There is a unique class of horror movies reserved for those films that manage to capture true evil on celluloid. The Exorcist, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, sinister, when evil lurksand Invitation card Only a handful of people have managed to harness the darkness and infect the audience with a fear that forever haunts their souls. Whether it’s because of their willingness to explore the unknown further than most, or because of their explicitness in going to great lengths to explore extreme violence, these films are masterclasses in evil that do nothing more than unleash a new nightmare into the world.
Ozzie Perkins‘ long legs Now part of the Pantheon, it sits peacefully as one of the most fearsome of its kind.
Billed as one of the scariest movies of the year and building on the hype with a series of cleverly obscure trailers, a website detailing murder victims, and even a phone number to speak to the titular serial killer, long legs It’s about an FBI agent named Lee Harker (played by Nice Monroe) when she starts tracking a guy named Long Legs (by Nicolas Cage) who killed an entire family without leaving any evidence that he was present when the bloodshed occurred. This is not strictly a horror/crime story The Silence of the Lambs (with a procedural soul) or an ensemble thriller like zodiac signs (This is more of a horror film than a procedural). long legs Put mood and atmosphere into your protagonist’s character and then craft a worthy narrative.
What makes the film’s overall look and sound great is its careful handling of pacing. By keeping events in an orderly sequence, Perkins gives each scene a chance to have all of its elements contribute to the storytelling. Crashes, loud knocks, and even axes thrust into bodies all carry a powerful weight that not only shocks the senses, but also hints at the dark underpinnings behind them (an impressive achievement from the sound department, which includes names like Eugenio Battaglia, Humberto Corteand Oscar Vargas).
along with Andres Arrochi In terms of cinematography, Perkins used many of the same strategies when setting up longer shots. Early on, we see wooded areas with strange shapes, or mysterious figures moving in the background. They have a lasting impact throughout the film as they establish a sense of imminent danger and terror that could arise at any moment. This movie draws a lot of fear out of it. It’s as if the leggy presence haunts every frame in some way, shape, or form. Sometimes it’s the things you can barely see that are the most disturbing. Perkins takes full advantage of this through a series of shots that slowly zoom in on some movement or struggle happening in the distance. We can never get as close to it as we would like, and it creates a very anxious energy that builds up until it reaches an extremely disturbing point.
That said, there’s not a single scene here where the seriousness of Leggy’s crime suggests there’s something more sinister at play. This is a way of encouraging the viewer to fill in the blanks in a twisted way. That’s what’s so special about this movie. It prompts people to imagine the worst things they can think of to match the madness on display.
long legs It’s violent, but it’s not gratuitous. We won’t have extensive crime scene tours or invasive autopsy sequences. Instead, the violence we see is no different than the violence documented in crime scene photos. We see only what is necessary to prepare our brains to indulge in other things happening in those moments. The movie kind of tricks us into coming up with the more gruesome details. Like that weird kid who insists on taking you to see the dead body they found by the railroad tracks on their way home.
The concept gained momentum thanks to the frighteningly dedicated performances from the cast. Maika Monroe plays Lee like a woman who understands that fear is a professional requirement for effective work. She interprets Lee as a wise character who reminds the audience that it’s okay to be scared, while doing otherwise seems dishonest and detrimental to our understanding of the case.
Nicolas Cage, on the other hand, gives one of the best performances of his career. With Legs, he created a new horror icon to stand alongside Hannibal Lecter, The ExorcistThe demon Pazuzu. He’s almost unrecognizable, and not just because of the prosthetics on his face. He has a disturbing and uncomfortable sense of body and speech that makes every appearance of him a clear display of evil.
What is particularly noteworthy is that Blair UnderwoodAgent Carter, calls Lee to help hunt down Longlegs. He has the gruff personality of a seasoned FBI agent, hiding years of psychological scars beneath a hard shell, but he also conveys a sense of unease about the case that makes him vulnerable. Underwood elevates the character and adds to the overall fear surrounding the killings.
long legs Like the message a serial killer leaves behind at a crime scene, written in blood on the wall for all to see. It’s a bleak attempt at something really, really bad, which illustrates other possibilities in horror. Perkins crafts an experience that believes the genre can go further, smarter, and scarier. This is a film about horrific discoveries and why they must be pursued. It’s powerful enough to take filmmaking into scarier places, beyond the abyss. long legs An alternative path to evil is opened up, and we’d better explore it, knowing that new nightmares await.
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