seeks to continue the tradition of unholy horror with a unique spin that breathes fresh life into this classic genre.
via YouTubeFollowing Lee Harker (Maika Monroe), a (half)physic FBI detective who was recently promoted onto a decades-long cold case, the set-up hearkens back to similar motifs in quintessential genre films like Silence of the Lambs. As the case progresses and the layers unravel, more is revealed that hints at a possible supernatural explanation, tying in brilliantly to our main characters’ own supernatural abilities. However, Lee’s subdued personality is sometimes overshadowed by her co-stars. Mostly seen in her scenes with her I’m-to-old-for-this-shit supervisor Agent Carter (Blair Underwood), or the subtle off-kilter demeanor of Lee’s religious mother, Ruth Harker (Alica Witt).
While the twists and turns of the investigation lead to some shocking revelations, providing an excellent draw to alleviate some of the pacing issues near the middle, the true gem of the film is Nicholas Cage. Chewing up the scenery every moment he’s on screen, his juvenile Bobo the Clown-esque performance is classic Cage, comparable to some of his most insane performances in the past. I’m looking at you Face/Off. His stint as the serial killer Longlegs provides him ample opportunities to flex his special Nick Cage brand of crazy. All in makeup scarily reminiscent of the Surgeon General of Beverly Hills and his plastic surgery victims from Escape from LA.
From scream singing haunting lyrics driving down an empty road to manically preaching twisted machinations to horrified detectives in one of the film’s best monologues, I hazard to guess that no other actor could bring such authentic unpredictability and eccentricity to the role.
Bringing the film together is its excellent visual direction by filmmaker Oz Perkins, playing with aspect ratio to symbolize repressed memories while delivering a haunting set design and some genuinely unsettling visuals. A prime example is the layering of “Satan” on the unnerving dolls the serial killer leaves behind at the murder scenes.
Longlegs provides some genuinely creepy performances mixed with enough style and direction to feel fresh and original. Held together by an unchained Nicolas Cage performance and featuring solid cinematography from Andrés Arochi, this supernatural serial killer horror film brings a lot of elements to the table, with most of them landing quite well.