Plot: FBI Agent Lee Harker is assigned to an unsolved serial killer case that takes an unexpected turn, revealing evidence of the occult. Harker discovers a personal connection to the killer and must stop him before he strikes again.

Film: Longlegs 

Director: Osgood Perkins

Writer: Osgood Perkins

Starring: Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Blair Underwood, Alicia Witt, Michelle Choi-Lee and Kiernan Shipka

For horror fans, Longlegs has been one of the most anticipated films of the year. With some of the best advertising I’ve ever seen, not only did the trailers manage to keep Nicolas Cage’s appearance under wraps, they also managed to show nothing of the film’s story whatsoever, which is rare nowadays. The content wasn’t just pushed to its usual demographic, but also on a much wider scale which has meant everyone is talking about this film.

The story follows FBI Agent Lee Harker and the case of a serial killer that has been murdering families for thirty years and he doesn’t seem to be stopping his spree anytime soon. After Harker is assigned to the case, she realises that the killer has somewhat of a connection to her and it all feels hauntingly too close to home…

There have been many comparisons to The Silence of the Lambs, but if I was comparing it to any horror, it feels more reminiscent of Se7en. Longlegs feels like a 90’s crime drama laced with satanic horror that never really gives you the chance to get comfortable throughout its 100 minute duration.

From the opening scene, the entire film is just unnerving. There’s strange shot choices, extreme close ups, flashes of random unrelated images, awkward lengthened pauses. Its purpose seems to be to make the viewer uncomfortable and it achieves this. The visuals and imagery throughout are beautiful and striking. Paired with massively heightened sounds (like the crunch of a footstep or the creak of a stair), it makes for a wickedly delicious slow burn that was great at building tension with the use of (and lack of) sound.

I enjoyed the change of wide and square shots to differentiate between the past and present but the random flashes of images like snakes felt quite jarring, which I'm sure was its intention but it often distracted from the scene at hand.

Maika Monroe carries this film, and she proves once again why she’s become one of the most formidable actors in the horror genre. Nicolas Cage is unrecognisable as Longlegs, and as someone who has loved this man for over two decades, this could be his craziest acting yet (you didn’t think it was possible after Con Air, did you?). I only wish we’d seen more of Cage in this role. We were given this incredible character who got very limited screen time, but deserved so much more.

An unexpected quietly harrowing performance was Kiernan Shipka as a sole survivor of one of Longlegs’ previous killing spree. Yet another character that had so much potential but simply wasn’t explored enough.

The film took a supernatural turn that I wasn’t expecting which I think is what made the film lose the magic it had spent an hour creating. It seemed to take tropes from every horror film and force them into the last thirty minutes of screen time, which was a shame. However, while the twist at the end was somewhat predictable, it was still shocking to witness.

While it’s not “scary” in the traditional sense of the word, I can see why you’d come away feeling unnerved. At times it feels so uncomfortable that you’re not sure whether you should be laughing. Just be sure to manage your expectations. There's so much hype around this film, and if you're a devoted horror fan like myself, it'll be nowhere close to the most "terrifying film you've ever seen". In fact, I wouldn't even say it's the scariest film I've seen so far this year, but I guess it depends on the viewer.

While I’m still unsure as to whether I loved or hated this film, it's definitely a game changer for the genre and one that was much needed to keep it thriving. I hope we’re given a glimpse into Longlegs’ past as he’s truly a character that is worthy of more.