Longlegs is being dubbed the scariest film of the decade. I think the marketing for Longlegs has been genius but also feel it will be its biggest hinder. It is without a doubt and unnerving film but not quite the scariest. The film I believe transcends and does something different with its choices when it comes to horror. Longlegs will undoubtedly inspire many just as Maika Monroe’s other influential horror film It Follows did. Let’s dive into my thoughts and review of the film Longlegs.

Maika Monroe stars in Longlegs as FBI agent Lee Harker who has been assigned the Longlegs case by Agent Carter who is played by Blair Underwood. Harker is chosen for the case due to her having some form of intuition or psychic ability. We quickly learn that Harker has more of a connection to Longlegs then we initially believed. Harker and Carter now have to hurry before Longlegs kills again.

I want to start off by saying that Longlegs has one of the best scares of the year in the first five minutes. It really sets up the feel of the rest of the movie in an effective way. Osgood Perkins knows how to craft and set up shots that pay off big. The perspective changes add to the disorienting and eerie vibes the film has. Longlegs is by far the most innovative and fresh-looking horror of the year. Perkins instead of trying to gross you out or get a jump scare from you want to fill you with dread. Throughout the run time of Longlegs, the atmosphere seeps through the screen like a dense fog. It truly adds to the sense of danger especially when Nicolas Cage of Longlegs pops up.

Maika is the clear stand out amongst everyone as she navigates and guides us through the darkness. The character of Lee Harker tries their best to keep cool but quickly loses grip. It makes us wonder if we’re all going to get out of this or will Longlegs consume us all. We see her minor breakdown and attempts to keep it together. Overall, this feeling adds to the horror and hopelessness that Longlegs gives. Alicia Witt and Kiernan Shipka both have substantially smaller roles but truly deliver. Kiernan has one scene and with a couple of lines is able to give us a truly bone chilling moment. Alicia Witt for the first half is only heard through a phone but is able to convey so much through her voice. Once Alicia comes onto screen is when you really know there’s something special in her performance until the very last scene.

Osgood shows great direction in the way shots are set up and the perspective changes. The movie has a suffocating feel at times that also helps in disorienting you. All of this added with dread that creeps up as we linger on certain subjects and the sound design that’s faint but felt. Longlegs is a movie that assaults all the senses and leaves you dazed until the shock appears. It makes it a unique and fresh horror film that will undoubtedly inspire many. It truly is a film that is not afraid to do its own thing without trying to replicate anyone else.

I love the film but will admit there are moments I feel could’ve been handled better. The third act falls victim to an exposition dump and takes away from the allure of the mystery. A bit rushed in my opinion as well and I feel the movie would have been amplified with 20 extra minutes. I won’t talk spoilers, but certain reveals and twists don’t get enough time to breathe and truly settle.

Overall Longlegs is without a doubt one of the freshest horror films I’ve seen in years. Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage lead this film to the darkest corners of our world. The rest of the cast handle themselves well and have a big impact minimum screen time. A hellish soundtrack from Zilgi descends the film to the darkest pits of hell (a compliment). The story however begins to rush itself to the end though in the last half hour. All of the allure and mystery dissipates during an exposition dump. In the end though the first two thirds of the film , acting, and direction bring it together.

We give Longlegs 4/5