Review: Longlegs

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Official Synopsis: In pursuit of a serial killer (Nicolas Cage), an FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) uncovers a series of occult clues that she must solve to end his terrifying killing spree.

Ever since the trailers debuted, Longlegs has been one of my most anticipated films of the year. I was gutted that I couldn't get to it on opening weekend, so I had to spend extra time avoiding reviews. I wanted to go in as blind as possible, and I'm glad I did.

My immediate thought after watching this is that director Oz Perkins probably really likes Se7en, and I do too! It's in my top 5, but I was reminded a lot of the structure of that film watching this. Longlegs doesn't compare to Se7en's greatness, but it wants to. What this film lacks is the character development to supplement the atmosphere. You need both, and Perkins chose to rely on atmosphere alone. 

Thankfully Blair Underwood, who plays Lee's boss is there to breathe some life into this film. I like Monroe, but the only emotion she shows here is "unsettled." I felt like we should've known way more about who Lee was and why she acts the way she does before the "big reveal" is shown 15 minutes before the movie ends. Lee is no Mills or Somerset. Nic Cage is very creepy as the villain, but he probably has 10 minutes of screen time total, so he's not the biggest factor here.

I still liked the film overall. There are some unsettling scenes that will stick with me for a while and the story was effective, it just needed a bit more to make it great. 

Grade: B-



Comments

  1. AnonymousJuly 19, 2024 at 10:16 AM

    yeah, Maika Monroe is deeply mediocre in this. And yeah, it ain't no Se7en. Funny, I never even thought to compare the two films. I think this one struggles narratively by the end

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamJuly 21, 2024 at 7:08 PM

      I think I just think about Se7en too much lol. Deeply mediocre is right.

      Delete
  2. thevoid99July 19, 2024 at 4:32 PM

    I still want to see this but I want to see The Blackcoat's Daughter first that Perkins did.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamJuly 21, 2024 at 7:08 PM

      I had that in my Netflix disc queue for so long when that was a thing. I kept skipping over it.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousJuly 22, 2024 at 1:12 PM

    I gotta admit, this one blew me away. From the storytelling to the filmmaking, it had me in its clutches.

    ReplyDelete
  4. BirgitJuly 23, 2024 at 10:37 AM

    I'll watch this but my expectations are low which is good.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Linda WaltersJuly 24, 2024 at 7:03 AM

    I recently purchased the Longlegs shoes and paired them with one of my favorite Ryan Gosling jackets. The combination is fantastic! The shoes are incredibly comfortable and stylish, with a sleek design that complements any attire. The sturdy build and excellent grip make them perfect for both casual wear and adventurous activities. Whether you're dressing up as Colt Seavers or just looking for a versatile pair of shoes, Longlegs are a great choice.

    ReplyDelete

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