Joey Magidson
When you watch Longlegs, you’re immediately transported. Not that you’re going to some fantastical world, but that the lead performance from Maika Monroe, alongside the writing and direction from Oz Perkins, is so vivid that you’re completely at their cinematic mercy. It’s truly an accomplishment. I obviously love the film, but it’s not just that it’s an experience. It’s also the type of work you want to discuss with people. So, when I had the chance to talk about the movie with star Monroe and writer/director Perkins, I wasn’t about to pass that up. Today, that Longlegs discussion comes your way.
In my rave review, I called this performance the best of Monroe’s career, while I had this here to say about the filmmaking from Perkins:
Filmmaker Oz Perkins has been steadily building his horror profile, but this is above and beyond. Simply put, it’s his masterwork. Longlegs has Perkins writing a screenplay that trusts his audience while always playing fair with them, while his direction funnels dread into every frame. The existential fear baked into every single scene is something to behold. Perkins infuses dread and terror into the absolute core of the picture. Utterly terrifying and deeply unsettling, he has such control over tone and his story that you’re just in awe. You don’t have to be shocked by the ending to be shaken by it. This is A-list writing and directing, from start to finish.
Below, you can hear my conversation with Monroe and Perkins. I’d previously spoken to Monroe briefly here, but this was my first time chatting with Perkins. As you’ll hear, we jived pretty quickly. We discuss what made Monroe want to sign on, how Perkins knew things were working, and how he manages to play fair with the audience. Monroe is now a horror icon between this and It Follows, while Perkins is quickly becoming a master of the genre. The flick is truly something to behold, with their talents chief among why it soars. With Longlegs hitting theaters tomorrow, you can see what blew me away in a manner of hours. Don’t miss it…
Here now is my interview with Longlegs star Maika Monroe and filmmaker Oz Perkins. Enjoy:
Longlegs is in theaters this weekend!
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