- "Longlegs", a horror thriller starring Nicolas Cage
It's rarely been so challenging to recognize the lead actor in a film. Is this really Nicolas Cage, the 60-year-old Hollywood and indie actor who has starred in such diverse films as "Arizona Junior", "Wild at Heart", or "Ghost Rider"? Yes, it is, although this time he's almost unrecognizable behind heavy makeup.
Cage plays the puppeteer behind a series of gruesome murders. A young FBI agent is assigned to the case, who will have a tough time dealing with "Longlegs", the titular villain. Adding to her difficulties, her family history also holds a dark secret connected to "Longlegs".
Son of "Psycho" star is director
The director of this horror film is Oz Perkins. He is the son of Anthony Perkins, whose name is forever linked to one of the greatest horror films: "Psycho". In Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 masterpiece, Perkins plays an enigmatic, deeply mother-obsessed killer.
Oz Perkins has now directed a chilling thriller with excellent performances, beautifully old-fashioned visuals, and truly frightening sound design.
Nicolas Cage with gray-white mane
In the film's opening scenes, the presumed killer is only partially visible: "Longlegs" head is not shown at first. Later, Cage's head is shown, but the actor is mainly recognizable by his distinctive voice in the English original version.
Later, director Perkins shows us the enigmatic criminal face-to-face, but Cage's 60-year-old face is barely recognizable (he reportedly spent several hours in the hair and makeup chair before filming).
Cage's wild, gray-white mane in this film adds to the effect. Fans of David Lynch's legendary "Twin Peaks" series will likely think of Bob, one of the series' most unsettling figures.
Reminder of legendary serial killer films
Cage's co-star is 31-year-old Maika Monroe, who plays the young, intelligent but inexperienced FBI agent Lee Harker. The film's first scenes introduce us to Harker's unique aura and seemingly extrasensory abilities.
In a suburban neighborhood dominated by interchangeable facades, Harker senses that one of the houses has a special significance. Soon after, her colleague is dead. The case takes a surprising turn after another, and it becomes increasingly clear that Agent Harker carries a heavy load of dark memories. Her reclusive mother, played by Alicia Witt, also adds to the mystery.
The film evokes serial killer films like "Zodiac", legendary productions like David Fincher's "Seven", and even Jodie Foster's groundbreaking performance in "The Silence of the Lambs".
Much style and 70s patina
Maika Monroe is not as commanding as Foster, who won an Oscar for her performance. But aside from Cage's brief, sometimes grotesque appearances, it's Monroe who leaves her mark on "Longlegs" with her fragile aura.
Like Cage's first 2024 film, "Dream Scenario", which oscillates between horror and surreal comedy, "Longlegs" also resists easy categorization. Yes, "Longlegs" is scary, but it also has an ambiguity that somehow suits Nicolas Cage.
Why are the glam rockers of T. Rex heard here? Why is there at least one poster of Lou Reed's face visible? What are the true meanings behind the cryptic messages that "Longlegs" sends out into the world? And his name? That too remains unexplained.
The reason why the mastermind behind all the crimes discussed in this film is called "Longlegs" is likely hidden within the stylishly photographed and appropriately 70s-patina-imbued shots of the film.
In the film's promotional materials, Germany is listed as one of the countries where "Longlegs" will be released in theaters. The chilling thriller, directed by Oz Perkins, has also been selected for the Fantastic film festival in Germany.
