Comparison is said to be the thief of joy but in recent times I think the same can be said for expectation. I believe Longlegs is the Avatar of horror; its style is a technical feat in filmmaking for the genre but the same cannot be said for its substance, which is ok. Longlegs is allowed to be technically brilliant and have a slightly derivative story. Just like with Avatar however, the marketing campaign has presented Longlegs as something so much more. In my view anyway.

This generation’s Silence of the Lambs? Not really.

A damn good horror worth seeing on the big screen? Absolutely.

FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) is investigating a series of murders. They share few characteristics; left behind at each scene is a letter with mysterious coding signed ‘Longlegs.’ Harker’s effort to locate Longlegs takes her to a place more disturbing and closer to home than she ever imagined.

The Substance

When done right, the thriller and the horror can make a perfect mix. To the marketing campaign’s credit, Longlegs is like The Silence of the Lambs in that it’s another successful horror-thriller hybrid.

Lee Harker is a great thriller protagonist. She’s not blatantly likable or empathetic but she gets your intrigue. As an FBI agent, she is competent and meticulous. As a person however, she may be a cause for concern. She’s single, she lives alone, she barely speaks to her mother and she has an insight into Longlegs that’s too accurate to not be suspicious.

A character that arouses your intrigue is always easier to watch than one that arouses your empathy. You know something’s up with Lee. You think she may have some connection to Longlegs but you can’t be sure, so you keep watching.

There are indeed twists and turns in Lee’s investigation, none of which you’ll see coming and that’s not a compliment. Longlegs isn’t a Sixth Sense or an Oldboy. It won’t leave your jaw on the floor. You won’t be berating yourself for missing all the ‘clues.’ The plot is no more complex than that of an Insidious or a Sinister and, once again, that is ok.

The Style

The script for Longlegs is very good. How’s it executed however is exceptional. In terms of scares, it’s worth the hype.

While there is a fair share of gore and jump scares, the film is great at building tension and unease via its soundscape and cinematography. There are details that you’ll inevitably miss on the first watch hence the film lends itself to multiple viewings.

There are shots where you think you can see something moving in the corner or the background. You can’t tell what it is, which immediately puts you on edge for the rest of the scene. Moments like these create a world where nothing feels real or certain.

In such a world, jump scares are very effective. You’re uncomfortable already hence the last thing you need is something leaping out and taking you off guard. It’s great horror filmmaking.

If the script was produced by Blumhouse or any other talent, I’m sure I’d be writing a completely different review. The screenplay isn’t anything to write home about but the final product upholds a certain adage from the great Roger Ebert:

“it’s not what a movie is about, it’s how it is about it.”  

I give Longlegs a marvellous 8 out of 10.