A Grimmer Hunt for a Demon Killer
"In "Longlegs," a young FBI agent goes after a serial killer, resulting in a cat-and-mouse game reminiscent of "The Silence of the Lambs" and already being hailed as the "scariest film of the decade." Is it deserved?
Admittedly, Nicolas Cage hasn't had many notable films in recent years, with many of his works flying under the radar and mostly intended for home viewing. However, with "Dream Scenario" and now "Longlegs," he's back in cinemas with a film worth your ticket price.
If you've seen the trailer without reading about the horror-thriller's plot, you might be surprised that Cage, the most well-known actor in the cast, barely appears. To see him as the serial killer known as "Longlegs," you'll have to brave the cinema. If you're up for a challenge, that is, as the film is already being praised as the "scariest of the decade." But what's it about?
FBI Agent Hunts Serial Killer
Sometime in the 1990s: FBI Agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) suddenly discovers psychic abilities that help her locate a wanted murderer. This doesn't go unnoticed by the experienced Agent Carter (Blair Underwood), who decides to use Harker's unusual talents to finally solve a 30-year-old murder case. The case involves several families where the father first kills his wife, then his children, and finally himself. At each crime scene, a letter with a mysterious code signed "Longlegs" is found, and each family has a young girl who turns 14 in the month of their death.
The introverted Harker manages to decipher Longlegs' messages and understand his modus operandi, thanks to her psychic abilities and a personal letter from the killer (Nicolas Cage) that helps her crack the code. Meanwhile, Carrie Anne (Kiernan Shipka), the sole surviving victim of the murders, has a message for Harker, who otherwise has only uncomfortable phone calls with her devoutly religious mother. The investigation picks up again, filled with dark surprises and twists.
Living Nightmare
Nicolas Cage knows a thing or two about nightmares, as seen in "Dream Scenario," and "Longlegs" feels like one too. Amidst it all is the socially inept and physically fragile Lee Harker, who seems to have evil breathing down her neck in her isolated cabin. The film's atmosphere is amplified by subtle details, making it even more oppressive. Director Osgood "Oz" Perkins and cinematographer Andres Arochi have done excellent work in the classic horror tradition. The sparse but effective use of light and sound in isolated locations helps maintain tension throughout. Monroe's performance is equally sparse but effective, with her subtle facial expressions packing a punch.
Nicolas Cage, as Longlegs alias Dale Ferdinand Kobble, may be the title character and the figure around which the film revolves, but he plays a supporting role. However, he plays it in such a peculiar and bizarre way that it's almost unbearable - not in a humorous sense. What's particularly unsettling about him, aside from his appearance, is his fluctuating language, especially in the original English version. Whether this translates to the dubbed version, thanks to Cage's usual voice actor Martin Keßler, remains to be seen. The German trailer seems promising. If you're unsure, you might want to watch both trailer versions beforehand and decide which one you'd like to see in the cinema. Be prepared for explicit violence, as it's a significant part of the film alongside its subtext and meta-levels. "Longlegs" is definitely not for the faint-hearted.
"Longlegs" is now playing in German cinemas.
The horror-thriller "Longlegs" features Nicolas Cage as the notorious serial killer known as "Longlegs," making it a must-watch for those brave enough to face the "scariest film of the decade." In the film, FBI Agent Lee Harker unearths her psychic abilities to decipher Longlegs' codes and crack his modus operandi, with Cage's chilling performance adding to the movie's chilling atmosphere.
