Longlegs movie review

Oz Perkins makes a serial killer film his own

Oz Perkins has crafted a throwback to 90s where it was a golden age of serial killer movies but has made it his own with a style that is unmistakable if you are familiar with his work. This is my first Oz Perkins film and from the opening frame you feel this story is in the hands of someone who has a vision by channeling classics like Silence of the Lambs, Se7en, and Zodiac Longlegs builds tension through Dread, atmosphere, and a great score that feels out a rope is tightening around your neck. The way he utilizes drifting camera movements and acidic themes, torturous techniques that elevate the blasphemous brutality of Longlegs that I loved.

Maika Monroe (The Guest, It Follows, Villains) stars as FBI agent Lee Harker who just recently graduated from the academy and is put on an ongoing case of the serial killer Longlegs (Nickolas’s cage) who kills families in brutal ways and leaves zodiac like messages at the crime scenes. I love this movie it’s a great throwback to the 90s

serial killer movies then make’s a great left turn into a satanic thriller that is riveting to watch and makes it unique from the movies its influenced by. Oz Perkins directs the hell out of this movie he does such a great job at creating this tone of dread that permeates the entire film then when you would about to be relaxed, he hits you with horrifying imagery or shocking violence. The way he uses different aspect ratios is effective it is a great tell for the audience for when it’s a flashback and gives a sense of claustrophobic spaces and when he would have the aspect ratio change in frame its creative. I love how when Lee is at home working, he will leave open spaces in the frame to make you feel like someone is there or someone will pop out to startle you its brilliant.

The performances across the board are fantastic starting with Maika Monroe who plays Lee she gives this character so much weight you really feel how socially awkward she is, how determined and how he is almost never present in any scene she is in, and her physic abilities are very well handled by the way she plays it and Oz’s direction its subtle and laid out just enough without over explaining. I love her dynamic with Blare underwood who plays agent Carter her boss and partner on the case bringing a stabling presence to contrast Lee but then subverts that in the second half of the film. Alica Witt is fantastic and unrecognizable at first, but she brings such a seemingly caring mother vibe at first then as the movie progresses, she just seems something is off, and she sells the hell out of that and the commentary of the ones who preach the most are the ones who are most vulnerable to the devil. Contrast that with Nick Cage who is so great in this movie by being subdued and over the top at the same time he can be small and creepy like the convenient store then in the integration scene with lee go big in a compelling way.

The technical aspects of this movie are so good across the board the cinematography in combo with the camera work is brilliantly creative that stands out from other horror movies that have come out recently. The way the camera would follow Lee when she is in a dangerous or tense situation makes you feel like you are with her and don’t know what’s around the corner or behind a door it makes you feel that tension. The film looks great it immersers you in 90s Oregon and brings into the world of the film, the red lighting gives you the satanic vibe that comes in the second half of the film and makes it unique from silence of the lambs, se7en, and zodiac. The production design as well contributes to the tone, vibe, and look it feels grimy and makes the film feel evil when we are with Long Legs or a crime scene.

The script of the film is clever the structure of the movie was unexpected pacifically at the end of the second act and when other films have tried to do this it falls flat where here it really works and left me so satisfied. Overall, I really loved this movie and if you love serial killer movies or any kind of crime movies, I highly recommend it and I will be surprised if it isn’t on my best of the year. I give it a 4 out of 5 its really good.