Longlegs

In 1974 Oregon, a young girl with a Polaroid camera follows a mysterious voice and encounters an erratic man in pale makeup.

Twenty years later, FBI agent Lee Harker, who exhibits possible clairvoyance, is assigned by her supervisor William Carter to a case involving a series of murder–suicides in Oregon. Each case involves a father killing his family and himself, leaving behind a letter with Satanic coding signed "Longlegs," whose handwriting belongs to none of the family members. Lee discovers that each family had a nine-year-old daughter born on the 14th of the month, the murders all occurred within six days before or after said birthday, and their respective dates form an occult triangle symbol on a calendar, with one date missing. While at home talking through the phone to her mother, Ruth, Lee receives a coded birthday card from Longlegs, warning her that revealing its source will lead to her mother's murder.

Following a clue, Lee and William find a doll with a high-energy metal orb inside. After visiting a mental hospital to question Carrie Anne Camera, the sole survivor of Longlegs's attacks who was visited previously by someone using Lee's name, William suspects Lee has a connection to Longlegs. Discovering that Ruth had filed a police report of an intruder approaching Lee the day before her ninth birthday, William instructs Lee to talk to her. Ruth directs Lee to her childhood belongings, where she finds a Polaroid of the pale-faced man, revealing Longlegs to be the man who had visited a young Lee on her birthday. Lee submits the photo, leading to Longlegs's arrest. Realizing the missing date is that day, Lee fears an accomplice will carry out the final murder. In the interrogation room, Longlegs claims to serve "the man downstairs" and hints at Ruth's involvement prior to committing suicide. Lee is soon informed that Carrie has also committed suicide.

Agent Browning drives Lee to Ruth's home, where Lee witnesses Ruth kill Browning with a shotgun. Ruth then destroys a doll resembling a young Lee, causing Lee to lose consciousness. In a vision, Lee learns that Ruth has been Longlegs' accomplice since her childhood. Longlegs threatened to kill Lee unless Ruth did his bidding, and he has since lived in the Harker basement, creating Satanic dolls that Ruth, posing as a nun, delivered to households, causing the patriarchs to commit familicide. Lee's doll blocked her memories of Longlegs while influencing her with his magic.

Lee awakens in the basement and answers the phone, where a demonic voice warns her about William's daughter Ruby's ninth birthday party scheduled for that day. Lee rushes to save the Carters, whose deaths would complete Longlegs' triangle. She finds the family already possessed, with Ruth having delivered the doll. After William murders his wife Anna, Lee fatally shoots him to protect Ruby. Ruth lunges at Lee with a dagger, forcing Lee to also kill her. Lee tries to destroy the doll, but her gun does not fire. Staring at the doll, she tells Ruby they need to leave.

File:Maika Monroe June 2016 (2).jpg

• Maika Monroe as Lee Harker, an FBI agent assigned to the Longlegs case
• Lauren Acala as young Lee
• Nicolas Cage as Longlegs, an elusive serial killer whose real name is Dale Kobble{{Cite magazine |last=McCluskey |first=Megan |date=July 12, 2024|title=Making Sense of Longlegs Terrifyingly Ambiguous Ending |url=https://time.com/6997406/longlegs-ending-explained/ |access-date=July 19, 2024|magazine=Time}}
• Blair Underwood as Agent William Carter, one of Lee's superiors
• Alicia Witt as Ruth Harker, Lee's religious mother
• Michelle Choi-Lee as Agent Browning, one of Lee's superiors
• Dakota Daulby as Agent Fisk, Lee's partner
• Kiernan Shipka as Carrie Anne Camera, Longlegs's only known survivor
• Maila Hosie as young Carrie
• Jason Day as Father Camera
• Lisa Chandler as Mother Camera
• Ava Kelders as Ruby Carter, William Carter's daughter
• Carmel Amit as Anna Carter, William Carter's wife
• Peter Bryant as a senior FBI agent

The film was announced in November 2022, with Osgood Perkins as writer and director.{{Cite web |last=Wiseman |first=Andreas |date=November 11, 2022 |title=Nicolas Cage To Star In Horror-Thriller 'Longlegs' For C2, Automatik & Cage's Saturn Films; 'Sinister', 'La La Land' Producers & 'Joker' Exec Among Team |url=https://deadline.com/2022/11/nicolas-cage-horror-thriller-longlegs-sinister-la-la-land-joker-producers-execs-1235166010/ |access-date=January 14, 2023 |website=Deadline Hollywood |archive-date=January 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115020309/https://deadline.com/2022/11/nicolas-cage-horror-thriller-longlegs-sinister-la-la-land-joker-producers-execs-1235166010/ |url-status=live}} He drew inspiration from several sources; the plot device of the evil dolls that cause fathers to murder their families was loosely inspired by the killing of JonBenét Ramsey: "The murder took place approaching Christmas, and one present that the parents had gotten for JonBenét was a life-size replica doll of herself, wearing one of her pageant dresses. It was in a cardboard box in the basement, 15 feet from where she was killed, and there was something so insane about that, I'd cataloged it away."{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/longlegs-real-life-inspiration-director-explained/|work=Screen Rant|title=Real-Life Inspiration For Major Longlegs Twist Explained By Director Osgood Perkins|last=Northrup|first=Ryan|date=July 15, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240817033958/https://screenrant.com/longlegs-real-life-inspiration-director-explained/|archive-date=August 17, 2024|url-status=live}}

Perkins told People magazine that the film was inspired by his mother's treatment towards his father Anthony Perkins's sexuality, shielding the public and the Perkins children from knowledge of his homosexual relationships. Oz Perkins was quoted, saying, "Your mother can protect you from a truth that she thinks is unsavory...And then you just build out a crazy movie around that.”{{Cite web |last=Smart |first=Jack |date=2024-07-14 |title=Longlegs Director Explains Movie's Personal Connection to His Dad, Psycho Horror Icon Anthony Perkins (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/how-longlegs-personal-osgood-perkins-exclusive-8677416 |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=People.com |language=en}}

In February 2023, Nicolas Cage and Maika Monroe came on board to star, with Cage also producing under his Saturn Films banner.{{Cite web |last=Ravindran |first=Manori |date=February 6, 2023 |title=Nicolas Cage Horror 'Longlegs' Casts 'It Follows' Star Maika Monroe, Black Bear International to Launch Sales at EFM (Exclusive) |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/nicolas-cage-horror-longlegs-maika-monroe-1235514271/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Variety |archive-date=February 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206213509/https://variety.com/2023/film/global/nicolas-cage-horror-longlegs-maika-monroe-1235514271/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Lattanzio |first=Ryan |date=2024-02-02 |title=Longlegs Teaser: Nicolas Cage and Maika Monroe Star in Neon's Mysterious Serial Killer Horror Movie |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/trailers/longlegs-teaser-maika-monroe-nicolas-cage-neon-horror-movie-1234950649/ |website=IndieWire |archive-date=February 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202190208/https://www.indiewire.com/news/trailers/longlegs-teaser-maika-monroe-nicolas-cage-neon-horror-movie-1234950649/ |url-status=live}} In March, Alicia Witt and Blair Underwood were announced as part of the cast.{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=March 6, 2023|title=Alicia Witt & Blair Underwood Join Nicolas Cage, Maika Monroe In Longlegs Horror-Thriller |url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/alicia-witt-blair-underwood-join-nicolas-cage-longlegs-movie-1235280556/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |archive-date=March 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306182250/https://deadline.com/2023/03/alicia-witt-blair-underwood-join-nicolas-cage-longlegs-movie-1235280556/ |url-status=live}}

Dave Caplan's C2 Motion Picture Group financed the film for under $10 million.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/box-office-longlegs-fly-me-to-the-moon-channing-tatum-nicolas-cage-1236008154/|title=How Neon Made Longlegs Sexy At Box Office With Distrib's Record Opening Of $22M+, Best Start For Original Horror Pic YTD – Sunday Update|date=July 14, 2024|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=July 16, 2024|archive-date=July 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715173848/https://deadline.com/2024/07/box-office-longlegs-fly-me-to-the-moon-channing-tatum-nicolas-cage-1236008154/|url-status=live}} Principal photography was scheduled to take place in Vancouver from January 16 to February 23, 2023.{{Cite web |title=In Production - Creative BC |url=https://www.creativebc.com/services/provincial-film-commission/in-production/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115014159/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://www.creativebc.com/services/provincial-film-commission/in-production/ |archive-date=January 15, 2023 |access-date=January 14, 2023 |publisher=Creative BC Film Commission}}

The film's soundtrack was conceived by Zilgi, a pseudonym for Elvis Perkins (the brother of the film's director),{{Cite web |last=Pilley |first=Max |date=July 16, 2024 |title=Here's every song on the 'Longlegs' soundtrack |url=https://www.nme.com/news/film/heres-every-song-on-the-longlegs-soundtrack-3775338 |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=NME |archive-date=July 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716100300/https://www.nme.com/news/film/heres-every-song-on-the-longlegs-soundtrack-3775338 |url-status=live}} credited as composer of the score compositions on the digital soundtrack album.{{Cite web |title=Spotify |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/01IZyXcyYtm7zhHBEOCCIF?si=d52dc7b27f254d03 |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=open.spotify.com |archive-date=July 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718230021/https://open.spotify.com/album/01IZyXcyYtm7zhHBEOCCIF?si=d52dc7b27f254d03&nd=1&dlsi=f012ac59dba94d03 |url-status=live}} There were contributing tracks by sound designer Eugenio Battagila and Melody Carrillo with Elizabeth Wight. The soundtrack was released on July{{nbsp}}12, 2024, on streaming platforms and on vinyl.{{Cite web|date=July 10, 2024|title=Longlegs Soundtrack Album Details|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/07/10/longlegs-soundtrack-album-details/|website=Film Music Reporter|archive-date=July 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718230023/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/07/10/longlegs-soundtrack-album-details/|url-status=live}}

File:Longlegs (2024) - billboard.png

Neon used guerilla marketing tactics similar to those that led to the box office success of The Blair Witch Project (1999), building speculation through clips, images, and coded messages that used symbology created for the film and concealed Cage's look as Longlegs.{{Cite web |date=July 10, 2024 |title=Horror movie 'Longlegs' has gone viral with its creepy marketing campaign. But is it more than just a stunt? |url=https://news.northeastern.edu/2024/07/10/longlegs-horror-movie-marketing/|website=Northeastern Global News |archive-date=July 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715014653/https://news.northeastern.edu/2024/07/10/longlegs-horror-movie-marketing/ |url-status=live}} Eleven promotional videos were uploaded to YouTube leading up to release, the first appearing in January 2024, which did not mention the film's title until February; together, the videos accumulated 30 million views.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-19 |last=Wampler |first=Scott |title=Neon Releases Third Teaser For What Is Clearly Oz Perkins' Longlegs|url=https://www.fangoria.com/longlegs-trailer/ |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=Fangoria |archive-date=July 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715014654/https://www.fangoria.com/longlegs-trailer/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=February 2, 2024 |last=Wampler |first=Scott |title=The First Trailer For Oz Perkins' Longlegs Is Finally Here |url=https://www.fangoria.com/longlegs-trailer/ |website=Fangoria |archive-date=July 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715014654/https://www.fangoria.com/longlegs-trailer/ |url-status=live}} A trailer was attached to every horror film released in theaters since January 2024.

Additional content included a billboard (with no mention of the title) that featured a phone number for pre-recorded messages from the film's antagonist,{{Cite web |last=Squires |first=John |date=June 17, 2024 |title='Longlegs' Uncaged: Dial This Number for the Creepiest Call of Your Life |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3816579/longlegs-uncaged-call-this-number-for-the-creepiest-phone-call-of-your-life/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717185412/https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3816579/longlegs-uncaged-call-this-number-for-the-creepiest-phone-call-of-your-life/ |archive-date=July 17, 2024 |access-date=September 3, 2024 |website=Bloody Disgusting}} and a paid advertisement featuring a cipher that was published in the Seattle Times on June 14, a reference to the Zodiac Killer, that directed readers to an in-universe website detailing murders committed in the film.{{Cite web |last=Squires |first=John |date=June 14, 2024 |title=The Birthday Murders: Viral Marketing Website Launches for Longlegs |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3816385/the-birthday-murders-viral-marketing-website-launches-for-longlegs/ |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=Bloody Disgusting |archive-date=June 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240621190646/https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3816385/the-birthday-murders-viral-marketing-website-launches-for-longlegs/ |url-status=live}} The week of the film's release, Neon released a clip allegedly of Monroe's heartrate when she first saw Cage's character.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/maika-monroe-longlegs-scene-nicolas-cage-heartbeat-video-8677183|title=Maika Monroe on her intense Longlegs scene with Nicolas Cage and that heartbeat video|date=July 14, 2024|url-status=live|last=Romano|first=Nick|magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240817035743/https://ew.com/maika-monroe-longlegs-scene-nicolas-cage-heartbeat-video-8677183|archive-date=August 17, 2024}} Following the film's theatrical premiere, Neon released another promotional spot highlighting hidden appearances of the devil that recur in the backgrounds of the film.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oKrLoNUd8M|work=YouTube|title=LONGLEGS: Look Closer|date=July 22, 2024|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/-oKrLoNUd8M|archive-date=August 17, 2024|url-status=live|publisher=Neon}} According to Perkins, there are 15 appearances of the devil in the film which are not readily noticeable.{{cite web|work=Collider|url=https://collider.com/longlegs-devil-easter-eggs/|title=Osgood Perkins Hid Over 15 Appearances of the Devil in 'Longlegs'|last=Malhotra|first=Rahul|date=July 24, 2024}}

Perkins credited Neon for the film's marketing, saying the studio "asked me early on, 'Do we have your permission to kind of go nuts?' And I said, 'What else are we doing here? Go for it. Do your thing.{{' "}}{{Cite web |last=Lattanzio |first=Ryan |date=June 24, 2024 |title='Longlegs' Director Oz Perkins Says the Wild Marketing Campaign Is All Neon: 'I Would Be a Jackass to Take Too Much Credit' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/longlegs-marketing-osgood-perkins-1235019292/|website=IndieWire |archive-date=July 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718230021/https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/longlegs-marketing-osgood-perkins-1235019292/ |url-status=live}} The film's total marketing budget was under $10 million, focusing on using digital content over traditional television ads.

In February 2023, Neon acquired the film's North American rights at the European Film Market.{{Cite web |last=Wiseman |first=Andreas |date=February 19, 2023|title=Neon In Pole Position For Nicolas Cage Horror-Thriller 'Longlegs' Marking First Sizeable Domestic Deal Of EFM |url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/nicolas-cage-movie-longlegs-maika-monroe-neon-efm-deal-1235264745/ |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=Deadline Hollywood |archive-date=February 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220175000/https://deadline.com/2023/02/nicolas-cage-movie-longlegs-maika-monroe-neon-efm-deal-1235264745/ |url-status=live}} The film had a screening at Los Angeles's Beyond Fest on May 31, 2024.{{Cite web|last=Peters|first=Daniel|date=June 1, 2024|title=Nicolas Cage horror movie Longlegs gets rave reactions following surprise screening|url=https://www.nme.com/news/film/nicolas-cage-horror-movie-longlegs-gets-rave-reactions-following-surprise-screening-3761547|website=NME|access-date=June 1, 2024|archive-date=July 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713092801/https://www.nme.com/news/film/nicolas-cage-horror-movie-longlegs-gets-rave-reactions-following-surprise-screening-3761547|url-status=live}} Longlegs premiered at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood in Los Angeles on July 8, 2024.{{Cite web |title=LONGLEGS |url=https://www.americancinematheque.com/now-showing/longlegs-7-8-24/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240704020431/https://www.americancinematheque.com/now-showing/longlegs-7-8-24/ |archive-date=July 4, 2024 |website=American Cinematheque}}

Longlegs held several special screenings across the United States throughout July 8–13, 2024.{{Cite web |title=LONGLEGS {{!}} NEON |url=https://neonrated.com/films/longlegs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711235706/https://neonrated.com/films/longlegs |archive-date=July 11, 2024 |website=neonrated.com}} This also included a 'parent-free' RSVP screening at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Brooklyn, New York on July 12, 2024. It was released in North America and the United Kingdom on July 12, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Travis |first=Ben |date=2024-06-17 |title=Longlegs UK Release Date Confirmed For July |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/longlegs-uk-release-date-confirmed-for-july/ |website=Empire |archive-date=June 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617130945/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/longlegs-uk-release-date-confirmed-for-july/ |url-status=live}} Longlegs was released on VOD on August 23, 2024. The 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD was released on September 24, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Squires |first=John |date=2024-08-22 |title=Longlegs Heads Home to Digital This Friday and Physical Media in September |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3826993/longlegs-heads-home-to-digital-this-friday-and-physical-media-in-september/ |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=Bloody Disgusting |archive-date=August 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822161029/https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3826993/longlegs-heads-home-to-digital-this-friday-and-physical-media-in-september/ |url-status=live }}

Longlegs grossed $74.3 million in the United States and Canada, and $52.6 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $126.9 million.{{Cite Box Office Mojo|id=tt23468450|title=Longlegs|access-date=November 2, 2024}}{{Cite The Numbers|id=Longlegs-(2024)|title=Longlegs – Financial Information|access-date=November 1, 2024|website=The Numbers}}

In the United States and Canada, Longlegs was released alongside Fly Me to the Moon, and was projected to gross $7–9 million from 2,510 theaters in its opening weekend.{{cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=July 9, 2024 |title=Gru To Rule With $33M+ As 'Fly Me To The Moon', 'Longlegs' Provide Depth To Weekend Box Office – Preview |url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/channing-tatum-box-office-fly-me-to-the-moon-despicable-me-4-1236004684/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714211041/https://deadline.com/2024/07/channing-tatum-box-office-fly-me-to-the-moon-despicable-me-4-1236004684/ |archive-date=July 14, 2024 |access-date=July 11, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} After making $10 million on its first day (including $3 million from Thursday night previews, both records for Neon), weekend estimates were raised to $20–23 million.{{cite news |last=Moreau |first=Jordan |date=July 12, 2024 |title=Box Office: 'Longlegs' Makes $3 Million in Previews, Surpassing 'Immaculate' to Set Neon Record |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/box-office/box-office-longlegs-previews-neon-1236068814/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712161039/https://variety.com/2024/film/box-office/box-office-longlegs-previews-neon-1236068814/ |archive-date=July 12, 2024 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |publisher=Variety}} It went on to debut to $22.4 million, finishing second at the box-office behind holdover Despicable Me 4.{{cite web |title=Domestic 2024 Weekend 28 |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2024W28/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715185340/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2024W28/ |archive-date=July 15, 2024 |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=Box Office Mojo}} The opening marked the best opening weekend for Neon and the biggest total for an original 2024 horror film. It was Monroe's best domestic opening as lead (excluding 2016's Independence Day: Resurgence, for which she was billed) and Cage's first live-action film to open above $20 million since Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance in 2012. In its second weekend, the film made $12 million, a drop of 46.6% to finish in fourth.{{cite web |title=Domestic 2024 Weekend 29 |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2024W29/ |access-date=July 28, 2024 |website=Box Office Mojo}}{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=July 22, 2024 |title='Twisters' Even Bigger With $81M+ Opening – Monday AM Box Office Update |url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/box-office-twisters-1236015127/ |access-date=July 22, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} In its third weekend, it became Neon's highest-grossing film after surpassing their earnings for 2019's Parasite ($53.37 million) and added $6.8 million.{{cite news |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=July 28, 2024 |title=It's Official, Longlegs Is Neon's Top Grossing Film Ever; Sean Wang's Didi Sees Nice Open In Limited Release – Specialty Box Office |url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/indie-film-box-office-longlegs-neon-didi-the-fabulous-four-1236025156/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240804194112/https://deadline.com/2024/07/indie-film-box-office-longlegs-neon-didi-the-fabulous-four-1236025156/ |archive-date=August 4, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}{{cite web |title=Domestic 2024 Weekend 30 |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2024W30/ |access-date=August 5, 2024 |website=Box Office Mojo |archive-date=August 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805041943/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2024W30/ |url-status=live }} On August 16, 2024, the film had surpassed $100 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing independent film of the year to date.

File:Nicolas Cage 2011 CC.jpg's performance.]]

The film premiered to critical acclaim.{{efn|Multiple references:{{Cite web |last=Davids |first=Brian |date=July 9, 2024 |title=Maika Monroe Talks Fighting for 'Longlegs,' Why She Nearly Gave Up Acting and 'It Follows 2' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/longlegs-star-maika-monroe-interview-1235944104/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240804193707/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/longlegs-star-maika-monroe-interview-1235944104/|archive-date=August 4, 2024|url-status=live|website=The Hollywood Reporter}}{{Cite web |last=Garside |first=Megan |date=2024-06-13 |title=Nicolas Cage's upcoming horror movie debuts to perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, with critics calling it "the scariest film of the decade" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/horror-movies/nicolas-cages-upcoming-horror-movie-longlegs--debuts-to-perfect-rotten-tomatoes-score-with-critics-calling-it-the-scariest-film-of-the-decade/ |archive-date=August 4, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240804193731/https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/horror-movies/nicolas-cages-upcoming-horror-movie-longlegs--debuts-to-perfect-rotten-tomatoes-score-with-critics-calling-it-the-scariest-film-of-the-decade/|url-status=live |website=Total Film |publisher=GamesRadar+}}{{Cite magazine |title=What is 'Longlegs' about? Everything to know about the hit horror movie starring Nicolas Cage |url=https://ew.com/what-is-longlegs-about-everything-to-know-about-nicolas-cage-viral-horror-movie-8680462 |access-date=2024-07-29 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}{{Cite web |date=July 16, 2024|title=Here's The Story Behind Nicolas Cage's Deeply Unsettling Longlegs Transformation |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/longlegs-nicolas-cage-appearance-why-reason-story_uk_66964b54e4b0e5ea1d5fc1be |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240804193627/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/longlegs-nicolas-cage-appearance-why-reason-story_uk_66964b54e4b0e5ea1d5fc1be|archive-date=August 4, 2024|url-status=live |website=HuffPost UK}}{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Mason |date=July 18, 2024|title=10 Movies to Watch if You Like 'Longlegs' |url=https://collider.com/movies-like-longlegs/|archive-date=August 4, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240804193601/https://collider.com/movies-like-longlegs/ |website=Collider}}}} {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|86|7.5|311|Saturated in disquieting mood while leveraging a nightmarishly gonzo performance by Nicolas Cage, Longlegs is a satanic horror that effectively instills panic.|access-date=February 4, 2025|ref=y}} {{Metacritic film prose|77|52|ref=yes|access-date=July 16, 2024}}

David Rooney writing for The Hollywood Reporter praised the film, saying, "It might be argued that he stirs too many elements into the mix here—crime procedural, occult mystery, mind manipulation, Satanic worship, scary dolls, a Faustian bargain and a 'nun' not fit for any convent. But Longlegs is [Perkins'] most fully realized and relentlessly effective film to date".{{Cite web |last=Rooney |first=David |date=July 6, 2024 |title=Longlegs Review: Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage in a Mesmerizing Serial Killer Chiller That Burns With Satanic Power |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/longlegs-review-maika-monroe-nicolas-cage-neon-horror-1235939771/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718230022/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/longlegs-review-maika-monroe-nicolas-cage-neon-horror-1235939771/ |archive-date=July 18, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} Bob Strauss of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote, "Most impressive is how Perkins blends psychological and supernatural horror in a manner not quite seen before. Longlegs is a conjuring of dark, poetic cinema where the devil is definitely in the details".{{Cite web |last=Strauss |first=Bob |date=July 8, 2024 |title=Review: In Longlegs, Nicolas Cage and Maika Monroe go to impressively disturbing extremes |url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/movies-tv/longlegs-nicholas-cage-maika-monroe-19554322 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710195817/https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/movies-tv/longlegs-nicholas-cage-maika-monroe-19554322 |archive-date=July 10, 2024 |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=San Francisco Chronicle}} Vanity Fair{{'s}} Richard Lawson expressed disappointment in the film, writing "Longlegs is stylish but vacuous, a prettily foreboding picture with nothing behind it. As Hannibal Lecter might say, it's a well scrubbed, hustling rube with a little taste".{{Cite web |last=Lawson |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Lawson (writer) |date=2024-07-10 |title=Longlegs Is a Grueling Collage of Far Better Films |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/longlegs-movie-nicolas-cage-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710195818/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/longlegs-movie-nicolas-cage-review |archive-date=July 10, 2024 |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Vanity Fair}}

J. Hurtado of ScreenAnarchy declared Longlegs "a masterpiece; an unholy, horrifying confluence of high art and anxiety, a film in which every frame is a nightmare, and it's beautiful".{{Cite web |last=Hurtado |first=J |date=2024-06-10 |title=Longlegs Review: Every Frame Is A Nightmare In The Year's Best Horror Film To Date. |url=https://screenanarchy.com/2024/06/longlegs-review.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713092802/https://screenanarchy.com/2024/06/longlegs-review.html |archive-date=July 13, 2024 |access-date=2024-06-11 |publisher=ScreenAnarchy}} Writing for Bloody Disgusting, Meagan Navarro praised Longlegs{{'}} performances and atmosphere, concluding, "Longlegs is as stylish as it is timeless, dripping with claustrophobic dread and rot."{{Cite web |last=Navarro |first=Meagan |date=2024-06-10 |title=Longlegs Review – Oz Perkins' Latest Gets Under Your Skin and Festers Like a Putrid Nightmare |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3815064/longlegs-review-oz-perkins-putrid-nightmare/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611035744/https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3815064/longlegs-review-oz-perkins-putrid-nightmare/ |archive-date=June 11, 2024 |access-date=2024-06-11 |publisher=Bloody Disgusting}} Bill Bria of /Film called Longlegs "the most terrifying horror movie of 2024," noting the film's "rock n' roll spirit".{{Cite web |last=Bria |first=Bill |date=June 10, 2024 |title=Longlegs Review: Osgood Perkins' Masterpiece Is The Most Terrifying Horror Movie Of 2024 |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1582538/longlegs-review-osgood-perkins-maika-monroe-nicolas-cage-horror-movie/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240804193825/https://www.slashfilm.com/1582538/longlegs-review-osgood-perkins-maika-monroe-nicolas-cage-horror-movie/ |archive-date=August 4, 2024 |website=/Film}}

Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale. Those polled by PostTrak gave it a 70% overall positive score, with an average 3 out of 5 stars.

A correspondent of LGBT magazine Them made note of how some audience members perceived the characterization of the film's villain to be homophobic or transphobic due to the character's androgynous characteristics.{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Samantha |date=2024-07-17 |title=Is Nicolas Cage's New Movie Longlegs "Queerphobic"? An Investigation |url=https://www.them.us/story/longlegs-movie-queerphobic-criticism-oz-perkins |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=Them |language=en-US}} A CNN opinion piece accused the film of transphobia, comparing Longlegs to Buffalo Bill of The Silence of the Lambs, and emphasizing the horror genre's complicated history of LGBT themes.{{Cite web |last=Berlatsky |first=Noah |date=July 13, 2024 |title=Opinion: It's time more horror films push back against queer stereotypes |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/13/opinions/longlegs-trans-queer-identities-stereotypes-hollywood-berlatsky/index.html |access-date=October 3, 2024 |website=CNN |language=en}}

In a Reddit AMA interview with director Oz Perkins, a fan inquired if the writing of Longlegs was intended to be a negative portrayal of a transgender person. Perkins responded by denouncing anti-trans behavior, but did not specifically elaborate about any element of the film.{{Cite web |last=Monteil |first=Abby |date=2024-08-15 |title='Longlegs' Director Says "Anyone Who is Anti-Trans Is a F**king Piece of Sh*t Idiot" |url=https://www.them.us/story/longlegs-director-oz-perkins-queerphobic-discourse-statement-reddit |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=Them |language=en-US}}

Director Guillermo Del Toro complimented the film, praising "[Perkins'] metronome, his meticulous composition and his uncanny sense of evil and impending doom." Paul Schrader commented on the film on social media, questioning why directors like Perkins and Ti West were "confined to the horror genre ghetto."{{Cite web |last=Bergeson |first=Samantha |date=2024-07-16 |title=Guillermo del Toro Praises 'Longlegs': 'A Great Oz Perkins Film' and '100 Percent His Vibe' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/guillermo-del-toro-praises-longlegs-oz-perkins-1235022277/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}

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