We love a superb horror film right here at TheGamer, and many people have been listening to Neon’s newest launch Longlegs since its viral advertising and marketing marketing campaign began taking off. Those that have already watched it famous that it’s a very Alan Wake 2-coded recreation, with my colleague Andrew King evaluating the 2 horror releases (with spoilers) and Editor-in-Chief Stacey Henley exploring how each create related robust emotions of dread (with out spoilers).
I’m not going to speak about Alan Wake 2 right here. Sure, the film did undoubtedly remind me of that recreation. The similarities are putting, all the way in which all the way down to these bizarre, interstitial, closely stylised pictures that point out a type of emotional and psychological slippage between realms.
I’m going to inform you why it’s best to watch Longlegs, and likewise why it’d disappoint you. Spoilers forward.
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If You Like Alan Wake 2’s Model Of Supernatural Horror, You Should Watch Longlegs
The hit movie has so much in frequent with Treatment’s surreal survival horror recreation.
Longlegs Is One Of The Most Uncomfortable Film-Watching Experiences I’ve Ever Had
I watch lots of horror films, a lot of these in cinemas on the large display screen. My buddies and I are masochistic horror followers, which suggests lots of what we do collectively includes gathering round screens of various sizes to discover a film that can chill us to the bone. All that to say that I’ve a fairly excessive tolerance for unnerving films – the final film that made me really feel bodily unwell was Pulse, a 2001 Japanese techno-horror movie that had a scene so freaky it despatched certainly one of my buddies flying throughout the room to dive below the covers of my mattress.
Longlegs appears like one lengthy anxiousness assault, and I don’t say that frivolously. It’s not scary within the sense that it’s filled with soar scares, however in the way in which it’ll make seasoned horror followers look repeatedly between a personality and the blurry background behind them, anticipating one thing to emerge from the darkness.
It’s uncommon {that a} movie so masterfully manipulates pressure and manufactures a wholly oppressive ambiance, and Longlegs is massively profitable at this. I abhor speaking throughout movies, however there have been factors within the film the place I discovered myself groaning out loud and sliding down in my seat, and protecting my eyes solely to peek round them on the display screen. When it ended, a buddy subsequent to me mentioned morosely, “I believe I have to throw up.” It’s a harrowing expertise, however below that weight, its story begins to disintegrate.
Longlegs Fails On An Mental Degree
Whereas Longlegs showcases some unimaginable cinematography, wonderful tension-building, and an unimaginable pair of performances from its protagonist and antagonist, its plot is much weaker than these parts deserve. I used to be utterly bought for the primary three-quarters of the movie, whereas it was nonetheless serving up a compelling psychological thriller about an FBI agent – it was all very Silence of the Lambs, however modern and closely stylised, and I used to be extraordinarily into it.
I gained’t describe the second I began rolling my eyes on the story, as a result of that’s a contact too spoilery for the purpose I wish to make, however suffice it to say that the movie’s pivot into the supernatural didn’t work for me. From the op-eds I’ve learn in regards to the movie from others, I’m not the one one pissed off by this flip.
The issue is that Longlegs units up a fascinating thriller and solutions it with deus ex machina – nicely, the alternative of deus, as a result of the final word offender is Devil. That’s actually it. The assassin can do all his freaky murders due to the Satan. It appears like a cop-out as a result of the reply is obtainable abruptly and with out sufficient breadcrumbing, and it makes a really enrapturing expertise fall flat proper on the end line.
Ought to You Nonetheless Watch Longlegs?
Sure.
Superb, I’ll justify my reply. Is it silly and nonsensical by the top? Certain, nevertheless it’s nonetheless visually compelling, thematically fascinating, and extremely good at creating an ever current feeling of dread all through. It is in all probability the scariest film of the 12 months and it’s extremely well-made, its plot is simply form of silly. Go for vibes, not for genius, and also you’ll be rewarded. It undoubtedly lives as much as its advertising and marketing – as I walked up the darkish avenue to my home, occupied with how silly its central thriller was, I nonetheless discovered myself looking at each darkish nook and shadow. I suppose, in that sense, it labored.
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Longlegs Can Succeed The place Alan Wake 2 Failed
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