As a big horror movie fan, I could not wait to see the latest Nicolas Cage movie, Longlegs. A few weeks back I started hearing rumblings about people passing out in the theater at sneak screenings. It's the scariest movie ever, comments like that.
Well, I'm here to tell you that's not what happened at the showing I went to last night. That's not to say it's a bad movie, just that it didn't live up to that kind of hype.
First off, I love movies that transform you into a different decade/era. This movie takes place in the 70s and 90s primarily, and it's shot like that. I love the font they use, like movies from that time period. It's not a slick production like movies today, which is also a plus.
Secondly, I do like the use of classic rock in these kinds of movies. It really adds to the overall presentation. Rob Zombie is a master at this. His movies ooze rock songs from yesteryear.
Thirdly, the movie takes place in the winter, when the foliage is dead, giving off a somewhat colder, gloomier feel, which I also like in movies like this.
Longlegs Is Creepy
Is the movie scary? Not as much as it's creepy. Cage plays Longlegs as he's almost unrecognizable in this part. Yes, just a strange character. While he isn't flashed all over the screen, you do see his full facial features from time to time. I did like that fact that they didn't push him too far in front of the camera. It kept his character more of a mystery.
This movie reminded me slightly of Silence of the Lambs. It had that kind of vibe. The story centered around a female detective with clairvoyant capabilities, as they search for Longlegs who strikes girls on or around their birthdays, which happen to fall on the 14th of the month.
Longlegs Is Unique
Although the movie isn't as scary as I was led to believe, there were a few good jump scares, and its creepiness sticks with you for a while. I thought it was shot in a creative way and the story was unique. It wasn't your typical cookie-cutter horror movie, which I can appreciate.
My daughter gave it 4 out of 5 stars. She said she liked it but didn't love it. I'm with her, as I'll give it 3.5 out of 5. It's worth watching, but maybe not at the theater. I love seeing movies there, so I went as soon as possible. Some may want to wait for streaming.
[select-listicle listicle_id="1022260" syndication_name="13-must-see-horror-movies" description="yes"]
