MovieChat Forums > Longlegs (2024) Discussion > Saw it, not that good

Saw it, not that good

posted 4 months ago by CalvinJarrett (437)
15 replies | jump to latest

Well, now that it's in theaters, I have a feeling the public will drop it down to maybe a 5. That pacing is dreadfully slow. The characters you're most curious about are given very little backstory. Especially the titular character - a truly evil, despicable human being, but we are given no information on how s/he became that way. No explanation for why key characters either did things or failed to do things. And the plot turned upon those acts or omissions. I don't want to give anything away, but the ending was not worth the effort required to get there.

[–] CraigJamesReview (1715) 4 months ago

Aesthetically I thought the film was incredible. Story-wise it just seemed like a nonsensical mess. This is a disturbing film, but also a very very flawed one

If anyone's interested, I reviewed the movie on my youtube channel. Appreciate any feedback. Trying to improve -https://youtu.be/sIpuq9ORZhc

[–] letess (1513) 4 months ago

Are you talking about the interior of her house? Poor Things was aesthetically well done. Grand Budapest Hotel. Longlegs locations were in Canada and they fit the Carrie-like atmosphere, but aesthetically?

[–] letess (1513) 4 months ago

It’s godawful if you think you are getting Fincher, and it’s evil watered down. It’s definitely not anywhere near Silence of the Lambs or Se7en. It’s a story of satan and not a good one at that. You can laugh at this one. Angel Heart is much better movie about satan. Cage is not in it that much. He says very little and looks like Hayley Mills. And the lead actress has trouble speaking. She’s supposed to have incredible intuition and yet she’s not very smart. She’s slow to react especially in final scene. And in another, with her weapon drawn searching her own house, she literally leaves the front door open and never closes it. Yes, big bunny Cage gets in. Alicia Witt is very good. The opening is good. Apparently the FBI have only 2 agents. It’s not even scary or suspenseful. And like you say, it crawls.

[–] Stratego (30495) 4 months ago

"He says very little and looks like Hayley Mills."

Yeah, why does he look like that? Is he transsexual? Is he wearing a dead woman's face like some kind of Ed Gein? What gives?

[–] letess (1513) 4 months ago

The director is Anthony Perkins’ son so maybe it’s kind of a tribute to dad as mom in Psycho. And Cage - in he/she role is really a doll maker and not really a serial killer. Who makes the dolls when he/she’s gone? Cage is just not scary like Buffalo Bill, Hannibal, or Dollarhyde in Manhunter, or even Spacey in Se7en. And especially Edward Kemper in real life. But mom is still in the picture one way or another in this movie.

[–] StinkyPoopyPants (3113) 4 months ago

"Looks like Hayley Mills" Lol! I'm sure she'd love that compliment 😂

"Angel Heart" is one of the best Satan centered films. One of my favorites for sure!

[–] swishin48 (30) 4 months ago

Her incredible intuition and the stupid things she did was the devil influencing her through the doll. It does seem convenient though to just hand wave any nonsensical things in the movie away with this reasoning but that's where we're at. She really wasn't exceptionally smart or intuitive like a Will Graham. In the opening scene she picks the right house because of the devil, not any sort of reasoning or attention to detail.

[–] letess (1513) 4 months ago

Spoilers.

The doll. Is it one doll per family? Does one doll go a long way for All people? Apparently not, new dolls would not have had to be made. The house she picked at the beginning did not have a child so there was no doll therefore no devil. That part had nothing to do with Longlegs. If the doll maker is deceased how are other dolls to be made in image of the child with bday on the 14th to keep going on with family murder/suicide? Things go wrong only when doll is in the house for that family. What happened to all the other dolls for last 20 years? The last doll exists at the end so does that mean if there are sequels, is it going to be just 1-1/2 hours of trying to get rid of a doll that takes a second to destroy?

[–] elmacho (979) 4 months ago

agreed, they never explained why he was doing what he did. I assume it was to start The End of Times, but it would have been nice to have a bit more information. Also, the whole background story is exposition. They should have found a way to weave it in a bit better so the audience would have a real "a-ha" moment rather than being told.

[–] StinkyPoopyPants (3113) 4 months ago

Maybe they are planning a prequel that will provide those answers? That would not surprise me 🤔

[–] elmacho (979) 4 months ago

it is going to make a huge profit. so most likely.

[–] Creamofdacrop884 (1684) 4 months ago

I thought it was OK, but certainly nowhere near as good as the marketing and reviews would lead you to believe. It has creepy moments and is filmed extremely well and I didn't mind the slow pace, but it's a victim of a poor story/script where many of it's ideas are just not fleshed out well at all. Do agree that the ending was very weak.

[–] WhereIsRent (1080) 4 months ago

The titular character having no backstory is what made the film so fantastic to me. You start explaining everything it takes away the mystery. It kind of reminded me of Joker in The Dark Knight, we don’t really know how he became the Joker and that makes him more terrifying.

[–] CalvinJarrett (437) 4 months ago

"You start explaining everything it takes away from the mystery."

Sounds like the defense of a lazy writer.

[–] Ldlamb (636) 4 months ago

Depends….if you are trying to make a movie with some philosophical point…then you need more info….but if you are mainly trying to achieve an emotional vibe….leaving stuff unknown can be very effective.