Why So Blu?

Longlegs (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

It gets tiring to say it’s been a good year for horror when the statement holds true for many years in a row. This year has offered a variety of solid chilling movies, from remakes to originals, but there were few films I was more excited for in this genre than Longlegs. With a director I’ve been a fan of, a premise that seems familiar but rewarding in its own right, and the mystery box that was Nicolas Cage’s presence in this film, I was geared up for something unique. The serial killer thriller not only delivered but also intrigued audiences. This past summer, the film was a surprise hit at the box office, grossing over $100, becoming Neon’s biggest film in the process. Now it’s available on 4K UHD Blu-ray, so many can keep following the clues at home.

Film:

[Note: This review was originally published on July 8, 2024]

Not unlike the way comedy can elicit different responses from people, horror is not always predictable. What scares some may not scare others. Longlegs is in a position to impress many with its unnerving sense of dread and dark atmosphere. It’s not a film that piles on jump scares, but is it primed to stick in the heads of those who embrace what writer/director Osgood Perkins (The Blackcoat’s Daughter) is attempting to deliver? Is there a proper way to deal with a film that’s mainly being sold to audiences as one with the approval of many critics already, ensuring that it will frighten them? Tough to say. Pushing beyond the notion of being a splashy serial killer thriller, Longlegs has a more measured pace to go along with the deranged elements designed to make the viewer feel like they’re watching an ongoing nightmare. Whether or not that connects with everyone, at the very least, its genre aims are designed to provoke a response, and it did a number on me.

Set in the early 90s, somewhere in the Pacific Northwest, there’s a serial killer on the loose known as Longlegs. We know as much because the killer leaves behind encrypted notes and signs off with this chosen name. There are Satanic and occult underpinnings to all of this, which makes the case all the more difficult for FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe). Feeling as though she has some personal link to the killer, acting fast, with help from Agent Carter (Blair Underwood), will hopefully help her uncover the truth.

As it’s pretty evident from the start, I promise to only refer to this once, but Silence of the Lambs is a clear reference point when considering the plot and types of characters we are following. That is an asset to the film, as this is not what it relies on to work. It is merely a springboard to many other ideas that allow Longlegs to function as more than just a pastiche. I’ve often expressed my admiration for the horror directors of today who have so many great places to draw influences from, but the ones who know how to stand out capture a mood that feels synonymous with their own work rather than merely a pull from others that’s been slightly altered.

Perkins has impressed me so far with the way he handles the feeling of his features. Whether it’s the wintery February period that forms the backdrop for The Blackcoat’s Daughter or the dark fantasy forests witnessed in Gretel & Hansel, there is a keenness toward building grim worlds inhabited by sullen individuals. Yet, they can be achingly beautiful given what the camera can put on display (and the slightest dash of pitch-black humor to properly modulate what an audience can enjoy). Longlegs may have its roots in a police procedural, but it similarly uses its small towns, long highways, and isolated homes as evocative means to generate terror.

With terror in mind, let me say something about Nicolas Cage. It’s not meant as a surprise that he’s in this movie, let alone playing the titular murderer. The only reveal arrives in the way he portrays this character. Initially displayed in a way so we only have certain vantage points for seeing him, in terms of creating a new cinematic villain that is clearly insane, yet you can’t help but want to see more of this person, Cage delivers some truly fantastic work. Coming from both how the character is written and all the effort Cage puts into original takes on his roles, Longlegs is this sort of spellbinding force that one knows will only lead an audience down a disturbing path, but for the limited amount of time he’s onscreen, he still leaves a significant impression.

This previously published review can be found in its entirety Here.

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Video:

Encoding: HEVC / H.265

Resolution: 4K (2160p)

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Layers: BD-100

Clarity/Detail: With the shifting aspect ratio and grainy yet controlled look, part of the film’s eeriness has to do with how the film utilizes the 90s setting to approximate a certain time and place, yet feels under the proper influence of someone making a film in 2024 with a head pointed toward the 70s. As a result, the film is impeccably well-designed, which can be seen in the production details. For a wintery movie, the level of clarity is excellent, whether in low-lit areas or in wide-open view of all. Everything registers cleanly and quite well.

Depth: There is plenty to appreciate about the sense of depth here, as we see people positioned very specifically to go along with the film’s use of symmetry, adding to the sense of dimensionality.

Black Levels: There are a lot of indoor settings and nighttime scenes that speak to seeing an optimal amount of steady black levels, and it’s true. No sign of crushing.

Color Reproduction: It’s not exactly a muted film, but the realistic nature of what it aims for means the colors aren’t necessarily being pushed for the sake of popping. With that in mind, some areas do shine when striking a balance between the normal and outlandish.

Flesh Tones: Rich textures allow facial close-ups and detail to shine.

Noise/Artifacts: Nothing in sight.

 

Audio:

Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English Audio Description 2.0

Subtitles: English SDH, Español

Dynamics: While not bumping up to full atmos, this is nonetheless a very accomplished audio transfer, doing proper justice to representing the largely subtle terror that comes from this film’s machinations.

Height: The areas explored are generally fairly grounded with little complexity regarding where sound needs to come from.

Low-Frequency Extension: The LFE output is strong enough for a few scenes where some major moments happen, bringing the sub-woofer to life.

Surround Sound Presentation: This is a feature heavy on atmosphere, so while the center and side channels do most of the work, there’s plenty to take in from the rear speakers as well.

Dialogue Reproduction: All the dialogue is clear.

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Extras:

Fortunately, there’s a commentary, as it’s nice to hear Perkins speak to things he was after, even if that doesn’t mean delving into the “what does it all mean” component. That said, there’s not much else here beyond a few short interviews, and some fun ideas surrounding how to present the clues of the film.

Features Include:

• Feature Commentary with Osgood Perkins
• On-Set Interviews
  • Maika Monroe (HD, 4:12)
  • Osgood Perkins (HD, 6:08)
  • Blair Underwood (HD, 4:31)
  • Alicia Witt (HD, 4:21)
• Evidence (HD) – A photo gallery that becomes more and more graphic.
• Clues (HD) – Basically a way to live the film’s cryptic marketing campaign at home.
  • Every Year There Was Another (HD, 0:37)
  • Remember to Say Your Prayers (HD, 0:37)
  • We’ve Been Waiting for Her (HD, 0:25)
• Teaser Trailer (HD, 1:26)
• Dirty + Sweet (HD, 2:11)
• Trailer (HD, 2:22)
• Blu-ray Copy of the Film

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Summary:

Longlegs offers a lot for those willing to go along with the film’s creepy but deliberately paced vibe. With measured performances from all except Cage, who goes all in, there’s a lot of intrigue and literal horror to be taken in. Presentation-wise, there’s nothing horrible about what’s offered here, as the video and audio transfer do well to capture what this film offers. The extras could have used more to dig into the making of this feature, but I’m always happy for a commentary. For those who enjoy sitting down and taking in something disturbing, there’s a lot to like here.

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