Longlegs' Supernatural Twist Isn't What I Wanted Even If It Was Great

The following contains spoilers for Longlegs, now playing in theaters

Summary Longlegs' supernatural twist changes the movie from crime-thriller to standard horror, impacting the overall tone.

The reveal of a devilish influence on the murders shifts focus from grounded mystery to metaphysical horror elements.

The film's ambiguity about supernatural aspects in earlier acts is lost in the climax, leading to a less satisfying resolution.

Longlegs' big supernatural twist doesn't ruin the movie, but it does change it into something I wasn't expecting. As a horror fan, I was ecstatic to see the new Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage-led film. Focusing on Maika's newly-minted FBI agent Lee Harker as she is assigned to the winding mystery of the serial killer Longlegs played by Cage, the film is a solid thriller that slowly unravels the true motivations and methods behind Longlegs' ability to seemingly force otherwise happy families to turn on themselves and kill one another.

The third act of the film reveals the true scope of the plot, revealing other characters have been involved while embracing a fully supernatural explanation. While this doesn't necessarily ruin Longlegs' standing as a modern Silence of the Lambs replacement, it does transform it from a grounded crime-thriller into a more standard scary movie. I don't love the turn, because I think it distracts away from the strengths of the rest of the film. While Longlegs big twist fits into the narrative and is well-made, I think it removes some of the mystery that made the film so compelling.

Related Longlegs' Record-Breaking Box Office Explained: Breaking Down The Incredible $22.6 Million Opening Nicolas Cage's Longlegs broke records at the box office during its opening weekend, and several reasons can account for the horror film's success.

Longlegs' Supernatural Twist Completely Changes The Movie

The Devil Made Them Do It

Longlegs' third act reveals the supernatural influence on the film's central mysteries — and even though it does fit into the film, I'm not sure if I like the way it undermines Longlegs' otherwise grounded approach to horror. For much of the film, the investigation into the Longlegs murder suicides is grounded by realistic touches and understated scares. However, after Longlegs is captured and Lee discovers her mother's role as his accomplice, it's revealed that the pair had been spreading Satanic influence through custom dolls for years, spurring on the murder-suicides across the state.

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It's a big reveal, confirming how supernatural elements impact the setting and story. It also came as something of a surprise, given the film's otherwise committed approach to exploring a murder mystery that only teased a supernatural influence. By revealing the devil is literally involved in the plot to kill innocent families, Longlegs stops being a grounded crime-thriller and becomes something more metaphysical and overarching. This doesn't make it bad by any stretch, as I still enjoyed the performances, writing, and direction after the reveal. I just don't know if I like the direction the film takes as a whole.

Related Longlegs Makes Me Even More Excited For Upcoming Horror Sequel To Movie With 95% RT Score Longlegs is already my favorite horror movie of 2024, and it has a connection to another upcoming horror sequel that I am incredibly excited for.

Longlegs May Have Been Better Off Without Its Supernatural Twist

Sometimes, Ambiguity Can Improve A Story

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One of the things I really enjoyed about the first two acts of Longlegs was the subtle ambiguity of the supernatural, especially in contrast to the more grounded aspects of the film. The little strange touches, like Lee's inexplicable intuition or the figure stalking through her home, added to the sense of unease and mystery. I'm not even opposed to there being supernatural elements to the mystery. It could have left audiences debating the actual demonic presence, all while reflecting themes about the horrible lengths one will go even on an off-chance to protect a loved one.

I prefer Longlegs as a thriller more than a supernatural horror film, even if I think the latter is still a good movie. The intense tone of the first two acts falls to the wayside in the climax, which spends a lot of time dropping exposition about Longlegs and Lee's mother. It's frustrating because I think there's a happy medium where the supernatural elements are ambiguous enough for audiences to debate their presence in the mystery. While I still liked Longlegs, I can't help but think it might have worked better with a less overt supernatural approach to the twist.