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Longlegs

Duration: 1:41
Rating
6.6/10
In "Longlegs," an intrepid FBI agent finds herself entangled in a chilling game of cat and mouse with a ruthless serial killer. As the body count rises, she stumbles upon a puzzling trail of occult symbols and enigmatic messages left behind by the killer. With each horrifying discovery, the agent is drawn deeper into a shadowy world where the line between hunter and hunted blurs. Racing against time, she must decipher the cryptic clues that could unlock the killer's twisted motives and put an end to his reign of terror before he strikes again. Can she outsmart this formidable adversary and save future victims, or will she become ensnared in his deadly web? This heart-pounding thriller is a race against time and sanity that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Directors

Direction: Osgood Perkins

Script: Osgood Perkins

Main cast: Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Blair Underwood

Ticket office

Budget: $10 million

Box office: $128 million

Synopsis

When a little girl notices an unfamiliar car parked outside her home, she sets off on a curious journey that entangles her with a shadowy figure whose presence is only the beginning of a chilling mystery. Fast forward to the present day, when FBI agent Lee Harker becomes embroiled in a relentless pursuit of a serial killer, known ominously as Longlegs. This figure leaves behind cryptic letters dripping with sinister symbols, targeting families with chilling precision. As the death toll mounts, all signs point to an eerie commonality: the victims share the same birthdate.

Harker, who discovers an unexpected psychic sensitivity, is drawn deeper into the case as she pieces together the cryptic clues left behind. Her intuitive prowess leads her to the discovery of hidden artifacts, including enigmatic dolls whispering chilling secrets from their hollow shells. Her investigation unfolds amidst personal challenges, including a mysterious knock at her door that leaves her with a threatening message from Longlegs himself.

Harker's hunt for answers brings her to Carrie Anne Camera, a lone survivor of Longlegs' horrifying handiwork, whose tale of terror unfolds within the confines of a mental institution. Carrie's recounting reveals the power the sinister dolls hold, guiding their recipients to darker deeds. Convinced of an accomplice's presence, Harker connects the dots through a pattern as ciphered as it is lethal, leading to a revelation tied close to her own past.

A haunting trip down memory lane turns Harker's investigation inward, involving her own family history where secrets lie buried. A shocking twist points to a betrayal that is both personal and dangerous, nudging her towards a cataclysmic confrontation. As the case draws to a climax, the lines blur between friend and foe, revealing an inherited duty to stop the sinister legacy.

In an ultimate race against time, Harker finds herself embroiled in a macabre celebration at a child's birthday party where the presence of one more tragic doll signals an intent more diabolical than before. With lives hanging in the balance, Harker faces the demons of her lineage in a gripping showdown. Each moment is saturated with a tension that propels the narrative to a nerve-wracking finale, leaving audiences to ponder the shadows that linger long after the screen goes dark.

Argument

The film "Longlegs" presents an intriguing narrative, audaciously confronting the themes of family, evil, and destiny, all within a spine-chilling thriller. Set against the backdrop of an intensifying manhunt, the journey of FBI agent Lee Harker is as much a tale of personal discovery as it is a gripping pursuit of justice. It begins with a seemingly innocuous scene: a young girl, peering out from her bedroom window, is unsettled by the sight of a strange vehicle parked near her home. Armed only with her Polaroid camera, she braves the unknown, only to be met with an enigmatic figure and an ominous presence lurking behind her home. This early encounter sets off a chain of events that will forever alter the course of her life.

Fast forward to the present, where we find Harker embroiled in the relentless pursuit of a notorious serial killer known only as Longlegs. After witnessing the tragic loss of her partner during a routine inquiry, Harker’s psychic capabilities, which have lain dormant until now, emerge from the shadows. This newfound power compels her supervisors to assign her to the Longlegs case, a series of carefully orchestrated murder-suicides that leave communities reeling. These crimes are bizarrely linked by matching birth dates and cryptic messages at each scene, each signed by the mysterious Longlegs, yet no other evidence points directly to the killer.

Amid the gravity of her assignment, a personal connection interweaves itself into Harker’s professional struggle. After a long day in pursuit of clues, she finds herself reluctantly involved in the personal lives of her supervisor, Agent Carter, and his family. As her presence intertwines with the Carters, this seemingly mundane interaction holds profound implications for the unfolding mystery. A confrontation on her own doorstep results in Harker receiving a letter and a birthday card from Longlegs himself—an unsettling omen heralding what is to come.

As Harker delves deeper into the case, a cryptic hint—"X marks the spot"—leads her to uncover hidden evidence: a buried doll containing a surreal metal orb at a past crime scene. The orb, when subjected to examination, causes eerie, whisper-like sounds and triggers Harker's psychic insights. These discoveries breathe life into the narrative, blending supernatural elements with detective work to embolden the storyline with unnerving suspense.

Harker's investigation is unrelenting as she tracks down Carrie Anne Camera, a sole survivor profoundly affected by the happenings of a previous crime. Carrie Anne’s recounting of events, wherein she becomes ensnared by the sinister influence of a Longlegs' doll, further underscores the pervasive reach and persuasive terror of Longlegs’ machinations. Her admission of willingness to commit heinous acts at Longlegs' behest throws into stark relief the dire nature of the threat Harker faces.

Assembling the pieces of an upside-down pentagram formed by the murder dates propels Harker toward the uncomfortable realization that her trajectory is disturbingly connected to Longlegs. This revelation is crystallized upon the discovery of a familiar photograph among childhood mementos, pointing to Longlegs’ identity and ultimate capture. What follows is a chilling FBI interrogation wherein Longlegs, revealed to be Dale Ferdinand Kobble, brazenly taunts Harker, contextualizing his twisted devotion to Satan and implicating Harker’s own mother as an accomplice. The unsettling imagery of Longlegs’ demise by his own hand during this standoff is both unexpected and serves as a pivotal moment of the film, reinforcing the narrative’s exploration of good versus evil.

Harker’s realization that her initial encounter with Longlegs wasn’t by chance but by design sharpens the dramatic tension. With a visceral clash of duty against familial bonds, Harker confronts her mother, parting the veil on a partnership with Longlegs shielded by maternal instincts. In an acutely emotional climax, the layers of deception unravel: her mother, having delivered cursed dolls in a guise of a nun, emerges as a central player in the murderous saga. Her mother’s desperate act to shield Harker invites sympathy yet horror as it culminates in a choice of survival over allegiance.

Harker’s desperate race to safeguard the lives entangled by the cult-like grip of the dolls delivers suspense in rich cadence. The crescendo finds her mother trying to complete Longlegs’ dark symphony by targeting Carter’s family. In an act of ultimate sacrifice and defiance, Harker ends her mother’s complicit path, severing ties that bind innocence to malevolence. Yet, despite her efforts, she is unable to eliminate the doll, hinting at the ominous continuation of the greater evil that looms large.

Concluding on a sinister note, with Longlegs’ spectral presence in the interrogation room blowings a kiss to the audience whilst eerily repeating his dark mantra, the movie closes with an invitation for contemplation. "Longlegs" challenges us to ponder the dichotomy between nurture and malevolence, where personal vendettas blur the cold lines of criminal pursuit. Through adept storytelling and intense character evolution, the film presents a compelling discourse on the complexities of justice, guilt, and redemption within the dark recesses of human psyche.

Cast

Maika Monroe

Maika Monroe

Agent Lee Harker

Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage

Longlegs

Blair Underwood

Blair Underwood

Agent Carter

Alicia Witt

Alicia Witt

Ruth Harker

Michelle Choi-Lee

Michelle Choi-Lee

Agent Browning

Dakota Daulby

Dakota Daulby

Agent Fisk

Lauren Acala

Lauren Acala

Young Lee Harker

Kiernan Shipka

Kiernan Shipka

Carrie Anne Camera

Maila Hosie

Maila Hosie

Young Carrie Anne Camera

Jason William Day

Jason William Day

Father Camera

Lisa Chandler

Lisa Chandler

Mother Camera

Ava Kelders

Ava Kelders

Ruby Carter

Rryla McIntosh

Rryla McIntosh

Adult Ruby Carter

Carmel Amit

Carmel Amit

Anna Carter

Shafin Karim

Shafin Karim

Clinical Doctor

Trey Helten

Trey Helten

Suspect

Daniel Bacon

Daniel Bacon

Coroner

Vanessa Walsh

Vanessa Walsh

CSI Agent

Multimedia

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