Film review: Is 'Longlegs' really that scary? Here's our spoiler-free take
The same scenario has played out ever since Bela Lugosi crept his way down the staircase in the original "Dracula." Audience members exit the theater and debate on whether the movie scared them or if they'd just watched something completely cheesy.
Because what truly frightens us is so subjective, most modern horror movies use cheap tactics like sudden loud noises that are guaranteed to startle or surprise anyone who has a pulse.
Enter "Longlegs," the latest creep-fest from writer-director Osgood Perkins, son of spooky icon Anthony Perkins, best known for playing the notorious Norman Bates in the 1960 classic, "Psycho." The junior Perkins faithfully carried on the family legacy with his 2015 indie sleeper "The Blackcoat's Daughter" and 2020's gruesomely grim fairy tale "Hansel & Gretel." "Longlegs" is scheduled to open at Ciné on Friday, July 19.
Like any good murder mystery, "Longlegs" makes expert use of flashbacks to give viewers just as many clues as the detectives who are on the case. Maika Monroe ("It Follows") stars as Lee Harker, a rookie FBI agent whose clairvoyant abilities have landed her a valuable spot on the task force that has been tracking boogeyman Longlegs (Nicolas Cage) for decades. Lead by agents Carter (Blair Underwood) and Browning (Michelle Choi-Lee), Harker is tasked with locating Longlegs before his next crime happens and avoid becoming his next victim.
Advance reviews of "Longlegs" favorably compared it to the 1991 Oscar-winning serial killer flick "The Silence of the Lambs," and for good reason. Far from the standard hack-and-slash formula that horror audiences are used to, "Longlegs" is a police procedural that centers on a personal connection between cop and criminal, but still contains some graphically gory moments. Like Clarice Starling, Harker is the obvious hero, and Cage's turn as Longlegs is just as fun and unforgettably unhinged as Hannibal Lecter.
Though the overall vibe of "Longlegs" is one of masterfully-constructed dread, Perkins still relies on the tried-and-true "jump scare" device to break up the "Zodiac"-inspired mood. Jolts happen with title cards (a la "Insidious"), phones ringing and other base-level noise cues, but the film plays strongest when relying on good ol' Hitchcock-style suspense. By only providing the audience with as much information as Harker has, Perkins is able to maintain an unrelentingly tense atmosphere.
Will any of that cause your hair to stand on end? For those looking for cheap thrills that don't require much attention, I recommend going out and riding a rollercoaster instead, as the methodical crime-solving in "Longlegs" could seem tedious and plodding. But for those who are weary of the "flashlight horror" gimmick that continues to propel "The Conjuring" and its ilk to box office success, "Longlegs" might not scare you, but at least it won't insult you.
Ciné is located at 234 W. Hancock St. in downtown Athens. For tickets and show times, visit athenscine.com.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Film review: Is 'Longlegs' really that scary?
