‘Longlegs’ is a disturbing thriller that follows the hunt for a cryptic serial killer who has a mystifying modus operandi.
After more than a century of cinema, there are recognizable patterns and formulas that emerged, which can be specific to certain genres. Some films simply follow the standard, personalizing the story rather than its direction or result. Others challenge the status quo, taking the familiar and twisting it in a way that’s unexpected or even uncomfortable to catch audiences unawares or start a conversation. Police procedurals tend to adhere to a model of hard-nosed and/or rookie detectives investigating a difficult case with a less than desirable conclusion. Longlegs takes a less traditional approach, incorporating supernatural elements to complicate an already perplexing series of murders.
Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) is a new FBI agent. However, her first seemingly routine assignment canvassing a neighbourhood for a killer catches the attentions of her superior (Blair Underwood), who brings her onto something far more significant. They are investigating a serial murderer that has operated for more than a decade, but left no trace except for encrypted letters they can’t decipher. Their only clue is all the victims daughters share a birthday. Lee may have a knack for these types of mysteries, so they bring her on as a fresh set of eyes and she immediately delivers new insights into the case — and a potential connection to her own past.
Director Oz Perkins, son of horror icon Anthony Perkins, has already established a signature style after just a few films, which is evident in this picture in several ways. He gravitates towards women protagonists who frequently live tragic lives and tend to experience some level of social awkwardness. He enjoys injecting an element of the supernatural into narratives to jar them into a different and potentially unexpected directions. He allows viewers to predict the twists, then rewards audiences by delivering on them exceptionally well. There’s also a grainy, desaturated quality to the image that makes it seem vintage, in spite of being a modern-day picture.
The slow burn thriller requires outstanding performances and this cast delivers on all fronts. Monroe is outwardly uncomfortable when interacting with anyone, remaining expressionless in almost any situation. She also straightens her back unnaturally when walking and sitting, visually intensifying her unease and/or her unusual adherence to propriety. Underwood is her opposite, a dedicated yet personable agent, open-minded and determined to solve the case by any means necessary. Then there’s Nicolas Cage’s character who is alarming to look at, and inspires fear on and off screen via his madness and unpredictability.
The film borders on horror, but really finds its place in the dark edges of a police procedural that will chill viewers to the bone.
Director: Oz Perkins
Starring: Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage and Blair Underwood
