Alicia Witt's Longlegs Performance Is A Perfect Reminder To Revisit This Unloved 26-Year-Old Slasher

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Longlegs

Summary Alicia Witt's performance in Longlegs showcases her ability to portray complex and unstable characters, adding depth to the horror genre.

Longlegs breaks the mold of traditional horror movies, creating an original and suspenseful film that keeps audiences on edge.

Urban Legend, dismissed as a knockoff of Scream, deserves a second look for its unique plot and Alicia Witt's compelling portrayal.

Alicia Witt’s performance as Ruth Harker in Longlegs is notable but also serves as a reminder to revisit her 1998 slasher film. Witt’s portrayal of Ruth puts the audience on edge, as it becomes clear that she might not be completely stable. The audience is right to be wary, as Ruth is revealed to be working with Longlegs and the devil in one of Longlegs’ scariest scenes. Witt’s acting is crucial since much of the ending of Longlegs is based on her ability to act sane in the presence of the Carter family.

Reviews of Longlegs praise the film for breaking the mold and creating an original horror movie. However, horror is a genre that relies heavily upon following tropes to subvert audience expectations. A previous horror work of Alicia Witt fell victim to overplayed plotlines and clichés, causing it to be dismissed without much thought. However, after Witt’s performance in Longlegs, her 1998 horror film is worth revisiting.

Witt’s Notable Acting Roles

Film Role Dune Alia Atreides I Care A Lot Dr. Karen Amos Urban Legend Natalie Simon Longlegs Ruth Harker 88 Minutes Kim Cummings Mr. Holland’s Opus young Gertrude Lang

Related Where To Watch Longlegs: Showtimes & Streaming Status Nicolas Cage and Maika Monroe headline the 2024 horror movie, and there are options for where to watch Longlegs in theaters or on streaming.

Alicia Witt Played The Final Girl In 1998 Slasher Movie Urban Legend

Witt’s Natalie Was The Last Survivor In The Film

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In Jamie Blanks’ Urban Legend, Alicia Witt plays Natalie, the final girl who is the last survivor in a friend group at Pendleton University. Throughout the film, an unknown killer hunts Natalie and her peers, with urban legends being the inspiration for many of the murders. The movie is set apart by its plot, which brings a familiar fear of scary childhood stories to life. Much of Urban Legend still holds up over two decades later.

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As opposed to her subdued performance as a possessed hoarder in Longlegs, Witt’s performance as Natalie is heartfelt as she tries to prevent her friends' deaths. Though the movie is often ridiculed for its cliché plot and scares, positive reviews praise Witt’s interpretation of Natalie. As opposed to other final girls, who are primarily innocent victims, Natalie is driven by fear, paranoia, and guilt from a mistake in her past.

Why Urban Legend Was Received Poorly At The Time (& Why It Needs Revisiting Now)

Urban Legend Was Dismissed As A Knockoff

Urban Legend was created during an era of slasher revivals, thanks to the success of Scream, which came out two years before. Many films at the time were eager to capitalize on the plotline of a mystery murderer hunting popular teens. Due to this inspiration, Urban Legend was dismissed as a knockoff of Scream. Over the past 26 years, the movie has amassed a mere 28% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus being the film is just average, especially given the context of its creation. None of the movies at the time earned the same acclaim and longevity as Scream.

Urban Legend is not currently available to stream but can be rented online.

However, when removed from the context of Scream, the plot of Urban Legend is more novel than it felt. While a singular spooky folktale is the basis for many films, Urban Legend explores multiple in a 95-minute run time. Though some of the urban legends discussed in the film are less prevalent today, given updated technology, the movie still manages to create suspense and scares through its actors. Alicia Witt’s performance in Longlegs is just a sample of the acting that makes Urban Legend a fun and thrilling slasher that plays on our deep childhood fears.