Seconding _Blackcoat's Daughter_ , a movie I'm almost sure Kermode would like a lot and which also exists under the title _February_ (in case it's tricky to find). Such atmosphere. I thought last year's _The Holdovers_ ripped it off shamelessly (kidding).
Having seen Longlegs, I would say The Black coat's Daughter is a strongly recommended watch if you like Longlegs. There are some thematic similarities (ie. Satanic).
He's also named after his grandfather who was a silent movie actor who went on to appear in the original Scarface in the 1930's. The legendary Louise Brooks rated him very highly.
"Get It On" had to be released as "Bang A Gong (Get It On)" in the United States because there was a jazz-rock band in the U.S. called Chase that had a minor Top 40 hit with an instrumental called "Get It On" that was on the charts at about the same time.
I saw it earlier with a friend of mine and we both really liked it (as I knew I would at least). Visceral and dread-filled throughout, beautifully shot, excellently acted and watching/hearing Cage shriek in his car with that ominous thudding score behind it, made my blood run cold. As did most of the ending.
Perkins understands _dread_ and uses it so effectively in all his films. Which seems to be increasingly rare, as compared to the hit-you-over-the-head horror cinema. (I think that's where this 'elevated horror' expression comes from; it actually makes you think for half a moment). Cannot wait to see this tomorrow.
Agree. Waiting for something horrible to happen is sometimes far more effective than something horrible actually happening (especially if it's happens constantly).
@@otterpoet if only he could write. His movie is about a guy who makes possessed dolls living in the main detective's mom's basement. That's the film. The psychic element goes no where it helps her find a house so her partner can die and move the plot. The calligraphy goes no where. The story and script are hilarious.
@@rjmacready6693 The psychic element was a misdirect to make you believe that Longlegs is contacting her because she's spiritually gifted and hunting him. It obfuscates the twist about their real relationship. It's also how she decoded the messages which indicate the location of the Camera family doll. You can write a reductive description about any movie to make it sound silly: "Inception is about a couple of people taking a nap on a plane. That's the film."
"Dread" is pointless without execution of a story. I assume you figured this out now as you watched it. The movie had so much potential...but I guess they ran out of money at the end...the 3rd act was a waste. Comparing this to Silence of the Lambs or Seven is an insult. Hannibal Lecter would eat that sissy boy for breakfast. 😉
@@user-xs8sg1ju3g First Omen, Handling the Undead, Exhuma. Idk I feel like I watched a completely different movie than a lot of people, photography and atmosphere was great but almost zero scares
Just saw it. Found it to verge on creepy, but at times be completely absurd bordering on hilarious. By the end I was pretty confused with what had happened and what the hell I'd just watched, but truthfully I was completely transfixed by it from start to finish. I'm not sure I've fully decided if I actually liked it or not... but it's absolutely left an impression and I won't forget it in a hurry. Also, looked and sounded stunning.
Funny, i just watched it last night and had somewhat the same reaction. The problem is, yes, that sometimes means it is a good film and thus needs to be seen again to be fully appreciated but i can't imagine wanting to give this one another viewing. Like, "No thank you". ha!
The issue for me was I liked it immediately as I knew nothing other than nic cage being in it. Fantastic opening and loved the T rex vibe then it lost mystery and meaning. I really want to like it. Also 140 run time 👌
Confused as to how everyone seems to be confused. I thought there was actually too much exposition compared to Perkins’ other films. I wish he would’ve kept some of his previous mystery and not done an exposition dump at the end of this film.
Cinematography 10, Acting 9, Story 7, Overall 8.7. Great movie. I'm honestly not a huge fan of Cage because he always seems like "Nicholas Cage" regardless of role, but it was nice to see him go nuts. Maika Monroe has wonderful presence, something you just can't teach. She plays the lead flawlessly even if it is sort of a withdrawn character.
I saw it yesterday at The Tyneside Cinena and teally enjoyed it. Not the scariest horror film ever, but well-shot, thoughtful and very atmospheric. A superior psychological horror that stays with you.
Just saw this tonight and maybe I’ve just seen too many films likes this but I didn’t find it that scary or unsettling…the vibes were perfect but I felt like it was missing something. Also tbh I roll my eyes when the satan stuff is too blatant, give me a proper mystery and let me figure out if the “man downstairs” is responsible or not :/
@@Model_Roethe movie built to nothing. The atmosphere was there. The "dread" was there...but without a story....what does dread do...."nothing". This movie had soooo much potential. Perkins pissed it away in the 3rd act. I mean...c'mon....the Mom will continue the delivery of dolls to families after the dollmaker is dead? Can't deliver more dolls when there are no more made. The movie really imploded on itself at the end. I think they run out of money and had to wrap it up quickly. The audience was lied to...greatest marketing scheme/ripoff I have seen in a long time.
The man downstairs was responsible, but through human being's free will. And Like Blackcoat's daughter, they could just keep making films like this where they all say "HS"
Completely agree. Saw it last night and really enjoyed it!! I think the scene in the car with cage screaming about his parents and the whole of the interrogation scene are some of his best performances in a long long time. Some genuinely effective jump scares too!
I watched it with my 70+ year old aunty. The other option was an Everyman throwback screening of Mama Mia 😂. Suffice it to say, we both find the film highly unsettling. It was great.
At first when my theater started laughing I was like "shit they're going to ruin this movie". But then I was like "no this is actually an intentionally funny character that is still very unsettling". Truly a unique character that only Cage could make work
Only realised it was Cage during the Polaroid scene about 50 mins in. I sort of forgot he was in it and wasn't looking out for him to appear on-screen.
This was actually produced by Neon and not A24, but those 2 companies have a similar vibe and produced several of my favorite film from the last dacade. And Blackcoat's daughter is amazing
Yeah I found it kinda funny that Mark spent so much of this review explaining what the expectations of an "A24 horror movie" are considering that this wasn't actually one of their releases. However 'A24 style horror' has become a kinda subgenre in itself (and is a much better name than, ugh, 'elevated' horror) and NEON Pictures are probably the 2nd biggest fish in that pond.
I’ve been looking for something in between the overbearing dread of ‘The Babadook’ but with a more visceral edge like ‘Blue Ruin’ and this sounds perfect. I trust Kermode completely.
Loved this movie from Beginning to end. Nicholas Cage top performance . Really powerful . Seeing this in the cinema I really appreciate how cinema technology in particular HDR in this case helps with story telling and the low light scenes. Lee with her torch when she ventures outside her cabin.
Third act goes full Nunjuring. Went in expecting a hybrid of Silence of the Lambs/Manhunter and Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer... left incredibly disappointed.
Yeah. They should haver never mentioned The Silence of the Lambs. Ever since I saw Late Night With the Devil and how disappointed I was with that, I have FINALLY learned that anytime a movie comes out with "THE *NEW* SCARIEST MOVIE EVER MADE" or "it's the new Exorcist or The Silence of the Lambs" I automatically know to lower my expectations.
There are fundamental problems with it beyond expectations. There's little attempt to flesh out the characters to the point where you don't feel much connection with anyone. The film is very singularly paced before going from nought to a hundred in the last fifteen minutes, dumping a load of exposition on you and never really bringing together any of the clues from earlier. It's shot very well and has moments where it verges on being chilling, but Nicholas Cage's titular character is just plain daft. You laugh at it whilst shaking your head, not nervously.
While I found the concept original, and the tone and performances effective, the script left a lot to be desired. I’d give it a five out of ten stars. It’s not terrible, but it doesn’t live up to the hype.
Strongly agreed. The story was filled with elements that didn't add anything to the plot ("let's do this, because...it's cool I guess"), the "reveal" was incredibly predictable, delivered through very on-the-nose exposition, and (imo) just plain silly. I did not find it terrifying either.
Saw this last night and honestly was a little disappointed. I think the first half of the film is fantastic. Genuinely scary and tense. But for me it falls apart in the 2nd half as things start to be revealed and Nicolas Cage starts being Nicolas Cage. Still think this is an admirable film and worth a watch but I did leave hoping for more.
I agree with you, but not the part about Nicolas Cage. For me, the first half sets up a pretty chilling film about an agent trying to track down a very real killer, and the second half was about devil voodoo magic. It seemed to me like the writer had all the inspiration for the setup, but got writers block and just wanted to finish it so .. 🤷♂️.. magic.
I completely agree. First of all, Cage’s character was shown way too much in the film. They really missed a chance to add suspense/dread if they had waited later to fully reveal him and yes Nick Cage going over the top a few times did take away from the film. However, i did enjoy the movie and will def. watch again
@@miniman2132 completely agree - the whole satanic element took me straight out of the immersion - and just told me that “the writers didn’t know how to finish it smartly”, so the devil being the reason for everything seems like an easy cop out
@@miniman2132 came here to say the same thing. Either the end reveal needs to be set up from the start, so we know what universe we’re in, or there needs to be a non-supernatural explanation. And the word explanation is probably giving it too much credit, there is nothing that explains anything beyond ‘occult’. Very, very disappointed.
Pretty much concur with everything here. Unsettling atmosphere, lots of use of negative background space. I love how it walks the line between crime procedural and otherworldly occult ideas. And yes, I definitely laughed a couple times, what more could you want. I need to see it again to see how certain puzzle pieces line up.
It wasn't ''A Scariest film of the Decade'', But it was definitely an interesting watch, I would definitely recommend it to people who are more into crime/thriller genre, because this is definitely not a horror film. It has horror elements but it wasn't a full blown horror movie from start to finish. There was some unsettling and creepy parts but I never felt truly scared. Nic Cage and Maika Monroe were both great, the actress who plays Lee's mother in the film was fantastic, she was absolutely creepy. But it definitely a type of movie that you need to see twice, it demands that. So I am definitely going to be seeing again but this time alone at home. I just came out of the screening couple of minutes ago, so the movie is very fresh in my mind but I just... I don't know, I need to sit with this movie for a bit and think how I feel about it, because there were stuff I really, really liked and then there were some other stuff that I would put under a question mark. That's why I think it necessary to see it twice. I can say that I think this film should have been either longer or a mini-series, a 1 hour 40 minute runtime is not enough to tell such a story I feel like, there is quite a lot that is left to viewer's imagination, a very ambiguous ending. I don't hate the ending but I do wish we got a conclusion, it felt like we will be getting Longlegs 2 or something... but either way, I can't decide fully on how I feel about this film, I will say I did like it more than I did not like it, but I don't want to go in the details because I am not 100% sure if even the things I did not like I truly don't like you know? But it definitely was an experience that I overall enjoyed but at the same let down by few things, I did feel like it needed to be longer at the very least and the jumpscares were weak... absolutely weak to me. But I will still recommend for anybody to go check it out for yourself, especially like I said before if you are fan of these type of movies (Silence of the Lambs, Seven or Zodiac) then this could be a good time for you. I will say this, this film is definitely also not on par with Silence of the Lambs or Seven in terms of filmmaking, storytelling and etc etc... It definitely pays homage to those films but at the same time brings an interesting unique twist to the movie which I did really like. So yeah, go check it out. I feel like this movie is going to be very divisive, some people will love it some people will like it and some will straight out hate it, it definitely a more of A24 type movie. Also, Nic Cage's performance was definitely something... I did not know how to approach his character at first... but eventually he did get under my skin but I can see some people straight out laugh at this character because of how ridiculous he is in this (even tho there is literally people like that in real life as weird, as creepy with sinister mind. Also, serial killers come in many forms and even tho they are similar to each other from the psychological standpoi they still are different. Even I smiled couple of times because Nic Cage was having a lot of fun in this one, oh my oh my... He was chewing every scene, the interrogation scene definitely is going to be a memorable scene from the movie. Gosh, I went on a huge rant.. I need to chill, but at the moment it very hard for me to rate this, I need to wait a bit until I can truly comprehend what I just saw.
@@nox5870 I would also add No Country for Old Men. The scene of long legs in the hardware store felt too reminiscent of the infamous gas station coin flip scene in No Country for Old Men
Part of the reason I love this movie as much as I do is because it is so brief. Movies like this and GOOD TIME i watch so damn much because they are like 90 minutes in and out. I've seen LONGLEGS twice and I love it, it's so weird and bizarre and creepy. It's awesome.
@@RYNO2511not even Silence of the Lambs. Personally I don’t get the hype. Anthony Hopkins is so absurdly hammy in it, you’d think he were a gammon joint. Great thriller, but I simply don’t understand the people who say it’s one of the best films ever made.
@@hennersmusicreviews58 you're entitled to your opinion, the movie isn't only praised for hopkins' performance though, it has a mood about it that not many films can replicate well, IMO it's like the perfect crime thriller/horror
It tries too hard to be Silence of the Lambs. It's disappointingly predictive. Almost boring at points. I wanted to love it. Nick Cage is great though.
“You know what sort of film you’re going to get when you see a24”? Marcel the Shell, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Aftersun, Hereditary? Nothing alike
Although I will say, I wish he would continue to do his year end best of lists, there was never any good discernible reason to stop them and it’s from those lists that I’ve watched some of my favourite films, ever. Please bring them back Mark
First let me say that I am personally drawn to dark, twisted, and disturbing slow burn films. Just saw "Longlegs" last night. Went to the movie theatre alone so I could focus on watching it. Theatre was like 3/4 filled. Incredible performance by Nicolas Cage. He is so good here that I am afraid he might get typecast in similar roles, hopefully not. Cage in "Longlegs" brought back memories of Ledger's Joker. Comparable but I think Cage's performance was even more intense. Alicia Witt was pretty good, too, albeit in a subdued performance. Among movies that I can compare it to, I'd rank "Longlegs" just as good as "Silence of the Lambs". In as far as the intensity of the storytelling is concerned, I'd rank "Longlegs" the same as "Nocturnal Animals". I also like the cinematography specially the first scene. I won't be surprised if Cage gets nominated for a "Best Actor" award here or if Oz Perkins receives a nomination for "Best Director".
I think he's safe from being typecast. He seems to be heavily involved with the production of the movies he's in these days and probably has pretty free rein over what he's in, especially now he seems to be over his financial problems.
I think Mark will enjoy Oz Perkins other works. My particular favourite is The Blackcoats Daughter. A very underrated film that is incredibly creepy and has a foreboding atmosphere throughout. Well worth a watch
I have the feeling that this film is going to bring Osgood Perkins even wider acclaim, and rightly so! In an interview recently, he said they this was probably his most personal film yet, as its about how parents can lie to their children out of love - after experiencing the same, as his mum tried to keep his dad's sexuality a secret. Both Osgood and Elvis Perkins are amazingly talented artists in their own right (with parents like Tony and Berry, how could they not be!), the more people discover their work, the better!! ❤
Seeing it Today in the evening with packed crowd... hopefully it will be one of the best cinema experiences I had in a while. I seen A Quiet Place: Day One in the cinemas earlier, and I was disappointed by it... did not work for me at all and I like the first two Quiet Place movies.
Perkins is interesting, because I feel like both this and The Blackcoat’s Daughter have this almost…Kubrickian sort of emotional alienation. Characters mostly speak and behave in slightly heightened, weird, unnatural ways, and it feels like the movie is always keeping us at arm’s length. I dunno. Parts of it ring a little bit hollow for me, and honestly I think some of the territory it’s exploring was utilized more effectively in Sinister, but I have to admit that the vibes are immaculate. The aesthetics of it are absolutely top-notch.
I saw a review on Letterboxd that said Longlegs reminded them of Seven, in that there weren't really any other characters in the world than the ones that needed to be for the story to play out. I agree.
@@timothywimpy dude, HH LLC Origins is definitely one of the creepiest modern horror films that falls way under the radar. It's actually my favorite Hell House film. So f'n eerie. I never get scared anymore but that movie had me creeped out. I saw Longlegs last night and honestly, the teasers were way more disturbing than the actual film itself. It falls apart in the third act honestly. Feels super rushed and the story becomes goofballs. But it does have one of my favorite Cage performances now. He's the reason to see this film. Not much screen time, but he goes FULL CAGE
@@vexomnight3079 oh awesome dude im the same I very rareley get creeped out but hell house origins was so bloody creepy in parts haha i loved it, thanks for the little review of longlegs
Neon do it again: taxing the hype machine, delivering a mid movie. Was really stoked to see this but as with Immaculate before it, I left feeling hugely underwhelmed. Props to the sound design, score and cinematography as these elements carried the film.
Amazed you havent seen Blackcoats Daughter yet! One of the best horrors in years. Upsetting and very good-also titled February if anyone cant find it. Great trailer too.
“Dantes Inferno” sales will sky rocket now because of Nine Circles of Hell display. Well at least downloads will increase, it should be in public domain.
Did anyone else find the temperature in the theater changed during the screening? I felt hot and cold at different points. It added to the unsettledness.
Not a horror film. Undercooked main character, generic scares (loud noises), everything foreshadowed to death. Nic Cage hamming it up is the only thing that distracts from how inert this was.
The cinematography was great, definitely has you thinking. Nicholas Cage went a little over board but its was film that has me thinking if its good or bad. Never experienced watching a film so intense, creepy and aesthetically pleasen to the eye. Truly one of a kind movie. Definitely want a to know more about longlegs and Harper.
Just out of the cinema from watching this film - really enjoyed it. Open for a sequel. I don't mind it one comes along, but please don't let this be a franchise vehicle, otherwise all originality lost I fear. Nicholas Cage is great and makes me want to see more of the character by way of a prequel. I will be keeping an eye out for more by Osgood Perkins.
@@eurongreyjoy2 Nah, if the movie was just some guy and not supernatural, it would suck. That the heroine can't actually defeat what's really going on makes it great. Similar to Hereditary.
First half was awesome and for me was gearing up to be the best horror/thriller of the last decade, really enjoyed it. Second half just deceneded into a bit of a mess, lead with Cages performance which for me was a miscast as he overshoots. As I was watching it, I was thinking I can't see how they are going to end this without it disappointing and unfortunately, it disappoints. Worth watching for sure, but doesn't live up to the hype which is a shame because the first half is amazing.
Oz Perkins is one of the best new horror directors. February, I am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House, Gretel & Hansel and now Longlegs (tickets booked!)
I’m surprised Mark referred to the killer from Silence of the Lambs as the Tooth Fairy ? Isn’t that the killer from Red Dragon ? Silence of the lambs is Buffalo Bill.. I know they’re almost the same so probably easy to get mixed up, but Kermodes like a horror encyclopaedia 😂
Glad am not the only one who noticed this 😂 incidentally, Perkins said he deliberately set it in the early 90s as it was the heyday of serial killer films.
I came away not knowing if I liked or disliked it. Or if it was scary or not. It feels a bit like watching a 2hr trailer for another film which was probably quite good.
I actually thought Cage was the worst part of the film. His campy Cageness dragged me out of the wonderfully creepy atmosphere and reminded me, yeah it's nic cage.
Interesting. Maybe I wasn't in the right headspace. I thought the cinematography was beautiful and the creepy vibe was awesome but in the end it didn't work. The movie started well. Really standard "crazy" Cage performance mostly (which is good but nothing new) and and an ending that left me asking what was the point. Ultimately a let down.for me.
Silence of the Lambs and Se7en are the alpha and omega of the serial killer genre. I was hoping Longlegs would come close based on the hype, but sadly this fell far short of the mark for me. Osgood Perkins’ previous films have tended to bore me more than scare me, and the trend continues. I really hoped he had broken out of his meandering pacing but by the time things picked up the movie was over with a train wreck of genre tropes in its wake, none of which added up to any satisfactory conclusion. Style points for camerawork but Cage is teetering between good Cage and bad Cage and that was a distraction as well. Ugh I wanted to love this but instead recommend it more for inexperienced horror fans that don’t mind slooooowwww burn pacing and who value style more than substance. Maybe a second viewing might improve things, but 99% of the time one knows a classic the first time they see it, and this is not that film. 6.5/10
Spoiler.................. ........... question major plot hole..... So if the devil completes his plan then what????? And why not make it time sensitive if they don't solve this by X time X happens?? Just bugged me otherwise used to live in Wisconsin it looks very similar down to the houses
Blackcoat's Daughter is another film of his with an ongoing visceral sense of dread, it's like a dark ambient filmclip all the way through.
Seconding _Blackcoat's Daughter_ , a movie I'm almost sure Kermode would like a lot and which also exists under the title _February_ (in case it's tricky to find). Such atmosphere. I thought last year's _The Holdovers_ ripped it off shamelessly (kidding).
Blackcoats Daughter is terrific.
@@Iggsy81 Not forgetting a brilliantly gloomy performance from Kiernan Shipka
forgot about that one, cool movie.
Having seen Longlegs, I would say The Black coat's Daughter is a strongly recommended watch if you like Longlegs. There are some thematic similarities (ie. Satanic).
Osgood's mother was also berry Berenson, the actress who died in the first plane going into the WTC on 911. He's got quite the parental CV.
@estebancomulet and his aunt is Marisa Berenson, who was a lead actress in Stanley Kubricks Barry Lyndon. Everyone in Hollywood is connected.
And his aunt was Marisa Berenson, who was the lead actress in Stanley Kubricks Barry Lyndon in 1975.
@@randallstubblefield1633 oh wow. Didn’t know that. My favourite Kubrick.
He's also named after his grandfather who was a silent movie actor who went on to appear in the original Scarface in the 1930's. The legendary Louise Brooks rated him very highly.
and his grandmother was Elsa Schiaparelli, one of the most influential and revolutionary Fashion Designers ever to exist!
"Get It On" had to be released as "Bang A Gong (Get It On)" in the United States because there was a jazz-rock band in the U.S. called Chase that had a minor Top 40 hit with an instrumental called "Get It On" that was on the charts at about the same time.
@@jonsrecordcollection7172 Correct!
I saw it earlier with a friend of mine and we both really liked it (as I knew I would at least). Visceral and dread-filled throughout, beautifully shot, excellently acted and watching/hearing Cage shriek in his car with that ominous thudding score behind it, made my blood run cold. As did most of the ending.
Perkins' Gretel and Hansel was the last movie I saw in theaters before lockdown.
It's such an audio and visual treat with a palpable atmosphere!
@@travisspazz1624 I loved that film! Very underrated gem
And way better than this one....
Perkins understands _dread_ and uses it so effectively in all his films. Which seems to be increasingly rare, as compared to the hit-you-over-the-head horror cinema. (I think that's where this 'elevated horror' expression comes from; it actually makes you think for half a moment). Cannot wait to see this tomorrow.
Agree. Waiting for something horrible to happen is sometimes far more effective than something horrible actually happening (especially if it's happens constantly).
@@otterpoet if only he could write. His movie is about a guy who makes possessed dolls living in the main detective's mom's basement. That's the film. The psychic element goes no where it helps her find a house so her partner can die and move the plot. The calligraphy goes no where. The story and script are hilarious.
@@rjmacready6693 Dude, spoilers! Not cool my man, you're less RJMacready right now and more Henry Swanson.
@@rjmacready6693 The psychic element was a misdirect to make you believe that Longlegs is contacting her because she's spiritually gifted and hunting him. It obfuscates the twist about their real relationship. It's also how she decoded the messages which indicate the location of the Camera family doll. You can write a reductive description about any movie to make it sound silly: "Inception is about a couple of people taking a nap on a plane. That's the film."
"Dread" is pointless without execution of a story. I assume you figured this out now as you watched it. The movie had so much potential...but I guess they ran out of money at the end...the 3rd act was a waste. Comparing this to Silence of the Lambs or Seven is an insult. Hannibal Lecter would eat that sissy boy for breakfast. 😉
This movie is likely NOT the scariest movie of the year but it was a pleasure to consume and I'd absolutely watch it again.
what film is scarier that came out this year in your opinion?
@@Not4Sale37 You “consume” movies?
@@user-xs8sg1ju3g First Omen, Handling the Undead, Exhuma. Idk I feel like I watched a completely different movie than a lot of people, photography and atmosphere was great but almost zero scares
crushingly boring and predictable film, relying on doll and devil tropes that eliminate anything original it could have done.
@@MrTsiolkovsky don't spoil it for others 🙄
I think crushingly boring is a nonsense but you're entitled to your opinion
Just saw it. Found it to verge on creepy, but at times be completely absurd bordering on hilarious. By the end I was pretty confused with what had happened and what the hell I'd just watched, but truthfully I was completely transfixed by it from start to finish. I'm not sure I've fully decided if I actually liked it or not... but it's absolutely left an impression and I won't forget it in a hurry.
Also, looked and sounded stunning.
@@HappySnacky I had exactly the same reaction! Saw it yesterday & still can’t decide whether or not I liked it.
That's a sign of a very very good film in my opinion. Not seen it yet but that definitely makes me excited you both think that.
Funny, i just watched it last night and had somewhat the same reaction. The problem is, yes, that sometimes means it is a good film and thus needs to be seen again to be fully appreciated but i can't imagine wanting to give this one another viewing. Like, "No thank you". ha!
The issue for me was I liked it immediately as I knew nothing other than nic cage being in it. Fantastic opening and loved the T rex vibe then it lost mystery and meaning. I really want to like it. Also 140 run time 👌
Confused as to how everyone seems to be confused. I thought there was actually too much exposition compared to Perkins’ other films. I wish he would’ve kept some of his previous mystery and not done an exposition dump at the end of this film.
This was so good saw it a half hour ago I am still thinking about it! Sound design, visuals , editing and acting all off the charts !
Saw this last night in Manchester thanks to Grimmfest. Superb and unsettling.
Cinematography 10, Acting 9, Story 7, Overall 8.7. Great movie. I'm honestly not a huge fan of Cage because he always seems like "Nicholas Cage" regardless of role, but it was nice to see him go nuts. Maika Monroe has wonderful presence, something you just can't teach. She plays the lead flawlessly even if it is sort of a withdrawn character.
I'd have to agree with your ratings.
Adaptation is a good Nic Cage movie, shows his depth as an actor
Solid review. I loved it. Both solid leads.
Seeing this tomorrow and CANNOT wait. I love it when Cage goes full Cage
@@tangerinemisfit same here! Enjoy!
same!!!!
He’s barely in it. It’s not as good as people are saying. Like a 5 maybe 6 out of 10 honestly.
@@skittlz101T Interesting, which horror movie or movies you would give, lets say 9 or 10 out of 10?
@@skittlz101TI still really liked it
I saw it yesterday at The Tyneside Cinena and teally enjoyed it. Not the scariest horror film ever, but well-shot, thoughtful and very atmospheric. A superior psychological horror that stays with you.
Just saw this tonight and maybe I’ve just seen too many films likes this but I didn’t find it that scary or unsettling…the vibes were perfect but I felt like it was missing something. Also tbh I roll my eyes when the satan stuff is too blatant, give me a proper mystery and let me figure out if the “man downstairs” is responsible or not :/
@@victoriadoh3385 I thought I was the only one💀just got out of it and I’m like……it wasn’t baddddd, but I think I’m desensitized.
Just watched it. 100% agree
youre entitled to your opinion but you thinking its not scary does not mean its not
@@Model_Roethe movie built to nothing. The atmosphere was there. The "dread" was there...but without a story....what does dread do...."nothing". This movie had soooo much potential. Perkins pissed it away in the 3rd act. I mean...c'mon....the Mom will continue the delivery of dolls to families after the dollmaker is dead? Can't deliver more dolls when there are no more made. The movie really imploded on itself at the end. I think they run out of money and had to wrap it up quickly. The audience was lied to...greatest marketing scheme/ripoff I have seen in a long time.
The man downstairs was responsible, but through human being's free will. And Like Blackcoat's daughter, they could just keep making films like this where they all say "HS"
Completely agree. Saw it last night and really enjoyed it!! I think the scene in the car with cage screaming about his parents and the whole of the interrogation scene are some of his best performances in a long long time. Some genuinely effective jump scares too!
I watched it with my 70+ year old aunty. The other option was an Everyman throwback screening of Mama Mia 😂.
Suffice it to say, we both find the film highly unsettling. It was great.
Came out of the cinema about half an hour ago...that was an experience.
Good or bad?
@@rickewilde I'd say good, wasn't scary per se, very unsettling...a few bits were meh but on the whole was a goodun!
Ok. Worth a watch then
@@rickewilde Definitely worth a watch, wasn't what I expected but in a good way. Let me know what you think 🙂
I could not stop laughing at Cage's performance. it was so good. I hope that was intentional
At first when my theater started laughing I was like "shit they're going to ruin this movie". But then I was like "no this is actually an intentionally funny character that is still very unsettling". Truly a unique character that only Cage could make work
I could not stop laughing at Cage's performance. I agree with that.
It was definitely intentional, the last shot of the film kind of winks to the audience that it is not to be taken too seriously.
Same, and I think so. It didn't stop the film being immensely tight and enjoyable.
Only realised it was Cage during the Polaroid scene about 50 mins in. I sort of forgot he was in it and wasn't looking out for him to appear on-screen.
I'm already itching to watch it again
I’m very excited to see this. It seems heavy on vibes and atmosphere, which is totally my bag.
"That is my bag, baby!" - Austin Powers
This was actually produced by Neon and not A24, but those 2 companies have a similar vibe and produced several of my favorite film from the last dacade.
And Blackcoat's daughter is amazing
Yeah I found it kinda funny that Mark spent so much of this review explaining what the expectations of an "A24 horror movie" are considering that this wasn't actually one of their releases. However 'A24 style horror' has become a kinda subgenre in itself (and is a much better name than, ugh, 'elevated' horror) and NEON Pictures are probably the 2nd biggest fish in that pond.
I saw it last night. Enjoyed it, will watch again when it goes to streaming services. Creepy.
Very strange but creepy film
I’ve been looking for something in between the overbearing dread of ‘The Babadook’ but with a more visceral edge like ‘Blue Ruin’ and this sounds perfect. I trust Kermode completely.
That’s a great thing to be lookin for..
What am I lookin for
Looking forward to seeing this. Thanks for the review, I was waiting to hear Marks thoughts on it.
Nic Cage continues to be a local treasure here in Las Vegas. Definitely need to check this out.
One of the few critics I actually take seriously. I'll be sure to check this out.
Loved this movie from
Beginning to end. Nicholas Cage top performance . Really powerful . Seeing this in the cinema I really appreciate how cinema technology in particular HDR in this case helps with story telling and the low light scenes. Lee with her torch when she ventures outside her cabin.
Sold. I'll go see it tonight.
Third act goes full Nunjuring. Went in expecting a hybrid of Silence of the Lambs/Manhunter and Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer... left incredibly disappointed.
Yeah. They should haver never mentioned The Silence of the Lambs. Ever since I saw Late Night With the Devil and how disappointed I was with that, I have FINALLY learned that anytime a movie comes out with "THE *NEW* SCARIEST MOVIE EVER MADE" or "it's the new Exorcist or The Silence of the Lambs" I automatically know to lower my expectations.
Now a hybrid of SotL, Mindhunter and Henry is a film I'll definitely queue up to see
Perhaps your disappointment was caused by your expectations instead of taking the movie for what it is.
There are fundamental problems with it beyond expectations. There's little attempt to flesh out the characters to the point where you don't feel much connection with anyone. The film is very singularly paced before going from nought to a hundred in the last fifteen minutes, dumping a load of exposition on you and never really bringing together any of the clues from earlier. It's shot very well and has moments where it verges on being chilling, but Nicholas Cage's titular character is just plain daft. You laugh at it whilst shaking your head, not nervously.
agreed, terrible film
While I found the concept original, and the tone and performances effective, the script left a lot to be desired. I’d give it a five out of ten stars. It’s not terrible, but it doesn’t live up to the hype.
Strongly agreed. The story was filled with elements that didn't add anything to the plot ("let's do this, because...it's cool I guess"), the "reveal" was incredibly predictable, delivered through very on-the-nose exposition, and (imo) just plain silly.
I did not find it terrifying either.
Not dissapointed in the slightest. Loved it.
Saw this last night and honestly was a little disappointed. I think the first half of the film is fantastic. Genuinely scary and tense. But for me it falls apart in the 2nd half as things start to be revealed and Nicolas Cage starts being Nicolas Cage. Still think this is an admirable film and worth a watch but I did leave hoping for more.
I agree with you, but not the part about Nicolas Cage.
For me, the first half sets up a pretty chilling film about an agent trying to track down a very real killer, and the second half was about devil voodoo magic.
It seemed to me like the writer had all the inspiration for the setup, but got writers block and just wanted to finish it so .. 🤷♂️.. magic.
I completely agree. First of all, Cage’s character was shown way too much in the film. They really missed a chance to add suspense/dread if they had waited later to fully reveal him and yes Nick Cage going over the top a few times did take away from the film. However, i did enjoy the movie and will def. watch again
💯 the first hour of this movie is incredible- such a shame it implodes
@@miniman2132 completely agree - the whole satanic element took me straight out of the immersion - and just told me that “the writers didn’t know how to finish it smartly”, so the devil being the reason for everything seems like an easy cop out
@@miniman2132 came here to say the same thing. Either the end reveal needs to be set up from the start, so we know what universe we’re in, or there needs to be a non-supernatural explanation. And the word explanation is probably giving it too much credit, there is nothing that explains anything beyond ‘occult’. Very, very disappointed.
*I must see this.*
Pretty much concur with everything here. Unsettling atmosphere, lots of use of negative background space. I love how it walks the line between crime procedural and otherworldly occult ideas. And yes, I definitely laughed a couple times, what more could you want. I need to see it again to see how certain puzzle pieces line up.
Been super hyped for this review… almost as much as I’ve been hyped to see the movie! 😅
It wasn't ''A Scariest film of the Decade'', But it was definitely an interesting watch, I would definitely recommend it to people who are more into crime/thriller genre, because this is definitely not a horror film. It has horror elements but it wasn't a full blown horror movie from start to finish. There was some unsettling and creepy parts but I never felt truly scared. Nic Cage and Maika Monroe were both great, the actress who plays Lee's mother in the film was fantastic, she was absolutely creepy. But it definitely a type of movie that you need to see twice, it demands that. So I am definitely going to be seeing again but this time alone at home. I just came out of the screening couple of minutes ago, so the movie is very fresh in my mind but I just... I don't know, I need to sit with this movie for a bit and think how I feel about it, because there were stuff I really, really liked and then there were some other stuff that I would put under a question mark. That's why I think it necessary to see it twice. I can say that I think this film should have been either longer or a mini-series, a 1 hour 40 minute runtime is not enough to tell such a story I feel like, there is quite a lot that is left to viewer's imagination, a very ambiguous ending. I don't hate the ending but I do wish we got a conclusion, it felt like we will be getting Longlegs 2 or something... but either way, I can't decide fully on how I feel about this film, I will say I did like it more than I did not like it, but I don't want to go in the details because I am not 100% sure if even the things I did not like I truly don't like you know? But it definitely was an experience that I overall enjoyed but at the same let down by few things, I did feel like it needed to be longer at the very least and the jumpscares were weak... absolutely weak to me. But I will still recommend for anybody to go check it out for yourself, especially like I said before if you are fan of these type of movies (Silence of the Lambs, Seven or Zodiac) then this could be a good time for you. I will say this, this film is definitely also not on par with Silence of the Lambs or Seven in terms of filmmaking, storytelling and etc etc... It definitely pays homage to those films but at the same time brings an interesting unique twist to the movie which I did really like. So yeah, go check it out. I feel like this movie is going to be very divisive, some people will love it some people will like it and some will straight out hate it, it definitely a more of A24 type movie. Also, Nic Cage's performance was definitely something... I did not know how to approach his character at first... but eventually he did get under my skin but I can see some people straight out laugh at this character because of how ridiculous he is in this (even tho there is literally people like that in real life as weird, as creepy with sinister mind. Also, serial killers come in many forms and even tho they are similar to each other from the psychological standpoi they still are different. Even I smiled couple of times because Nic Cage was having a lot of fun in this one, oh my oh my... He was chewing every scene, the interrogation scene definitely is going to be a memorable scene from the movie. Gosh, I went on a huge rant.. I need to chill, but at the moment it very hard for me to rate this, I need to wait a bit until I can truly comprehend what I just saw.
@@nox5870 I would also add No Country for Old Men. The scene of long legs in the hardware store felt too reminiscent of the infamous gas station coin flip scene in No Country for Old Men
I absolutely detest the phrase ‘elevated horror’
Part of the reason I love this movie as much as I do is because it is so brief. Movies like this and GOOD TIME i watch so damn much because they are like 90 minutes in and out. I've seen LONGLEGS twice and I love it, it's so weird and bizarre and creepy. It's awesome.
It's definitely not silence of the lambs level. All the performances are good, Cage going full Cage had me laughing.
To be fair, is anything on the same level as the silence of the lambs?
@@RYNO2511not even Silence of the Lambs. Personally I don’t get the hype. Anthony Hopkins is so absurdly hammy in it, you’d think he were a gammon joint. Great thriller, but I simply don’t understand the people who say it’s one of the best films ever made.
@@hennersmusicreviews58 you're entitled to your opinion, the movie isn't only praised for hopkins' performance though, it has a mood about it that not many films can replicate well, IMO it's like the perfect crime thriller/horror
@RYNO2511 true, I'm just annoyed the market is trying to compare the 2, it's not even close.
It tries too hard to be Silence of the Lambs. It's disappointingly predictive. Almost boring at points. I wanted to love it. Nick Cage is great though.
“You know what sort of film you’re going to get when you see a24”? Marcel the Shell, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Aftersun, Hereditary? Nothing alike
Those are exactly the same film
This was better than Hereditary imo, personally A24 best horror is the witch
Although I will say, I wish he would continue to do his year end best of lists, there was never any good discernible reason to stop them and it’s from those lists that I’ve watched some of my favourite films, ever. Please bring them back Mark
First let me say that I am personally drawn to dark, twisted, and disturbing slow burn films. Just saw "Longlegs" last night. Went to the movie theatre alone so I could focus on watching it. Theatre was like 3/4 filled. Incredible performance by Nicolas Cage. He is so good here that I am afraid he might get typecast in similar roles, hopefully not. Cage in "Longlegs" brought back memories of Ledger's Joker. Comparable but I think Cage's performance was even more intense. Alicia Witt was pretty good, too, albeit in a subdued performance. Among movies that I can compare it to, I'd rank "Longlegs" just as good as "Silence of the Lambs". In as far as the intensity of the storytelling is concerned, I'd rank "Longlegs" the same as "Nocturnal Animals". I also like the cinematography specially the first scene. I won't be surprised if Cage gets nominated for a "Best Actor" award here or if Oz Perkins receives a nomination for "Best Director".
I think he's safe from being typecast. He seems to be heavily involved with the production of the movies he's in these days and probably has pretty free rein over what he's in, especially now he seems to be over his financial problems.
You had me at "It Comes at Night"
I think Mark will enjoy Oz Perkins other works. My particular favourite is The Blackcoats Daughter. A very underrated film that is incredibly creepy and has a foreboding atmosphere throughout. Well worth a watch
If Mark loves this movie, he should play Alan Wake 2. Every reviewer I've read so far. Refers A.WAKE2 as inspiration. Even Lee is Saga.
I have the feeling that this film is going to bring Osgood Perkins even wider acclaim, and rightly so! In an interview recently, he said they this was probably his most personal film yet, as its about how parents can lie to their children out of love - after experiencing the same, as his mum tried to keep his dad's sexuality a secret. Both Osgood and Elvis Perkins are amazingly talented artists in their own right (with parents like Tony and Berry, how could they not be!), the more people discover their work, the better!! ❤
Seeing it Today in the evening with packed crowd... hopefully it will be one of the best cinema experiences I had in a while. I seen A Quiet Place: Day One in the cinemas earlier, and I was disappointed by it... did not work for me at all and I like the first two Quiet Place movies.
Perkins is interesting, because I feel like both this and The Blackcoat’s Daughter have this almost…Kubrickian sort of emotional alienation. Characters mostly speak and behave in slightly heightened, weird, unnatural ways, and it feels like the movie is always keeping us at arm’s length.
I dunno. Parts of it ring a little bit hollow for me, and honestly I think some of the territory it’s exploring was utilized more effectively in Sinister, but I have to admit that the vibes are immaculate. The aesthetics of it are absolutely top-notch.
I saw a review on Letterboxd that said Longlegs reminded them of Seven, in that there weren't really any other characters in the world than the ones that needed to be for the story to play out. I agree.
the film that has creeped me out the most in years is Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor, i don't think longlegs will be as creepy as this
@@timothywimpy dude, HH LLC Origins is definitely one of the creepiest modern horror films that falls way under the radar. It's actually my favorite Hell House film. So f'n eerie. I never get scared anymore but that movie had me creeped out.
I saw Longlegs last night and honestly, the teasers were way more disturbing than the actual film itself. It falls apart in the third act honestly. Feels super rushed and the story becomes goofballs.
But it does have one of my favorite Cage performances now. He's the reason to see this film. Not much screen time, but he goes FULL CAGE
@@vexomnight3079 oh awesome dude im the same I very rareley get creeped out but hell house origins was so bloody creepy in parts haha i loved it, thanks for the little review of longlegs
The tooth fairy was from Red Dragon. You getting your Thomas Harris adaptations mixed up.
Very interested to hear/read Mark's review of the new aussie classic, Birdeater!
I'm about to go and see this in an hour and a half. I can't wait.
Edit: It was good.
Went in knowing absolutely nothing. Absolutely loved it. As unsettling as The Shining and fab cinematography. Go see it.
I don't think I'd call it as unsettling as The Shining lol
@zufgh I think in the moment it is but it doesn't have the mind bending weirdness of The Shining.
Bang a Gong? Get it On, Mark!
Longlegs is a Neon film right? Not A24
Neon, yes. But did kind of feel like an A24 movie, I found.
Neon is just A24 without the merch
Elevated horror. A bit like what Nicholas Roeg did in Don't Look Now back in the day. 😊
Movie was Decent, definitely overhyped with being "the most terrifying movie of the decade" but cage did steal every scene.
Kirnan Shiplap as Carrie Ann disturbed me as much, but perhaps it was more the dialogue that disturbed me
Did mark mean buffalo bill?
The Tooth Fairy is in Red Dragon, not Silence of the Lambs.
Can't believe mark kermode of all people hasn't seen his previous films!
Neon do it again: taxing the hype machine, delivering a mid movie. Was really stoked to see this but as with Immaculate before it, I left feeling hugely underwhelmed. Props to the sound design, score and cinematography as these elements carried the film.
Amazed you havent seen Blackcoats Daughter yet! One of the best horrors in years. Upsetting and very good-also titled February if anyone cant find it. Great trailer too.
It's "Get It On" you're in the UK.
“Dantes Inferno” sales will sky rocket now because of Nine Circles of Hell display. Well at least downloads will increase, it should be in public domain.
Did anyone else find the temperature in the theater changed during the screening? I felt hot and cold at different points. It added to the unsettledness.
Can't wait for this - Silence of the Lambs for a new generation?
Hell no, Longlegs is cheap in it's storytelling. Kinda takes the piss of the audience imo
No, not at all. Very very shallow link between these movies, regardless of opinions on their quality.
Not a horror film. Undercooked main character, generic scares (loud noises), everything foreshadowed to death. Nic Cage hamming it up is the only thing that distracts from how inert this was.
The cinematography was great, definitely has you thinking. Nicholas Cage went a little over board but its was film that has me thinking if its good or bad. Never experienced watching a film so intense, creepy and aesthetically pleasen to the eye. Truly one of a kind movie. Definitely want a to know more about longlegs and Harper.
Just out of the cinema from watching this film - really enjoyed it. Open for a sequel. I don't mind it one comes along, but please don't let this be a franchise vehicle, otherwise all originality lost I fear. Nicholas Cage is great and makes me want to see more of the character by way of a prequel. I will be keeping an eye out for more by Osgood Perkins.
The marketing sold this movie, but I feel short changed by "Longlegs."
Nicholas cages performance is bonkers. His whole five minutes of screen time.
Terrific film
I loved it. A very very creepy and scary movie.
Just seen this, it’s good, very good.
Nic Cage turns it up to eleventy stupid and it’s a sight to behold.
Im gonna see it in 2 hrs. I been hearing the third act sucks but i hope this movie is good
@@andrewcruz3837 it does indeed crash and burn in the third
@@eurongreyjoy2 yeah was kinda slow. I was expecting more tbh
@@eurongreyjoy2 Nah, if the movie was just some guy and not supernatural, it would suck. That the heroine can't actually defeat what's really going on makes it great. Similar to Hereditary.
Surprised you haven't seen any other of his films, first one I saw was "The Blackcoat's Daughter" which is definitely worth checking out
Thought it was awful. Genuinely baffled by all fhr praise
First half was awesome and for me was gearing up to be the best horror/thriller of the last decade, really enjoyed it. Second half just deceneded into a bit of a mess, lead with Cages performance which for me was a miscast as he overshoots. As I was watching it, I was thinking I can't see how they are going to end this without it disappointing and unfortunately, it disappoints. Worth watching for sure, but doesn't live up to the hype which is a shame because the first half is amazing.
I don’t always agree with you Mark, but that Sorcerer beside “Entertainment” is..👌🏼
I think they left it open for Longlegs 2
Actually can't believe Mark hasn't seen Oz Perkins' films. WTF? Blackcoat'a Daughter anyone?
Oz Perkins is one of the best new horror directors. February, I am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House, Gretel & Hansel and now Longlegs (tickets booked!)
I’m surprised Mark referred to the killer from Silence of the Lambs as the Tooth Fairy ? Isn’t that the killer from Red Dragon ? Silence of the lambs is Buffalo Bill.. I know they’re almost the same so probably easy to get mixed up, but Kermodes like a horror encyclopaedia 😂
Yeah the Tooth fairy is Manhunter/Red Dragon. Buffalo Bill is Silence of the Lambs
Glad am not the only one who noticed this 😂 incidentally, Perkins said he deliberately set it in the early 90s as it was the heyday of serial killer films.
I came away not knowing if I liked or disliked it. Or if it was scary or not. It feels a bit like watching a 2hr trailer for another film which was probably quite good.
I actually thought Cage was the worst part of the film. His campy Cageness dragged me out of the wonderfully creepy atmosphere and reminded me, yeah it's nic cage.
This is why I’m hesitant to buy a ticket
Interesting. Maybe I wasn't in the right headspace. I thought the cinematography was beautiful and the creepy vibe was awesome but in the end it didn't work. The movie started well. Really standard "crazy" Cage performance mostly (which is good but nothing new) and and an ending that left me asking what was the point. Ultimately a let down.for me.
I was dissappointed with the ending
Silence of the Lambs and Se7en are the alpha and omega of the serial killer genre. I was hoping Longlegs would come close based on the hype, but sadly this fell far short of the mark for me. Osgood Perkins’ previous films have tended to bore me more than scare me, and the trend continues. I really hoped he had broken out of his meandering pacing but by the time things picked up the movie was over with a train wreck of genre tropes in its wake, none of which added up to any satisfactory conclusion. Style points for camerawork but Cage is teetering between good Cage and bad Cage and that was a distraction as well. Ugh I wanted to love this but instead recommend it more for inexperienced horror fans that don’t mind slooooowwww burn pacing and who value style more than substance. Maybe a second viewing might improve things, but 99% of the time one knows a classic the first time they see it, and this is not that film. 6.5/10
The revelation of how he was killing the families was intensely stupid, and ruined the movie.
I'm a little bit sad to hear Dr K hasn't seen The Blackcoat's Daughter
I thought it was very very cliche.
Very good but well over hyped and a bit muddled, so why was he called Long Legs??🤷♂️
The silence of the long seven legged lamb 🐑
I’m very surprised mark didn’t seem to notice how close this film to the exorcist 3. To the point where it boarders on plagiarism
I don't listen to the podcast anymore, just wanted to hear this review. Curious why they're not in their studio anymore, does anyone know?
It Follows is the best horror movie I've seen in recent years but this looks promising.
It Follows was basically STD the movie
From what I hear Longlegs is getting excellent reviews but everybody is saying it is pretty disturbing
Neon, not A24.
Spoiler..................
........... question major plot hole.....
So if the devil completes his plan then what????? And why not make it time sensitive if they don't solve this by X time X happens?? Just bugged me otherwise used to live in Wisconsin it looks very similar down to the houses