MOVIE NEWS – It is hard to recall a recent movie that has been as unexpectedly successful as Longlegs. Oz Perkins’ latest is every bit as eerie and unsettling as early reviews suggested, thanks to its moody cinematography and a truly terrifying performance by Nicolas Cage as the titular monster. Comparisons to The Silence of the Lambs are well-deserved, as both films center on a young FBI agent tracking a serial killer, running an emotional gauntlet, and staring into the heart of darkness.

While these comparisons are appropriate, Longlegs is also a unique creation that stands apart from other Hannibal Lecter imitators through its use of the supernatural. In fact, due to the heavy occult imagery and Cage’s otherworldly performance, Longlegs may have more in common with David Lynch’s cult TV favorite, Twin Peaks.

Longlegs and Twin Peaks Show Darkness in the Everyday

What set Twin Peaks apart from countless other police procedurals was its (initial) disinterest in solving the murder mystery that opened the series. The overarching plot regularly stalled as FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper hit dead ends, giving David Lynch an excuse to explore the impact of Laura Palmer’s death on the broader community. Despite the show’s misleading marketing, Twin Peaks was ultimately about how a seemingly picture-perfect suburbia was a facade for a town of dark secrets.

In fact, Laura Palmer herself was not the innocent her close friends and family believed her to be. As the prequel Fire Walk With Me effectively showed, she led a double life of prostitution, drug addiction, and sexual assault. This made it clear that the show’s initial hook was a red herring, and that the seedy underbelly of the titular town was as much to blame for her death as the actual perpetrator. The contrast between idyllic surfaces and darker truths was further emphasized by the revelation that Laura’s seemingly loving and respected father, Leland Palmer, was her killer.

Longlegs also emphasizes this contrast, but it does so less through its plot and setting than through its character development. Specifically, it is revealed that the titular killer intended to make the protagonist, Lee Harker, one of his victims when she was a child, but her mother, Ruth (impeccably played by Alicia Witt), reluctantly agreed to become his accomplice. This spared her daughter and allowed her to have a normal childhood while he carried out his evil deeds, and much of the movie’s dramatic arc involves Lee remembering and coming to terms with a childhood rooted in darkness more than she believed.

The revelation that Ruth is doing Longlegs’ bidding also allows the film to incorporate social commentary about the threat lurking beneath social institutions. In delivering Longlegs’ demonic dolls to families, Ruth disguises herself as a nun delivering a gift from the church, while in fact using the facade of religion as a means to do the devil’s work. All of this helps to elevate the film to a more supernatural level, setting it apart from countless other serial killer thrillers.

Longlegs is About the Nature of Evil

Another way in which Longlegs mirrors the work of David Lynch, particularly Twin Peaks, is in its exploration of the omnipresence of evil. Twin Peaks became a supernatural show out of necessity; while Lynch never intended to reveal Laura Palmer’s killer, network pressure forced his hand. He introduced a genre shift by revealing that Leland Palmer, the killer, was possessed by an evil entity known as BOB. This set the stage for a modern-day battle between good and evil, though the show was abruptly canceled due to low ratings.

BOB personified the world’s pain and sorrow, countered by protagonist Dale Cooper, who embodied everyday decency. Cooper’s spiritual quality was revealed when he recited a Buddhist prayer for the dead as BOB forced Leland to commit suicide. This embodiment of light and darkness was further highlighted in the series finale when they faced off in the mysterious Black Lodge.

Nicolas Cage’s portrayal of Longlegs is terrifying in its otherworldly quality even before his supernatural origins are revealed. He embodies the very idea of evil. This becomes clear after his death an hour into the movie, when Ruth keeps his spirit alive and continues his mission to spread discord.

Lee Harker is both Laura Palmer and Dale Cooper. Like Laura, she endures emotional trials and tries not to be defined by her traumatic past. But like Cooper, she fights for what she believes in, even if it means confronting evil itself.

Longlegs and Twin Peaks Are Impeccable in Their Atmosphere

While the comparisons between Longlegs and Twin Peaks aren’t exact, they do share one crucial similarity: atmosphere. Twin Peaks became popular in part because it felt unique from other TV cop shows, with a heightened tone and supernatural elements that made anything seem possible.

Longlegs evokes that feeling as its grounded tone transforms into an otherworldly thriller. Watching this transformation unfold is part of the movie’s appeal, making Longlegs deserving of its success. Longlegs is now in theaters nationwide and Twin Peaks is streaming on Paramount+.

Source: MovieWeb