Director: Osgood Perkins
Distributor: Belga Home Video
Duration: 101 minutes
Longlegs (DVD) – Movie Review
Even though we occasionally love to binge-watch our favorite movies and shows, we sadly do not always have time to do so during our busy game review schedule. This is also why it has been rather silent for a while when it comes to DVD and Blu-ray reviews. We’ll be trying to make up for that today with a rather original movie that was released not that long ago. Today, we’ll be taking a closer look at Longlegs, a horror flick that was on our watchlist for quite some time now. While we expected a more traditional mix of crime and horror elements, we did quite like what Longlegs had to offer.
It’s hard to actually describe Longlegs’ story without spoiling too much. In essence, it’s about agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) who gets assigned to a new team to track down a serial killer named Longlegs (Nicolas Cage). It’s hard to pin the murders on the illustrious murderer, as they only find a letter he writes, at every crime scene. The murders always involve the killing of an entire family, and this has been going on for several decades now. The problem not only lies with finding Longlegs but also with the fact that the murders themselves are always committed by the family’s patriarch, who then eventually kills himself as well. There are never signs of forced entry, but after the deed is done, there is still a letter of Longlegs at every crime scene. This mystery has law enforcement stumped, and together with agent Carter (Blair Underwood), Lee will have to uncover this mystery. Lee is believed to have mild psychic powers, allowing her to see things normal agents might miss.
In terms of pacing, Longlegs feels a bit off. We soon realized this was on purpose, but the movie gives as little information as possible to then surprise you with its grand finale. Even so, it’s still a movie that will not answer all questions, but the buildup toward the end is still quite satisfying. The film is also constructed around awkward and stilted dialogues that make you feel uneasy as a viewer as well. This is not only because it further highlights the vibe that something is ‘off’ but you also get somewhat agitated that none of the characters are actually behaving as ‘normal’ human beings. While we use the term ‘normal’ very loosely here, it feels like all characters do not adhere to basic rules for conversations and everything ends up becoming a bit absurd. This vibe did suit the setting of the film, but it’s also something you’ll need to get into or have to be in the mood for.
Longlegs doesn’t have that many characters that steal the limelight, and for the most part, it’s Maika Monroe who steals the show. Maika’s character, Agent Lee Harker is the lead figure in the movie as she tries to figure out who Longlegs is and what drives him. The dastardly villain is portrayed by Nicolas Cage, who does a formidable (and spooky) job of bringing his deranged serial killer character to life. Even though his character has no real substance, it does feel that the mysterious undertone is more than enough to add gravitas to the performance for a while. Last but not least, Blair Underwood and Alicia Witt both bring their respective supporting characters to life with the necessary professionalism. Other supporting roles were also decently handled.
When purchasing a DVD copy of the movie, you’ll also get a few bonus features on the disc. These extras include cast interviews, as well as a few snippets of the clues and evidence you see throughout the film. Seeing these items separately may answer a few more questions if you missed them during your initial watch of the film. While the bonus content didn’t blow us away, it’s still nice when picking up a physical copy that you’re getting something extra. Belga Home Video-published movies always come with some additional movie trailers as well.
Conclusion
Longlegs is one of those movies that can be amazing if you’re the target audience. Fans of more generic horror experiences will probably not be that entertained with this more ‘artsy’ approach to the genre. Even so, there is no denying that this horror experience brings great acting performances to the table, as well as a very original atmosphere and vibe. It’s one of those movies that tends to linger after watching it, even if it’s not directly a title you’ll watch twice in a short time. Longlegs is a niche horror flick for a very select audience, but it certainly manages to entertain.
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