Austin Burke’s review published on Letterboxd:
✅81%
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The feeling I had walking into this theater was so distinct, as everyone quietly sat with anticipation throughout the opening previews… This seems like nothing special, but movie-goers have been a bit more obnoxious as of late, so to feel everyone sitting with a high level of anticipation was special. A lot of this anticipation spawns from the combination of a spectacular marketing campaign and some early buzz. The early reactions claimed this to be a game-changing horror experience and possibly the scariest of the decade so far. This is what got a lot of these butts in seats, so I can’t fault it at all, especially the marketing that leaned heavily into the fear. After experiencing Longlegs in its full glory, this film delivered so much to chew on and take home after it ended. It has a phenomenal atmosphere, spectacular cinematography, and this unnerving vibe that some will absolutely find fear in. If this uneasy vibe scares you, that is absolutely normal, and the satanic spin on what is otherwise a crime thriller is a nice twist on the genre. All of that said, I never found it to be “scary” in the way it was made out to be. I hate cheap jump-scares, so thank God it wasn’t that, but I didn’t even feel much fear within the unnerving nature of it. This creepy vibe didn’t necessarily evoke the kinds of emotions many were describing.
While I actually like what we got because this genre (crime-thriller) is something I much prefer to a pure horror picture, my fear is that the early word of mouth will cause more casual viewers to be extremely disappointed. And you can say they shouldn’t have expectations, but you can’t expect a casual movie-goer to not have expectations when they’re told something will melt your brain because it’s so terrifying. Their brains are not wired like ours are, as most of us can put those expectations to the side and approach it as is. Approaching this “as is” provides an experience that does indeed stand out and in the best way. While Longlegs won’t change the genre forever, combining several interesting concepts into one allows it to feel truly unique. Maika Monroe plays our strange lead character. There is something about her in the beginning that throws you off, as she is just… weird. Maika plays her brilliantly, which is important because this turns into a full-on character study by the end. It all truly revolves around her and her ability to slowly engross you as the story progresses is impressive. The talk of the town will be Cage, and while he absolutely leans into what makes him entertaining, and some will find that jarring, he crushes it. He is everything this role requires him to be and more. The way Oz Perkins brings this slow-moving story together is methodical and meticulous. So much of what we see/hear in the first half comes into play during the final act, and not a moment feels wasted or confusing by the end.
What holds this back from being the masterpiece I hoped for is not the lack of scares but a third act that feels a bit rushed. Most movies in this vein go on too long, but it feels as if Longlegs could have provided a bit more information for us soak in. The reveals and revelations all happen within a 20-30 minute span, and while I never had major lingering questions, I felt as if we could’ve gotten more context. The focus is on Lee, which is great, but we never truly dive into these murders. The film takes on a different meaning at a point, but the focus shifting leaves some potentially fantastic scenes left on the table. It also becomes obvious at a point where it is going; that said, any other direction would have felt awkward. Some scenes are so wild that they come across as cheesy, but Longlegs beautifully rides a fine line between cheesy and unnerving throughout most of its run-time. Again, the aesthetic and atmosphere add so much to this experience. The framing and cinematography give it the soul it needs to resonate long after, and this is absolutely Perkins’ best film. He is normally style over substance, but Longlegs has both. It is absolutely one I need to rewatch because I feel there will be much more that hits a second time, and that is a testament to the movie. All in all, it is one that must been seen on a big screen simply because of how immersive it is. It has Seven and Zodiac vibes, for sure, but the satanic spin brings an ungrounded element to an otherwise grounded experience.
🔜Fly Me to the Moon