Longlegs - 💥💥

Director: Oz Perkins 
Writer: Oz Perkins 

Release Date: 12th July 2024

Hot Rating: 💥💥

Synopsis: An enigmatic serial killer, Longlegs (Nicolas Cage), arrives in a small town, captivating the local sheriff's deputy, Harper (Maika Monroe), with his cryptic pronouncements and unsettling murders. As a series of bizarre and violent events unfold, Harper becomes increasingly convinced that Longlegs is connected to a string of unsolved murders, taking her into a dark, disturbing investigation.

Review: Longlegs strives for psychological suspense and neo-noir intrigue, but ultimately unravels into a frustratingly convoluted and shallow experience. Director Oz Perkins leans heavily on stylistic flourishes - shadowy cinematography, a haunting score and Cage's characteristically eccentric performance - to create an atmosphere of unease. However, these flourishes become a crutch, masking a plot that's both predictable and nonsensical. Cage, while usually a captivating presence, pushes the boundaries of bombast here, initially fascinating but ultimately exhausting. Maika Monroe delivers a decent performance, but her character's motivations often feel contrived. The film’s central supernatural mystery, while initially intriguing, soon devolves into a series of increasingly absurd twists, culminating in a preposterous climax. Longlegs ultimately succumbs to the temptation of style over substance, prioritising visual intensity and Cage's manic energy over a coherent and satisfying narrative. While the film offers fleeting moments of visual appeal, it ultimately fails to deliver a truly terrifying cinematic experience.

Image: YouTube