Summary
Longlegsdirector Osgood Perkins says Nicolas Cage is “unrecognizable” as the horror movie’s serial killer. He’s played almost every role imaginable over the course of his long and distinguished career, including the iconic Dracula, in 2023’s horror-comedyRenfield. But Cage has perhaps never been as terrifying as he is in the upcomingsupernatural horror filmLonglegs, playing a mysterious killer being sought by the FBI.
Cage’s role is being kept under wraps, with only a brief glimpse being given in the recent trailer, and the movie’s director Perkins is only adding to theLonglegsmystique with his new remarks, where he talks about Cage’s performance in the movie, and promises a version of the actor that viewers have literally never seen before. Check out his remarks below (fromSFX MagazineviaGames Radar):
“We derived the voice of the character, the look of the character, the attitude. What references is Nic going to use in terms of people in his life or other actors? He’s very upfront that he pulls from other people a lot. So which other person is he going to do? By the time he gets to the set he’s unrecognizable. He doesn’t sound like himself, he doesn’t walk like himself. So you have this element, like wind or fire, but it’s Nicolas Cage as your character.”
Why Longlegs’ Marketing Build-Up Has Been Perfect So Far
In an era when movies are frequently accused of giving away too much in their marketing,Longlegsis trying a different approach, especially as regards its lead actor. The movie’s atmospheric trailer contains just a single shot of Cage, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment that teases his bizarre appearance in the film, but otherwise tells you nothing about him. This brief taste of Cage’s serial killer turn is designed to make moviegoers hungry for more.
Perkins’ new remarks about Cage’s performance fit with this less-is-more marketing approach. The director reveals next-to-nothing about the film’s titular killer, but hypesCage’s performance, adding to the mystery around the character, while building more intrigue about what exactly Cage is set to unleash as he takes on perhaps the most frightening role of his career.
Longlegsis set for release on June 29, 2025
Cage has appeared in a handful of horror movies, like the aforementionedRenfield, as well as this year’sArcadian, to name just two, and he seems perfectly suited to the genre. Indeed, Cage has untapped potential as a truly iconic horror star.Longlegscould be Cage’s first step toward becoming the next Vincent Price or Robert Englund, a move that would set him up for a great final act of his career. Thus far, the few signs that have been offered point to his latest horror outing representing a career highlight for the long-time actor.
Longlegs
Cast
Longlegs is a horror thriller film by writer-director Osgood Perkins. When FBI agent Lee Harker is assigned to a serial killer cold case, their investigation leads them down a rabbit hole riddled with disturbing discoveries and the occult at the center of it all. When the trail of evidence reveals a personal connection, it becomes a race against time to prevent another murder.
