inbloomis’s review published on Letterboxd:
It took a little while for me to become fully immersed in the film, but Longlegs only gets more interesting as it goes along.
The film follows Maika Monroe in an unexpected but fascinatingly anxious performance as Lee Harker, an FBI agent tracking down a serial killer known as Longlegs. Said killer is portrayed so wonderfully by Nicolas Cage, I felt physical discomfort and couldn’t help saying “ew” every time he was on screen. There’s no overt gross factor to the character — though the makeup department did an amazing job making Cage look repulsive — but his presence is just so unnerving. The film’s cast is rounded out with compelling performances from Blair Underwood and Alicia Witt (who is impeccably cast as Lee Harker’s mom, sharing Monroe’s physical features and mannerisms).
The talented cast of Longlegs is supported by an equally impressive crew, from the set designers to composer Zilgi, who crafts a beautifully gripping and unsettling score. Andrés Arochi Tinajero’s cinematography hardly offers a sense of security from start to finish, with various wide, distant, and angled shots inducing paranoia and dread. The usage of alternating aspect ratios is very clever, and the color grading is also outstanding. Even the opening and ending credits are thoughtfully done.
The plot of Longlegs may leave some viewers confused at several moments, but I believe it progresses in a way that ultimately clarifies the necessary details by the end. The film doesn’t progress in the most predictable manner, but it overall feels organic. Director and writer Osgood Perkins has turned out an excellent product, and Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage alike mark another win in their filmography.
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