Carlos’s review published on Letterboxd:
I think this is a great example of how social media hype can make or break your opinion on a movie. I’ve seen so much positive chatter about Longlegs, with people exclaiming it’s the “scariest horror film they’ve seen”. I was cautious to believe this but it’s hard to temper your expectations when it’s getting such rave reviews from critics and some horror fans are praising it vehemently.
After having seen Longlegs, I would argue that it is definitely not as great as it’s being chalked up to be. From the perspective of a horror film, yes I was disturbed at some scenes but the overall film isn’t really that scary. The way people were describing it, I was expecting to shield my eyes the majority of the time. Instead, the movie does a great job at making you feel unsettled but never terrified. I do feel like the film struggled at balancing its identity as either psychological thriller or supernatural horror.
One thing that I would definitely agree with others is that this film is well shot and crafted. The lack of camera movement in enclosed spaces really left me scanning the background for any signs of evil. I loved the fact that every so often you could spot the dark embodiment of satan lurking behind our main protagonist in unsuspecting fashion.
Nicolas Cage does a phenomenal job of portraying the unnerving character of Longlegs. His performance reminds me of a very sinister version of Willy Wonka ( in the best way possible lol). Kudos to the makeup department for giving Cage an unsettling face that leaves you wanting to look away. Maika Monroe does a good job of portraying detective Lee Harker but the character was hard to root for.
If you haven’t seen Longlegs at this point, I highly recommend you stay away from the opinions of others and go into this movie with no expectations. I wish I didn’t fall for the inflated hype because it did ultimately affect the way I perceived the film. It is for sure a solid horror movie that has great atmospheric tension and visuals, but it didn’t leave a big impression on me as it did for others. The big third act reveal was executed well on screen but I would be lying if I didn’t say that it was predictable to guess who was Longleg’s accomplice.
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