DirkH’s review published on Letterboxd:
I really wanted to like this more than I did.
Let's get the obvious elephant in the room out of the way first. Cage is absolutely brilliant in this. That said, if his performance feels too camp or over the top to you (which I'd understand) you'll probably not find Longlegs a convincing villain. If you, like me, go along for the ride you'll get Cage at his best. Unhinged, frenetic energy, the portrayal of a truly psychotic and dangerous individual. I loved it.
As for the rest, well there are problems. I love Perkins's films. He is one of those directors that focus on bringing across an atmosphere and not so much telling a cohesive story. The way his films make you feel are the hook (or the deterrent) and most of his films had me hooked completely.
Longlegs never managed to get there for me. Even though there are some brilliantly directed scenes, this film is much more story and plot driven. There are amazing scenes that conjure up that atmosphere I'd so love to be submerged in, only to be yanked back to a procedural plot. It just feels uneven, grabbing my attention brilliantly at points only to easily lose it at others.
Still, there is a lot to enjoy and Perkins (for me) remains one of the most intriguing directors out there.
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