You know the feeling of walking into a spiderweb? The invisible strings that stick to your body immediately cause you to tense up and leave you feeling unsettled. This is the same sensation I had when watching writer/director Osgood Perkins’s eerie horror film Longlegs. It’s a film that is easy to get wrapped up in, offering little solace from the absolute mayhem that descends into chaos on screen. Backed by an unforgettable performance by Nicolas Cage, Longlegs stands to be the killer breakout film this summer.

Capturing a Satanic Serial Killer

Maika Monroe plays Lee Harker, a young FBI agent who has just been assigned the case of the century. It’s one that has been unsolved for decades: the Satanic Longlegs murders. Lee may be new to this position but her instincts rival that of a seasoned professional. Assigned to investigate the ongoing serial killer case along with her is veteran Agent Carter (Blair Underwood). His protectiveness and trust only encourage Lee to double down on her unique investigative methods.

Watch the Longlegs trailer here.

In every Longlegs crime scene, a note is left, written in an abstract code that the FBI has been attempting and failing to crack. Lee notices there is a bizarre lack of additional evidence that should be left behind, including fingerprints, DNA, and entry and exit points. There is no physical evidence at all. Using this as a launching point, Lee pivots her search less toward the predictable and more toward the surreal. This is when she starts to sense the presence of the killer, who is both everywhere and nowhere. Like the aforementioned spiderweb, she becomes entangled in Longlegs’ web which leads to a disturbing realization that changes the trajectory of the case.

Nicolas Cage Will Haunt Your Nightmares

The less you know about Longlegs before going into it, the better. What sets this film apart from other horror films are the subconscious ways Osgood Perkins injects suspense into every scene. The frenetic score incorporates minor string notes in conjunction with more organic sounds, like mic feedback and heartbeat pulses. The diegetic sounds crafted by the sound design team include eerie footsteps and environmental cues. Combined, they expertly build intensity throughout the film. The untraditional way in which the film was shot leans toward more arthouse horror. Jumping between aspect ratios and unconventional framing feels fresh and gives Longlegs a memorable visual aesthetic.

Now, a movie is only as good as the lead performances. In the case of Longlegs, Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage sensationally embody the characters to make the film truly haunting. Maika’s cool and calm demeanor offers a perfect juxtaposition to Nic’s unhinged and unrecognizable character. Not one to shy away from a challenging or weird role, Nicolas Cage reaches a new achievement in his career as Longlegs. It is exaggerated and creepy all at once. Don’t be surprised if Longlegs appears in your nightmares following the film, it’s practically unavoidable.

Takeaway

Drawing inspiration from some of the greatest thrillers of modern times like Silence of the Lambs and Zodiac, Longlegs offers audiences a fresh perspective on the genre. NEON’s marketing campaign–while impressive–may slightly oversell the scare factor and over-hypes the film in general but Longlegs is still a solid movie worth watching in theaters over a VOD experience. Whether or not it has the legs to be named the scariest film of the year has yet to be seen.