In Long Legs, director Osgood Perkins crafts a chilling descent into obsession and otherworldly horror. This isn’t your typical cat-and-mouse thriller—it’s more like a spider spinning an intricate web, and the audience is the ill-fated fly caught in its strands.
The film centers on Lee Harker (Maika Monroe), a young FBI agent with ambition as tall as the antagonist’s “Long legs”. Lee finds herself drawn into the twisted case of a ritualistic serial killer, portrayed with eerie precision by Nicolas Cage. Cage is in his element, oscillating between unsettling stillness and explosive unpredictability. His portrayal is less a character and more a force of nature—one that’s equal parts magnetic and repulsive.
What sets Long Legs apart from similar fare is Perkins’ signature slow-burn approach. Every frame feels carefully crafted under the lens of cinematographer Andrés Arochi, whose work brings an immersive, haunting quality to the film. Steeped in shadows and tinged with shades of melancholy, his meticulous use of lighting and composition heightens the tension, making the environment feel as much a character as the people within it.
Thematically, Long Legs explores the cost of ambition and the terrifying possibility of divine reckoning. It’s a heady mix of psychological tension and supernatural dread, though the narrative occasionally stumbles. The pacing can feel glacial, especially in the second act, where the film leans heavily into its mood-setting at the expense of story progression. Some audiences may find the cryptic dialogue a touch too opaque—like a riddle with one too many missing pieces.
Still, Maika Monroe anchors the film with a deeply empathetic performance, making Lee’s unraveling both heartbreaking and relatable. Cage’s manic energy contrasts beautifully with her fierce determination, their scenes together crackling with uneasy chemistry.
Long Legs isn’t perfect, but it’s an unnerving, atmospheric ride for fans of cerebral horror. Just be prepared: once you’re caught in this web, it doesn’t let you go.
RHFC Rating: 8/10 🍿
