Nicolas Cage's new horror movie Longlegs is certainly terrifying, but not in the ways you were probably expecting

EntertainmentMoviesHorror MoviesLonglegsNicolas Cage’s new horror movie Longlegs is certainly terrifying, but not in the ways you were probably expectingWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. EntertainmentMoviesHorror MoviesLonglegsNicolas Cage’s new horror movie Longlegs is certainly terrifying, but not in the ways you were probably expectingWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Black Bear) Hype is a strange beast. Over the past couple of months, I’ve seen headline after headline describing new horror movieLonglegsas one of the scariest films of the decade. The acclaim has been endless, with the filmdebuting to a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoesand earning countless five-star reviews (including our very own). Online reactions on social media have also been extreme, to say the least, with some describing the film as being so evil they wanted to rip their skin off – yes, really. Big Screen SpotlightShining a light on the under-the-radar theatrical releases that you need to know about, with a new article every Friday Big Screen Spotlight Shining a light on the under-the-radar theatrical releases that you need to know about, with a new article every Friday Shining a light on the under-the-radar theatrical releases that you need to know about, with a new article every Friday Into the unknown (Image credit: Neon) Perhaps the strangest aspect of Longlegs’ fear factor is that it doesn’t actually seem scary in the moment – but that certainly doesn’t mean it won’t be haunting your nightmares days after those credits have rolled. Many horror films, especially modern-day ones, rely on jump scares to give their audiences a real fright, and whilst Longlegs does feature the odd one, that’s not where the focus lies. Instead, Perkins places the emphasis on the film’s spine-chilling atmosphere, which is far more effective. Sharing more in common with great thrillers such as David Fincher’sZodiacand Christopher Nolan’sInsomniarather than fellow horror movies, a sense of dread lingers over every frame in Longlegs. Ultimately, what scares us the most are things that we don’t understand, which is what Perkins smartly plays into here. Whilst you would think that we’d grow closer to solving the case as Lee uncovers more clues, the opposite is true: every discovery thrusts us further into the unknown, building to a thrilling climax. Longlegs understands that real terrors lie in the unexplainable, the inhumane, the twisted – things that are beyond human comprehension and always will be. And it’s this strangeness, this creepiness, that dominates the film, leaving you thoroughly unnerved (and freaked out) throughout. Be afraid (Image credit: Neon) Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox That’s also the reason why we don’t see Cage’s killer Longlegs in all of his haunting glory until the final stages of the movie. Once again, the intention is that you come up with your own image, although it’s safe to say once hischilling face is unveiled, you will never forget it. The hype surrounding the actor’s phenomenal performance in the movie is definitely to be believed. Big Screen Spotlight(Image credit: Lionsgate)This R-rated action thriller is on the John Wick director’s radar, and it should be on yours too Big Screen Spotlight (Image credit: Lionsgate)This R-rated action thriller is on the John Wick director’s radar, and it should be on yours too (Image credit: Lionsgate) This R-rated action thriller is on the John Wick director’s radar, and it should be on yours too Longlegs’ marketing campaign provides the perfect foundation for all of this. From creepyclues scatteredonline for fans to uncover to the obscuring of Cage’s face in any clips, it’s all captured the attention of the internet. Who could forget the released audio track of Monroe’s heartbeat as she encountered Cage in make-up for the first time on set? Naturally, it’s all designed to promote the movie, but more crucially it also deliberately gets under our skin and presents a disconcerting mystery before we are even seated for the film, setting audiences up for an unforgettable experience. Which is exactly what Longlegs is. Ultimately, whether or not it is the most terrifying film of the decade depends on what scares you, but what will be undoubtedly true is that this won’t be the film you were expecting – it’s a far more unique and strange beast that will long live (well, ‘lurk’ is probably more accurate) in the corners of your mind. Be afraid, be very afraid. Longlegs is out now in US and UK theaters. For more on what to watch, check out the rest of ourBig Screen Spotlight series. We’ve also got our breakdown of the bestupcoming horror moviesto keep an eye out for later this year. 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Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: 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