Longlegs (2024) * *

Directed by:  Osgood Perkins

Starring: Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Blair Underwood, Alicia Witt

Longlegs is so heavy on atmosphere the movie crumbles underneath it.  The opening credits are framed in home movie fashion and establish a uniquely creepy tone, but Longlegs doesn't build from there.  It's dull and flat, with a payoff that doesn't justify the buildup that nearly crawls to a stop.  

The Longlegs of the title is a serial killer played by Nicolas Cage, a Satan-worshipping cross-dresser made up like Marley's ghost.   He summons Satan's powers to force seemingly normal people into becoming murderers.  As Longlegs opens, he approaches a young girl before her mother intervenes and calls the police.  The girl grows up to be FBI agent Lee Harker (Monroe), a Troubled woman whose mother tells her to say her prayers.  We soon learn why.  Monroe is no Clarice Starling and Longlegs is no Hannibal Lecter, but they are connected.  

Cage is creepily effective as Longlegs despite not having much screen time.  Blair Underwood, as Lee's bureau boss, gives off an elusively weird vibe, while Monroe is the straight-arrow hero trying to capture Longlegs before he kills again.   Writer-director Osgood Perkins creates a dark tale which isn't fun to watch.  A lot of scenes are overloaded in darkness and even the daylight ones are full of ominous clouds. Longlegs quickly becomes a slog to sit through, even though the Carrie and The Silence of the Lambs influences are clearly drawn.  Those were better movies.