Longlegs: Long After the Credits Roll
Longlegs is the story of FBI Agent Lee Harker chasing after a serial killer with a series of odd occult motifs in their crimes. Such hints involve her into a network of the relationships between her past and the murderer, as well as the supernatural aspects of the short and the main question of the nature of the main heroine’s insanity. No element of horror is left unexplored and the atmosphere of the movie remains tense and dreary throughout which occasionally turns briefly into horror.
Maika Monroe as the protagonist Lee Harker does a phenomenal job of portraying a woman suffering the extortionate pressures of work as well as her personal life. Apart from this, Nicolas Cage, who plays one of the leads and who is the main antagonist in the movie, is quite effective in his portrayal and gives the picture an ominous feel. The supporting cast of Blair Underwood and Alicia Witt fit well into the story and really give it life.
Overall, the direction from Osgood Perkins is without a doubt one of the key features of ‘Longlegs.’ From subtle to complex, his storytelling, combined with supernatural qualities with visual precision, gets the viewers into a world of juncture of reality. However, Perkins’s style contributes to the progress of Untraceable and provides a good pacing to other scenes in the film. The necessary scenes are emphasized by the music which helps the viewer to get deeper into the story.
The technical aspect of ‘Longlegs’ is brilliant; the cinematography of the film brings out the horror of the whole piece. Every frame is as calculated as it is, using shadow and light to make the entire movie as creepy and mysterious as possible. The stylistic aesthetics heighten the tension and engage the audience deeper into the movie.
The cinematography creates the realistic environment and yet it has that creepy sense to it. These elements range from the creepy crime scenes to the mysterious suburbs needed to create a tense climate in a thriller .
Special effects are used very selectively and for critical scenes which makes the use of special effects enriching and not misleading. Possible the supernatural is not presented in a vivid manner but again it helps to add to the mystery of the film and does not disturb the realistic setting of the USA in the 60s.
The cutting is fast and efficient and does not distract from the flow of the movie, which is great given the genre of horror thriller. Overall, the continuity is good although changes in scenes can be easily detected when the plot focuses on the blend between reality and the fantastical.
Speaking of ‘Longlegs’ the pacing is slow, which can be considered a purposeful move as the suspense is slowly being cranked up. Longlegs can be perceived as appealing because of the sequence of curiosity and suspense that it shares with viewers while participating in action and exploration of characters’ personalities. Dialogue is never simply on the surface, and it adds more depth and mystery to the picture The atmosphere thickens considerably in ‘Longlegs,’ and though the film is slower-burning, viewees might miss the build-up in the final states. Moreover, the connection of supernatural genre to crime may not be very appealing to majority especially those who consider themselves as being reasonable based on certain lengths.
Finally, ‘Longlegs’ is a movie that does not leave your mind off easily. Provocative areas of the human conscious and the preoccupation with the supernatural make for a psychological thrill that is as much mental and emotional as it is visual. It demands the viewers bringing into focus the thin line between black and white, and past influencing the present.
