Review: Longlegs: Nicolas Cage is Haunting, Terrifying as the Deranged Satanic Serial Killer

In the mysterious horror/crime thriller flick Nicolas Cage delivers and gives a top notch performance as "Longlegs" (Neon) and shows off his disturbing glam rocker prowess with his singing! At first, I couldn't tell by looking at the promos if I really would enjoy the film; but I really did and it took me by complete surprise! It's really refreshing! If you're looking for a fun mystery crime thriller, this is the film that has it all! It's not a slow-burn boring film it's very intriguing! The visuals are really impressive and artsy. With Cage in all the make-up that amazing transformation took approximately several hours you can't recognize him behind that mask! His unique look is inspired by Bob Dylan and he also looks like Joe Elliott of Def Leppard!

Nicolas Cage's production company, (Saturn Films) produced the movie.

Nic Cage as "Longlegs"Photo byYouTube

The marketing team behind the film kept Nic Cage under wraps he was not shown in the trailers until the film was released. The promos hinted the audience with clever teases including the cryptic letters. And instead of the serial killer himself only a doll is revealed in the car covering its head with a black cloak.

Osgood Perkins referenced "The Silence of the Lambs" as his inspiration for "Longlegs."

The birthday murders website provides clues of the murders "Longlegs" (aka real name Dale Cobble) is arrested and he kills himself by banging his head on the interrogation table in front of Agent Lee Harker. Lee discovers that instead of actually commiting the murders himself he conceals himself and instead uses accomplices through satanic magic as a secret weapon and the dolls as a satan worshipper so he won't get caught. His luck runs out when he is caught by the FBI and Lee Harker the agent who is assigned to investigate the serial murder case in Oregon going back to the 1970s.

It turns out that Agent Harker is intuitive and is using tools like books, occult objects and letters to crack the case.

There's still many unanswered questions about the film. Like in the opening scene of the film how does Cobble know who Agent Harker is? Why is Cobble's face only revealed partialy in the beginning of the film? What are those mysterious balls and do they have symbolic meaning in the satanic doll's hands? Why does Cobble's face appear to be white and the opening scene is white too showing a young Lee Harker in color? Why did Cobble appear at the Harker's home? Why is he screaming about "Mommy, Daddy, unmake me and save me from the hell of the living?"

I found it really weird in a scene where the character "Longlegs" cuckoos which is reminiscent of a cuckoo bird as it removes the family of birds from their nest; Longlegs does the same thing to the Harkers and tries to remove them from the house so he as the "dollmaker" could get in and work his satanic magic on the dolls as the culprit to the murders. It really surprised me when Lee's mother Ruth is the accomplice and "Longlegs" is actually living in her basement and she made a deal with the devil to save herself and her daughter. The plot thickens as Ruth is dressed as a nun and delivers the dolls on the birthdays of the victims and later is killed by Lee to save herself. And Lee blows the head off the doll. Longlegs mission is to deliver the dolls as a so-called prize from the church to manipulate others to murder their family members. Lee soon finds out that her mother Ruth deceives her and is in on the murders as Longlegs accomplice.

The film stars Nicolas Cage as "Longlegs" and Maika Monroe as FBI Agent Lee Harker. Cage gives his best performance in the mysterious horror drama "Longlegs." I couldn't take my eyes off the screen when I saw it on Apple TV Thursday night. I could tell he was really into his character and was having fun with it. The film hooks you wanting more. It's the entire package, but I warn you; it's not your typical horror film "jump-scare" vibe. You definitely understand where the film is taking the audience on a wild roller coaster ride and is a mystifying thrill ride from beginning to end. The beginning of the film showcases the lyrics from the T-Rex song, "Bang a Gong (Get it On)" showing Cage in a flashback pulling up to a house where the Harkers live and Lee Harker as a young girl is met by a terrifying stalker known as "Longlegs" who drives a beat-up stationwagon in the snow in winter and pulls up to the house to wish Lee a "happy birthday" coming up on January 14. "Oh...there she is...the almost birthday girl" How did he even know it was Lee's birthday coming? he chants in a creepy voice. He continues, "It seems I wore my Longlegs today." Lee's mom Ruth Harker (Alice Witt) is narrating the story of her encounter with the creepy deranged man (Cage) and is wondering where he came from and why he's at their house.

It shows him chanting, "Let me in now, it could be so nice." What's unique about the film are the visuals and the camera angles. Osgood Perkins the son of legendary actor Anthony Perkins directed the film and the cast and crew worked really hard and were all dedicated to their roles. Rotten Tomatoes calls the film, "A masterpiece" and they're right it really is!

The film leaves the audience guessing and captured in complete suspense. He says something strange about wearing his "Longlegs" so why is he using that as his moniker name? "Longlegs" contains satanic references to the occult and the soundtrack by Zilgi is very haunting and mesmerizing and just as creepy as the film. It's definitely a film you should see on Halloween if you haven't seen it yet. It will really give you nightmares that get under your skin.

Oz Perkins said this film is about his mother. Which is unusual to dedicate a horror movie to your mom. Nic had something in common with the director and has said in interviews that he dedicated this film to his mother too. She passed away in 2021 and had schitzophrenia which caused her to hear voices inside her head and various mental issues. The character Longlegs (aka real name Dale Cobble) heard voices inside his head and was also considered to be schitzophrenic. It was very difficult for Cage as a child to live with. But he says his mom has always been his inspiration.

Longlegs is now available to stream on Apple TV, YouTube, and coming soon to Amazon Prime.

The film receives five stars from me! Bravo well done! Listen up, Academy give "Longlegs" an Oscar!