Longlegs (2024)

Longlegs spends its last act explaining itself, and a movie this creepy should never stop to show its work. Up to then, it’s a slow, chilly case file, and the C+ CinemaScore says plenty of people wanted a louder ride. Osgood Perkins frames 1990s Oregon like a crime scene photo, every room a little too wide and too quiet, so you start scanning the edges of the frame for a face. That part is excellent. Maika Monroe plays Lee as a woman who seems to be holding her breath for the entire investigation. Then Nicolas Cage shows up under heavy makeup and long, stringy hair, and depending on your mood he’s terrifying or one step from a sketch comedy bit. Critics gave it 85% on Rotten Tomatoes while general audiences mostly shrugged. It made $128 million worldwide on a reported $10M. A 6.3 because the atmosphere is top shelf and the answers are a letdown. $95.73 says you read the next birthday card you get twice, hunting for a hidden code.

What works: Osgood Perkins builds dread out of empty space and long, still frames, and Maika Monroe’s tightly wound performance keeps you on edge.

What doesn’t: The final act explains the whole mystery in one long confession, and Cage’s look tips from scary to silly in a couple of scenes.

Who it’s for: Grown-up horror fans who like slow-burn cases and don’t mind leaving with more chills than answers.