Longlegs

A twisted, dark horror about a twisted, dark being! This movie, set in the early 90's, focuses on a girl joining the FBI who's traumatized by a murderer who visited her in her youth. I will not spoil anything else about the movie, I insist that, if you enjoy strange horror/suspense, you go watch it. Most of this review will be short, because spoilers and I just think it was a bizarre yet near-perfect watch. I will say this film is an example of "Not everyone will like it" filmmaking which is a common thing in horror. But, to say that this isn't a good movie is just wrong. Let's get into Longlegs!

PLOT: Gripping and dark.

I had no idea about the twist this movie would take, but I did engage with it all the way. It's constantly keeping you on your toes, using shots that imply something's gonna happen while then subverting common horror tropes to keep it fresh. There were several shots where a doorframe was in the background where I assumed someone would just walk behind her for a cheap scare, but they avoided it! This film keeps you on your toes and never once lets go of the brakes.

CHARACTERS: Oh, man.

Maika Monroe does a fantastic job playing a scarred young girl who's way in over her head and simply coming to terms with what happened in her youth. Playing stoic, fearful, and sometimes a little confused perfectly. The mom is unhinged in every scene and it's brilliant. Even the side-characters like the head agent are done very well. However, this film features Nicholas Cage at his absolute best. Delivering a terrifyingly hilarious performance, Nick Cage sells this movie for me. If it were any other actor, this film WOULD NOT work. Watch it for him!

SHOTS: Claustrophobic yet terrifyingly non-Euclidean

This film takes a lot of visual language from Seven, keeping shots cramped and tight as to not spoil too many secrets. The Batman did a similar thing and these two films are very similar in their approach to conveying scenes. This film has a similar vibe to the book "House of Leaves" or other non-Euclidean iconography where the shots feel almost surreal and horrifying in the way they're displayed. The filmmaking makes you more uncomfortable.

SOUND: Surprisingly amazing.

Music in horror can be so annoying. Sometimes, the music is barely audible while other times the composer doesn't know when to shut the hell up and let the film do its job. This film balances the line and manages to make the music fit the film, with excellent sound design to boot.

WRITING: Never giving away the twist.

This film has a twist at the beginning of the third act and man it's startling. You don't expect the film to go the way it does and it keeps you on your toes. Don't go in expecting the ending because they only hint at it a little bit. Engage in the story and keep an open mind.

LITTLE THINGS: Religious controversy.

This film has a lot of people screaming "Satan worshipper" due to iconography and props used in this movie. I say, if you take away that this film is praising Satan, you're not watching it correctly. But, I do love how this film handles religious symbols as a way to convey its story. Sometimes, the imagery ties in so well to the emotional turmoil of the character and the plot that it really makes me wonder if people even watched this movie.

VERDICT: Suspenseful thrill-ride that won't be for everyone.

No, this film is NOT for everyone. No, it's not a action-packed joyride nor a jumpscare-filled horror movie. It's quiet, sometimes eery, and a bit claustrophobic and uncomfortable. In that space, it makes its own way in the genre. This is my highest praise for the movie: it does something new and different. I encourage a watch, but will admit not everyone will love it. But if you do, you will REALLY love it.

SCORE: 9.5/10