Longlegs: the best crime-thriller since The Silence of the Lambs and Se7en?

Maika Monroe as FBI agent Lee Harker. Image: Rialto

Longlegs is a deeply disturbing and visceral experience that will leave you reeling. The groundswell for Osgood Perkin’s new horror crime-thriller has swept the globe, opening to big bucks in the US. With grandiose headlines likening it to classics, including The Silence of the Lambs and Se7en, one could get caught up in the expectation that it will deliver the best crime-thriller film in thirty years. Be warned, because it might not satisfy that genre itch.

The story follows FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe, It Follows), who uncovers a series of occult clues to the unsolved case of an elusive serial killer known as Longlegs (Nicolas Cage). She must race against time to end his terrifying killing spree before he claims the lives of another innocent family.

FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) deciphering clues. Image: Rialto

Maika Monroe’s performance as FBI agent Lee Harker demonstrates an ability to hold tension as we follow the unravelling of the truth through her eyes and are introduced to her sixth sense in pursuit of the killer – a supernatural element that will intrigue some, but frustrate others. Despite a strong performance, Lee’s emotionally stunted persona is a trying watch at times, counteracting the unsettlement the film delivers in spades.

Nicolas Cage as Longlegs is yet another tour de force performance for the great actor. He is a singular talent, and his ongoing renaissance is a welcome shift from the dribs and drabs of his B-grade movies of late. Within this film, we always remain uncertain of Cage’s next character move and Longlegs proves he has much more left in the tank. The star’s voice work and physicality is perplexing, especially in how unrecognisable he is through the grotesque manifestation of his character. His entrance will be burnt into your retinas right from the opening scene.

The visual language of cinematographer Andres Arochi has delivered the film’s greatest strength, paired with its sound design led by Eugenio Battaglia. With a ‘90s aesthetic that feels perfect for the tone of the film, Arochi unlocks the terror and tension through his considered angles and lighting, positioning you as a voyeur to the insanity. If you see Longlegs for any reason, let it be for its divine cinematography.

FBI agent Lee Harker lets loose some uncharacteristic emotion. Image: Rialto

Some might baulk at the slow pace in the second act, but relish in the unravelling of the truth in the third. However, the big reveal struggles to pull together in a sharp and cohesive narrative. Repeat viewing might be needed for some viewers, if you can stomach the tension for a second helping. And while Longlegs might not deliver on its marketed comparisons, Cage’s performance is well worth the trip into his character’s deranged mind.

Longlegs is in Australian cinemas from July 18, 2024