Longlegs (2024)

This film is generating a lot of buzz and may ultimately disappoint many viewers. I would characterise it as a mixture of The Silence of the Lambs and Twin Peaks.

Those familiar with the director's previous works will have an idea of what to expect; I certainly did, but found myself rather perplexed.

Rather than a conventional horror film, I would describe it as a detective thriller wrapped in a grim atmosphere.

The film itself is stunning, beautifully shot with captivating and mesmerising imagery, maintaining a pace that keeps you on edge.

It had been many years since I witnessed a theatre so completely full that not a single seat was available and, despite the crowd, an eerie silence pervaded the entire screening, making me feel as if we were alone.

At the centre of the discussion is Nicolas Cage. In my opinion, he has exceeded all expectations with a controlled and unabashed performance. Behind a make-up that can only be described as ‘chanantey’, he is completely unrecognisable; without his voice at certain points, you might not even realise it's him.

This is where he generates such an unsettling atmosphere: no matter how closely you look at him, he seems otherworldly. Audiences don't anticipate a full-throttle Cage, with outbursts of mayhem and violence.

Instead of a film full of gory deaths, blood splatter, screams, shocks and blaring music, it is the enigma of his character and the depth of his performance that instils a deep sense of unease.

Sadly, his on-screen appearance is likely to last no more than 20 minutes spread throughout the film, but he remains constantly in your thoughts throughout.