'LONGLEGS' Spoiler Free Review

TV & Film

Jul 26

LONGLEGS is a highly anticipated horror film from Neon Studios and written and directed by Osgood “Oz” Perkins. Perkins has already made a name for himself in the horror industry, but this film is guaranteed to make him a household name. The film stars Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage as a rookie FBI agent and the serial killer she is hunting, respectively. Even if you haven’t seen a trailer for the film, you have probably heard about the phenomenal marketing campaign that the studio has been doing for the last few months. The campaign did not lie, this is one of the best horror films of the year.

I am not typically a fan of artsy horror, but I am a huge crime nerd, so when I saw the Zodiac-style plot for this film I knew I had to check it out. This film is not for everyone because it does make an hour and forty-one minutes feel closer to three hours. I was a huge fan of the structure of this film because it is split into three parts with each one serving a purpose for the plot and character development of the film. The acting in this film is also some of the best I have ever seen. Monroe and Cage are a powerhouse, and although they aren’t on screen together for very long, their scene together is definitely one that you will be thinking about long after you leave the theater. I was hugely impressed by the cinematography in this film because it is stunning. Every single scene makes you feel uneasy and like something is about to jump out and grab you. The opening scene of this movie is also spectacular and rivals the opening scenes in both Halloween and Scream.

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Act one of this film is a masterclass of writing, directing, and acting. Unfortunately, act two is where some problems start. While I enjoyed act two, it was definitely too long and pulled the audience out of the film. Its length also resulted in a somewhat rushed twist in act three. The twist in this film was both amazing and frustrating because it left you with so many questions that could have easily been answered if act two had been cut by just a few minutes. The biggest letdown to this film though is the ending. If you have seen Late Night With The Devil then think of that ending, and it tells you everything you need to know about this one. The ending did not stay true to the characters and honestly had me wanting to scream at the main character for a good ten minutes.

Overall, this film is fantastic and one that I think most horror fans should see. It is a fascinating idea to take elements of the Manson family and the Zodiac to create an entirely new type of serial killer. I am excited to see what Perkins creates next because he clearly has a unique style, and eventually he could be up there with Mike Flanagan as one of the best horror directors of all time.

LONGLEGS hits theaters Friday, July 12.

Rating: 6.5/10

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