Is ‘Longlegs’ The Scariest Movie of 2024? It Just Might Be
The early buzz on Longlegs had many throwing around “scariest movie of 2024” accolades. But does it live up to the hype?
In a word: yes. In six words: it’s even better than I expected. Here’s my cryptic, spoiler-free review and some thoughts.
I’m no movie critic, mind you, but I am a horror aficionado. You can browse my list of the Greatest Horror Movies of All Time or my 13 Best Modern Horror Movies for cred and credentials. Suffice it to say, I watch a lot of scary movies.
I was intrigued to the point of infatuation when the first trailer for Longlegs dropped. It left me with more questions than answers, which isn’t usually the case; modern trailers mostly give too much away. Not Longlegs, though. It piques your interest.
The Scariest Movie of 2024: Longlegs Has the Talent
Shortly after that trailer hit the net, the hype ramped up. But like the trailer, the hype was vague, yet mysterious. “Scariest move of 2024?” Nicolas Cage is “nightmarishly gonzo?” I stopped there. I wanted to go in cold. I’m glad I did.
Cage’s villain portrayal is what you’d expect from an all-time great movie maniac: unhinged, yet campy. There’s some Red Miller from 2018’s Mandy, and maybe some Sailor from 1990’s Wild at Heart. But it’s decidedly its own thing. It stays with you.
Alicia Witt’s turn as troubled mother Ruth Harker is some of the actor’s best work to date. Her full range is on display, and going in cold only enhances the impact. Maika Monroe is brilliant as the film’s lead, FBI Agent Lee Harker. And there’s something below the surface.
The Scariest Movie of 2024: Themes from Longlegs
I’d planned on seeing Longlegs on its opening weekend, but my youngest was home from Camp that Friday and Saturday. They’re not a big horror fan. Saturday morning, my friend Tim, who is a big horror fan, sent this text:
“Bro. Go see this movie today. Or just go right now.”
It was settled. I’d take my oldest, who is a budding horror fan, to see the “scariest movie of 2024” (maybe) on Sunday afternoon. Full disclosure: my oldest is on the Autism spectrum. I mention that because, while I was texting with Tim after seeing the film, Tim asked:
“Would you say that Maika Monroe’s character seemed to have some spectrum characteristics?”
I shared the text with my oldest, and he replied:
“Oh, absolutely. She was Autism-coded to the max. There was trauma, sure. But the fact that her first reaction to [redacted] was to [redacted]? So Autistic.”
I don’t know if any other reviews have picked up on or mentioned Autism themes in Longlegs, but there are three of us that believe they’re there. The main theme, however, is Satanic evil. But again, there’s something below the surface.
The Scariest Movie of 2024: See Longlegs
I’ll let you discover what that something is for yourself. Longlegs gives you a good, swift punch in the gut upfront, then lets the story unspool as you recover just enough to allow your unease to become apparent and your anxiety to ramp up.
Let this piece be all you read about it, though. Go in cold. Let Longlegs crawl all over you. Then decide for yourself if it’s the scariest movie of 2024.
“Hail Satan.”