Longlegs

Summary

Nicolas Cage ’s performance as the terrific titular serial killer inLonglegssimultaneously secure his status as one of theleading horror movie actors working todayand prompt viewers of just how seriously a 2023 release wasted his potential . As a performing artist , Cage has often fraction opinion . His notorious " Nouveau Shamanic " play style can oscillate between brilliance and unintended hilarity . When done right , however , Cage can transform himself to fit any part , however unorthodox – a trait peculiarly useful for revulsion movie .

This power is on full exhibit inLonglegs . coop is almost unrecognisable as the hauntingly pale , disturbed liquidator , making full economic consumption of his physicality to visit his presence on the screen . While the whole motion-picture show is an impressive achievement , sport other warm performances from Maika Monroe , it is Cage who help elevateLonglegsabove and beyond other nonparallel orca stories . While some of his late roles have fallen short of his potential , Longlegsproves that he ’s still a force to be reckoned with . In some ways , this make his involvement in another , less successful horror picture show all the more disappointing .

Longlegs has a horrific ending that leaves Lee Harker in an interesting situation . We separate down the revulsion film ’s ending and what happened to Harker .

Longlegs 2024 Movie Poster

Longlegs Proves Renfield Misued Nicolas Cage

He Plays Two Very Different Horror Villains

UnlikeLonglegs , which has received rave reviewsand broken box office records , Nicolas Cage ’s 2023 Dracula - inspired horror comedyRenfielddivided opinion . While decisive reaction was by no means black ( scoring a estimable 58 % on Rotten Tomatoes ) , the movie fail at the box part , create just $ 27 million against a $ 65 million budget . There are many likely explanations for this , includingRenfield ’s unmanageable reconciliation act between laughs and panic attack . One issue , however , is howRenfieldused Nicolas Cage .

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Rotten Tomatoes Score

Nicolas Cage in Renfield and with a beard

Custom image by Nick Bayer

Himantopus stilt ( 2024 )

87 %

Renfield ( 2023 )

Maika-Monroe-in-Longlegs-

58 %

alternatively of committing to a truly terrific interpretation of Dracula , Renfieldleaned into the more cartoonish element of the character . John Cage do with an detailed Transylvanian accent – clearly relishing the theatricality of the use , but never jeopardize to be shuddery . In many ways , the over - the - top nature of the legendary baddie plays into the stereotype of Cage as an actor , reach them seem like a perfect fit . However , asLonglegshas capably raise , he has many more strings to his bow , makingRenfieldretrospectively experience like a missed chance .

Longlegs Proves Nicolas Cage Could Have Been A Terrifying Renfield Villain

He Could Have Brought Real Horror To The Role

One of the most startling thing aboutNicolas Cage’sLonglegsroleis how he is able-bodied to substantiate actual malice without relying on the bombast that has swear out him well in preceding projects . In true statement , the whole movie is deeply disturbing . The tale , concerning grisly murders and the occult arts , exudes a unceasing miasma of dread – making it , in many mode , quite a non - traditional horror experience . Anchoring it all , however , is Cage ’s performance .

( Cage ) dominates every picture he ’s in through a combining of creepy make - up and incredible physicality . In its niceness , it ’s everything thatRenfieldwas not .

Without recur to the form of over - the - top antics that often held back previous Nicolas Cage revulsion pic ( such asThe Wicker Man ) , he dominates every scene he ’s in through a combination of creepy-crawly make - up and unbelievable physicality . In its subtlety , it ’s everything thatRenfieldwas not . While this is n’t necessarily Cage ’s fault ( and it ’s authoritative to note that the two films are tonal opponent ) , it does inadvertently prompt watcher of what could have been . Longlegsproves Cage is more than capable of playing a genuinely horrifying villainand portray Dracula in such a fashion could have been a radical reinvention for a classic repulsion character .

Nicolas Cage with his hands over his face in Longlegs

Longlegs Uses Cage’s Strengths As An Actor

It’s An Underappreciated Aspect Of His Career

Thanks to his preponderance in internet culture , Nicolas Cage has often been unfairly deridedas someone who , beyond being in full practice to his roles , miss substance . The unremitting memeification of projects likeThe Vampire ’s Kiss , The Wicker Man , Face / Off , and many others has arguably diminished his standing with the public ( regardless of his Oscars success ) , leaving the impression that he ’s only capable of trashy , full - throttle performances . Longlegsproves that nothing is further from the truth .

Rather than scream , Osgood Perkins ' dark thriller demonstrate thatNicolas John Milton Cage Jr. has always been at his proficient when roles have phone for subtlety . In many ways , it ’s a callback to his tortured public presentation inLeaving Las Vegasthat , despite volatile moments , was establish in understatement . Had Cage recur to out - and - out lunacy inLonglegs , the movie ’s oppressive atmosphere would have been forthwith punctured . As it is , Cage testify that he is a much more complicated actor than many picture show roles ( include , perhaps , Renfield ) are uncoerced to give him credit for .

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Cast

Nicolas Cage’s face with His Eyes Just Out of Frame in Longlegs

Headshot Of Maika Monroe In The PUMA x Balmain Launch Event

Headshot Of Nicolas Cage In The 77th Cannes Film Festival ‘The Surfer’ Premiere

Longlegs