Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Longlegs.It’s been one year sinceLonglegswas released, and I’ve changed my mind about this high-profile,Nicolas Cage horror. Leading up to its 2024 premiere, the feature film generated endless hype, a testament to its innovative and captivating marketing campaign. Helmed by Osgood Perkins, the film saw an overwhelmingly positive response. When thereviews forLonglegsbegan to pour in, many drew comparisons between the film and other classic horrors, such asTheSilence of the Lambsor the more recent thrillerSe7en. Although these projects have some common ground,Longlegsis ultimately plagued by a number of problems.
Theending ofLonglegsis quite ambiguous, leaving the door open for a potential sequel, though its production remains uncertain. While Maika Monroe does an excellent job at depicting Agent Lee Harker and her internal struggles,Nicolas Cage’s unsettling performance as a horror character is the undeniable centerpiece ofLonglegs. This is the film’s focus, with much of the effort to bring people to theaters forLonglegsstemming from Cage’s prominent role in the film. However, one year out, while the movie did succeed, the harsh truth about Cage’s appearance meansLonglegsdidn’t necessarily live up to the hype from its marketing.
Longlegs' Appearance Wasn’t Really As Scary As Its Marketing Suggested
Longlegs Is Not Necessarily Nicolas Cage’s Scariest Role
Longlegshad an incredibly unique marketing strategy which was handled by Neon Studios, an independent production company. Their promotional campaign relied on a digital, viral strategy that included several interesting elements. The first was the very smart placing of billboards featuring unsettling images, and a phone number that played pre-recorded messages from Cage when it was called., a move that has since been described as “a masterclass in horror movie marketing” (viaMedium.) It masterfully built tension, instantly captivating audiences who then became completely invested.
This technique was inspired byJawswhen part of the reason why this film is so iconic is because of how little we see the actual shark. This means that the promotional strategy forLonglegshas since been branded as the “Jawsinfluence,” by publications such asThe Daily Jaws. However, for all its achievements,Cage’sLonglegsdidn’t necessarily live up to its reputation for being truly terrifying, once the mystery was gone. While the film effectively built anticipation forNicolas Cage’s transformation inLonglegs, looking back, the character’s impact relies mostly on an unsettling demeanor and pale face, which honestly isn’t the most terrifying element in horror.
The Real Problem With Longlegs Is The Movie’s Stuffed Plot
Longlegs Overextended Itself With Its Narrative
Longlegsis rather convoluted in its structure, and this is the real problem with Cage’s horror. It blends several genres at once at the expense of the central mystery, which ultimately makes it suffer in the film’s final act. The movie’s marketing first set it up as a gritty, serial-killer thriller, which madeLonglegsreminiscent ofThe Silence of the Lambs. However, as the plot unfolds,Longlegsshifts more towards supernatural themes as it reveals the antagonist is not only a serial killer but a servant of Satanwho is leading a cult, using possessed dolls to coerce victims to commit familicide.
The film struggles to tell a unified story as a result and diminishesLonglegs' previously grounded tone that was established in its earlier marketing techniques.
On top of this, the story frequently pivots to Agent Lee Harker’s FBI investigation into the serial killer, as she simultaneously uncovers her repressed memories and a dark family secret.Longlegsclearly struggles to commit to a single genreand, instead, oscillates between a psychological thriller, a true crime investigation, and outright supernatural horror. The film struggles to tell a unified story and diminishesLonglegs' previously grounded tone that was established in its earlier marketing techniques. It definitely madeLonglegsless frightening and lowered the stakes, since the antagonist manipulates others instead of committing the murders directly.
