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.

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.

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.

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."

The 13 Best Modern Horror Movies, from Adam 12. For Spooky Season, Halloween, or anytime you're looking for a scare from recent years.

And I do mean "recent years" when I say recent years. My list of 12 includes films released between 2015 and today. Which lines up, for the most part, with the recent trend of "elevated horror" or "prestige horror." Now, I know I'm using a lot of "quotation marks" here, but it's because I don't really know what either of those terms mean. Nor do I care. To steal a quote from BAKOON on Twitter: "Horror is not a mountain to be climbed: it is a valley full of caves."

Now, that's not to say this recent crop of horror films I've filled out my list with aren't remarkable. They certainly are. That's why I'm sharing them with you. Are they at the vanguard of modern horror? Sure, I guess. But they are also films that draw inspiration from previous eras of classic horror. OK, I just read that back and I sound like I'm trying to be some sort of weenie film critic. I'm too in the weeds with my own words. Let's just get down to business and I'll set up the list.

This is by no means meant to be an exhaustive list. These are just 13 horror films from recent years that I've enjoyed thoroughly. If you're any sort of horror fan, there will be a few you've likely seen or at least heard of. But I'm hoping there will be some you haven't so you can hopefully find a new favorite or two. Be forewarned: I'm not a gore guy, so if splatter is your thing, you won't find that here. I'm all about suspense, dread, unease, and a well-placed jump scare.

OK, this one gets a little gory. But for good reason. Enid has a job from hell and a mystery to solve.

A star Korean MMA fighter wakes up on a plane with stigmata and unwillingly joins a Catholic priest to perform exorcisms. That's it. That's the movie.

Toni Collette should have won an Oscar for this one. She's magnificent and the movie is both heavy and horrifying.

Haunted house horrors meet the horrors of forced displacement as a refugee couple navigates their new reality.

A deaf woman is terrorized in her secluded home by a masked killer.

Isolation, broken family dynamics, and a "who's the real monster?" mystery all come together as the discomfort is ratcheted up slowly.

At first blush, this film strikes you as campy. But guess what? It's not! It's terrifying! How have you not seen it yet?

It's as good as all the buzz it received when it released 4 years ago. And it still makes for an unsettling watch.

I'm a big fan of international horror This one comes from Iran and it's a slow-burner.

Be warned: the pacing is slow. And the concept is somewhat experimental. But it makes for a singularly unique horror viewing experience.

This one does a lot with a little, packing the scares into a pretty small space for the bulk of the film.

From Korea. The best supernatural thriller I've ever seen in my life. Trying to get my 15-year-old to re-watch it with me.

Next to Halloween, this is my favorite horror movie of all-time. Infinitely re-watchable.

​