Longlegs (2024) - Movie Review

[@CodyLeachYT]

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[@gabrielcastaneda9700]

Are you planning to attend Fantasia fest

[@simonbrandy9662]

I agree about hype spoiling expectations. However, you did hype up X, and I found it to be merely okay. I do think you are one of the best reviewers, and it's rare I disagree. But X was one occasion I was severely let down.

[@beestingza]

@CodyLeachYT Have you seen David Lynch's Inland Empire? I feel like he explored some of the ideas in this film in a much more Lynchian and compelling way way back in 2006.

[@sandragill9916]

Shoes for your rugged outdoor adventures 😂 love it 😜

[@asickler1978]

Um sorry, but you can’t “blink and miss” the Bill Clinton pictures. They almost need to credit him he shows up so much.

[@caleighhraee]

Dude it’s every scene at the FBI offices 😂

[@masonmarcobello3164]

“Hail Satan” seems more than fitting with those references

[@playedout148]

😢

[@Demonico-j7x]

And the Richard Nixon one.

[@richardhoehn9922]

I was just about to say! Like watching X Files, you know it's the 1990's with all those photos of Janet Reno or Bill Clinton in "Skinner's" office.

[@supastar25]

The 90s crime thrillers were fantastic...I miss films like that

[@mrfreeseat]

This movie isn't a patch on those films im going to watch some of those for therapy to get over this

[@JoseFuentes-fn3dl]

They were

[@chrisretzlaff2895]

​@mrfreeseat, you're absolutely right. This missed a lot of the true beats of a 90s psychological thiller.

[@PerrySkyePhoenix]

Yeah, this tried to be a 90's film... but didn't succeed.

[@shaneodwyer6132]

One of the best horror/thrillers of the 90s that always gets forgotten is Exorcist 3 - a major influence on Longlegs as well, more so than the superficial Silence of the Lambs comparison

[@cycobern]

I really liked the scene when the fate of a certain FBI agent sitting in the car was filmed. That background right before what happens…woah!

[@PestControl-lt2cu]

A lot of people were disappointed with Hereditary at first because they didn't think it was scary enough. Not saying this is as good as Hereditary but I think a lot of the negative reactions will be due to unrealistic expectations.

[@CodyLeachYT]

Yep!

[@Nighhhts]

Hereditary was ominous and off-putting as fuck… Edit: To clarify, I will never watch Hereditary again. Ironically, thinking about never watching that movie again, I then watched Midsommar, which is directed by the same person - Ari Astor. 😂 To make up for it, I’ll never watch that movie again either… but Midsommar was more tame than Hereditary.

[@overcomingwithin]

yeah i was disappointed after hereditary at first, though i believe it was just because it wasn’t what i was expecting. the more i thought about it after watching it the more kinda disturbed i felt

[@copilmissletoe86]

See what’s weird for me is I love Hereditary and appreciated it more on rewatch. I don’t always love slow burns but it was a more extreme Rosemarys Baby to me, which I love that movie. Def Ari Aster’s best, and I’m not a big fan of his other work

[@michaelschaub4267]

Yep. Hereditary was absolutely terrifying in very atypical fashion, it didn’t drown you in cliches, so alot of people couldn’t appreciate not being spoon fed the typical hollywood garbage.

[@CrystalClevelandYT]

Early reviews really set the expectations of this ridiculously high, to the films detriment. But it’s good on it own without any comparisons.

[@CodyLeachYT]

100%

[@skyofthelivingdead]

Yeah, when you start comparing it to (in my opinion) arguable masterpieces like The Silence of the Lambs, you’ve basically set yourself up.

[@sircliffordmalcolmjac5870]

Actually, i think it was pretty close to silence of the lambs just in general!! Definitely not better at all than silence, but i saw all these people saying it was shriek inducing, and it just makes your head explode at the 3rd act and all this stuff!! Everytime nic cage spoke, i couldnt help but laugh!! I honestly think he was one of the least scary villains ive seen in a long time!!

[@JohnNoir8911]

This movies a 4.5 at least.

[@BigJase1021]

I agree. I was hyped but after reading some things (spoilers) I thought well maybe there wrong nope it's good but not anywhere near what I had in my mind.

[@GSP-76]

Nicholas Cage said in an interview that this role let him channel his childhood experiences with his schizophrenic mother. He really made this role personal for him...and he delivered a very original and unique performance.

[@sunsin1592]

It was indeed uniquely bad. Bravo, Nicky!

[@pointysidedown]

​@@sunsin1592How dare you? cage delivered an Oscar worthy performance

[@TheKingOfAllHorror]

​@sunsin1592 No it wasn't tard, lmao cope

[@SerboFaca1]

@@pointysidedown Oscar worthy performance? It was just Nicholas Cage with some makeup, he wasnt scary or unique

[@jboao]

@@pointysidedown llmfao stop throwing oscar-worthy around willy nilly.

[@aaronn8191]

People just love detective horror, i know thats my favorite

[@Neat0_o]

It really is one of the best genres. True detective had horror elements in that first season and that’s one of the best season of tv ever created.

[@skidrow1800]

Just saw it & was so disappointed with the 3rd act & the explanation as to why everything was happening. Overhyped

[@jonfreeman9682]

Glad I didn't pay to see it in theaters. It was a TV movie at best. Definitely no silence of the lambs. Big fan of Nicolas Cage but no way he can top Sir Anthony Hopkins.

[@evolutionofcando379]

as soon as i seen the 666 in the puzzle i rolled my eyes

[@czuback31]

Just saw LongLegs and the first thing I did on the way home was find this review and listen to it. Your review/commentary hit the nail on the head with each pint you made. This is why yours is my fav of all the horror movie channels I watch. At the end of the movie, My friend and I looked at each other and were like “I’m not sure what I think yet!”

[@PerrySkyePhoenix]

I just saw it, and I know what I think. There was nothing original about this. There was nothing scary about it. The ending was ridiculous and it made no sense.

[@medvedsvk4976]

@@PerrySkyePhoenixthank you. exactly my thoughts. at the end credits I was like "what the fuck was this?!?" and I thought to myself that I saw this kind of movies so many times...literally robbed themes from at least ten other (and better) movies and claimed to be "original" and "scary"...what a shame...

[@catmeow11111]

@@PerrySkyePhoenix Good for you, now go and tell that to your contrarian friends.

[@KrystleLovesHorror]

THANK YOU for calling out some of the reviewers who just want their names on posters or to stay in the studios’ good graces. 😁👍 Good lord, it’s so annoying, especially with horror! 🤦‍♀️ If you are a lifelong horror fan, I feel like you should know not to base your expectations on those pull quotes but more from people you trust, like you mentioned. Seeing this tonight and hoping I’ll enjoy it! I definitely don’t expect to watch the “scariest movie of the last decade”, though. 🤪 lol.

[@Gary828]

hey, you should check out this Spanish Horror film called "The Hidden Face" but DO NOT watch the trailer as they give the twist away! Horror/Thriller fans should watch! PROBABLY THE GREATEST TWIST I HAVE EVER SEEN.

[@KrystleLovesHorror]

@@Gary828 I have not heard of that one, which from what you said, that’s a GOOD thing! 😄 Thank you so much for the rec! I’m always trying to find horror I haven’t seen yet, so you’re awesome!! 🤗

[@JohnNoir8911]

Or maybe they just really loved the movie? Don’t be mad it’s not u

[@KrystleLovesHorror]

@@JohnNoir8911 I just got home from watching it … I actually did love the movie, so I’m not mad at anyone nor was I before even. 😂 I’m just stating a fact that SOME people will overhype just to get on a poster. It’s just a fact. 🤷‍♀️

[@lacanam]

@@Gary828 Thanks for the rec!

[@MrBoyYankee]

Double Toasted even knew not to believe the hype. They gave a fair and favorable rating.

[@MiyaoMeow588]

Longlegs as a movie could've been absolutely perfect and it still would've fallen short of the hyper gargantuan expectations early viewers put out there. It's a good movie. Arguably a great one. But it was never, ever going to be "the best ever."

[@sunsin1592]

No; it sucks hard. Your standards of good and great are seriously flawed. It's not even average.

[@PerrySkyePhoenix]

It definitely wasn't a "great one"

[@hashvendetta7226]

Its not "arguably great". It's written by a 14 year old. People just yell the word "atmospheric" when reviewing it.

[@Mak2545]

The sense of dread and hopelessness involving the motivations of Cages character and the Mother unsettled me. Their intentions and devotion to who they were ultimately serving made me feel so uneasy. Great flick

[@YSANROCHEOfficialYoutube]

It was so full of cliche like some 70 year old grandpas were trying to make “cool cinema” ugh

[@B0redom13]

I really appreciate you calling out the hyperbole. It completely ruins my expectations when everyone gushes over a horror movie and it’s mid at best.

[@Nighhhts]

If a movie can get into your head, that means it left an impact. Also, Maika Monroe is such an underrated actress… Nick has been killing it for years now, although he does have corny movies as well.

[@BkLYN4584]

The black coats daughter! I rented it on Amazon and I’ve been thinking about the movie for days.

[@Nighhhts]

@@BkLYN4584 Haven’t seen The Blackcoat’s Daughter, but Kiernan Shipka is a great actress too.

[@MV3productions83]

And now I keep seeing people on social media bashing the movie for not being scary when they were told by those bs critics that it's "one of the scariest movies of all time".

[@J12647]

I think that besides those critics they may have marketed the movie as a super scary horror movie when I think advertising it as a thriller/ serial killer movie would have been enough with everything else they were doing. I had only seen the trailer when I watched it and was only expecting a crime thriller. That made the movie good for me

[@Brownaut1993]

I went into it blind to avoid bias. I thought it was pretty good. I think I'm in the minority when I add that Nic Cage's part in it was a little distracting and took away from the film as a whole. I'll take my gf to give it another go and see if I feel the same

[@lukeprimo4672]

Pretty much agree with this review for the most part. To add on some other negatives I had, Nic Cage gave a good performance but I ultimately felt a bit underwhelmed with the intrigue of the actual character. I also disliked the fact that we get a minor exposition monologue to explain the major twist. And of course there is the abrupt ending, which honestly felt like there should've been 5 more minutes added to the movie. Overall a decent 7/10 in my book, but definitely not a masterpiece.

[@Brownaut1993]

@@lukeprimo4672 I like how Barbarian did its exposition dump by pumping the brakes but showing a really interesting backstory. I think that method could have really helped this movie's issue there

[@Tony_Pesta]

I agree with you, he was creepy and unsettling before the car scene. From that point on his character was pulling me out of the movie

[@dido6261]

I feel like his character was almost supposed to do that though. He meant to be jarring and make you go "WTF"

[@tinymusiccritic]

Could not blink and miss Bill Clinton. That photo has nearly as much screen time as Nic Cage

[@therhapsodist976]

I can't wait to revisit LongLegs! Hype be damned, I was totally invested the whole hour and 41 minutes. The acting from every cast member was stellar. The cinematography is hauntingly beautiful. Films don't scare me, but this one was definitely the most unsettling and creepy that I've seen this year thus far.

[@benclawson821]

Cody, I've trusted you for years and always respected your options, even if we have disagreements that's cool, because I want to hear other options. You're my favorite film reviewer, hands down, and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing this film. I never expect anything to be better than sliced bread, but I love the look of the film and actors in this, so I think I'll have a good time regardless. Your points given throughout the review make me feel confident about this film. Thanks for the review and maybe I can even share more of my thoughts when I see this.

[@CodyLeachYT]

I appreciate it

[@NickHippo13]

This movie just wasn’t that great for me. I hated the payoff.

[@chopchop1437]

It wasn't a great reveal. "Satanic dolls make people dumb as hell" wow cool ok...

[@Willthethrill19]

Yea same. The whole reveal at the end. Last 15 or so minutes I was kinda flabbergasted by what was going on. It felt like a realistic serial killer movie for most of the movie, and then turned into some weird bizarre satanistic paranormal shit that just didn’t make sense. And ultimately, Longlegs himself almost felt like damn, so that’s it. After all that? Idk, pretty bummed.

[@dryeraseboard6051]

Part 1 was good. Part 2 was ok. Part 3 meh.

[@StevenE-l9y]

@@Willthethrill19 I didn't feel like the movie was ever trying to be realistic. At the beginning we learn that Harking has psychic powers. Immediately that threw realism out the door. At least for me. I wasn't surprised that another supernatural element was involved.

[@bman1235]

*spoiler* They full on went with Satan worship in my opinion. Several full on chants really gave me a horrible feeling. It’s the only movie that deeply disturbed me.

[@PrisonerofChrist81]

Cody Leach is so brutally honest! With that appreciation, he fkn rules!

[@EpictasticJoshua]

Glad that you are always calling out early reactions and such because I can't tell you how many times every year when I see early buzz and some say it's the worst thing ever or it's this or that and I get something completely different or walk away disappointed or a different opinion. It's always fun when you talk about things like this that kinda hurts people's experiences and expectations for movies besides talking about the theatrical experience or explaining that self blaming others over a movie's failure or something like that. Will definitely keep this in mind from now on and I'm gonna continue to judge movies for myself as I have been doing before I started KZbin and have been doing for almost ten years coming next year.

[@SeanKennyYT]

Your rant about film criticism legitimacy/early screeners etc is an example of why you became one of my favorite YT channels and that same topic was actually a huge component of what motivated me to eventually put a voice out and start discussions. Theres so much hyperbole and extreme views online now. Great video as always, love the channel

[@VanDutch87]

Critics said that the original Paranormal Activity was like one of the scariest movies ever made and I was bored out of my mind watching it. I appreciate you always keeping it real Cody 👍🏻

[@harryparsons2750]

The only movie I’ve ever walked out of. Paranormal Activity sucks!

[@VanDutch87]

@@harryparsons2750 One of the few Paranormal Activity movies that freaked me out a bit was Part 2 I believe. Whichever one was set in like the 80’s.

[@dimmufrost666]

I saw Long Legs in the theater a few days ago. The wide shots. Yes. I was dissecting those wide shots with my eyes, searching for clues to brace for a jump scare or some sort of disturbing "something" and it was the most enjoyable form of tension building I've seen in a film, in quite some time.

[@allthingshorrorrelated]

100% agree.

[@aznbanana00]

I'm not really a horror fan and get scared pretty easily. That said, I went into this movie having heard nothing and seen nothing about it, and I do not regret that one bit. It wasn't any jump scares or disturbing imagery that left me speechless; it was the feeling. Like WTF did I just watch and why do I feel infinitely unsettled. The story, the characters, and the vibe was *chef's kiss*. I mean Nic Cage outdid himself in this film.

[@caleighhraee]

You should watch Tusk next 😂

[@palmmahir3888]

Thanks for the heads up on your early reaction so I can tempered my expectations. And I am happy to say that I really enjoyed this one, feel pretty bad for a lot of people who feel disappointed and did not like this one.

[@stevensmith3523]

From the first scene I was on edge. The subtle atmosphere of discomfort and terror was spot on. I think if anything, the tone will be seen as one of the greatest things about this movie. I didn't like the shift to supernatural satanic stuff, I wish it wasn't so forced near the last few scenes. I wish it was more subtle especially with Harkin's boss and family.

[@Willthethrill19]

I totally agree. Absolute brilliant atmosphere, cinematography. Pretty effective cutaways and great performances. And 100%, for me at least, the hype was there, and the movie was delivering what was being built up, and bam. A total shift in a way that just made no sense at all. I was in my head asking questions because it was confusing and bizarre. Very forceful. It felt like 2 different movie almost. Overall, pretty bummed

[@rickyistrying]

honestly it didn't seem forced to me. Hawker mentioned the birthday thing early in the film, and we knew Underwood's character had a daughter around that time. It made sense to me, and I loved how I could see it foreshadowed. It was also clearly a supernatural thriller to me when we see Hawker's somewhat psychic powers being shown in like the first twenty minutes of the movie.

[@stevensmith3523]

@@rickyistrying That's true. I liked the story with Underwood. The psychic stuff was interesting, I guess I forgot about that aspect of Harker's character. I think I understood it as a link to Cobble their shared connection to Satan rather than a independent psychic ability. But nevertheless a solid 9/10 for the movie overall.

[@rustcohle7658]

I don’t think it shifted at all, the whole movie you see a horned demon in the background following the main character so I knew it had to do with something satanic

[@asterix1912]

I didn't think the supernatural stuff was forced like you say. There are pretty clear clues all over the movie that lead up to the ending.

[@Brussellham]

Once they showed the scene with longlegs in the store, all suspense was gone for me and it didn’t come back.

[@ChrisM-yq2pq]

Don’t know why they showed that

[@LayzeeJay]

@@ChrisM-yq2pqnice cage screentime wym? Dude probably had so much say on set too.

[@Knocturnal17]

Totally agree

[@JarMar3296]

I have to agree the movie really fell apart after that because it just showed that no one takes the antagonist seriously so why should I. That and I will say the overly Caginess of it really ruins any mystique the scene could've had. I mean they literally only had to show what they showed in the trailer, and then cut to him doing that shit with his hands over his face, and then cut to the next scene maybe even showing that he murdered everyone in the store. Nope instead we have him being mocked, and then jump cut to him in his car screaming like a nutcase but not in a scary way going "Mommy Daddy!"

[@hashvendetta7226]

The moment she put her back up against the window of the house her partner got shot from, i officially checked out. It was 4 minutes into the movie

[@jameslangan3031]

Excellent observation with the open space, I was constantly looking around through the whole movie waiting for things to pop out and wasn't able to put it into words as well as you just did.

[@cmonmanyouknowthething8200]

1 of the biggest reasons why I watch Cody’s channel/reviews is because I know he’s not on bullshit. I can trust that I’ll get authenticity from him. He’s willing to call out critics who are full of shit even though it might come back to bite him one day and that takes balls. We need more honest reviews like him. 👌🏻

[@nickcollins2191]

This why I watch reviews by yourself and Red Letter Media, because yall are genuine. Unlike the people that your talking about.

[@tylerhenk87]

A movie can be overhyped and still be great, which I think is the case here imo. If you went in expecting an all timer thats always going to be a near impossible bar to hit.

[@CodyLeachYT]

It’s absolutely the case here. I just hate that many people are gonna end up having a negative overall experience because their expectations are unattainable.

[@skyofthelivingdead]

Evil Dead 2013 is a good example. Awesome movie but was wayyyy overhyped with that “scariest movie of all time” marketing they pulled.

[@tylerhenk87]

@@CodyLeachYTAgreed 100%, seen some people calling it the scariest movie of the last 10-20 years. I always try to not let the hype ruin my enjoyment which in this case it didn’t luckily.

[@tylerhenk87]

@@skyofthelivingdead yeah thats a great point, similar to what is happening now. Hyped up to an unrealistic level so people are disappointed when the movie is just good haha.

[@nathanslay6342]

The thumbnail of this video basically is Cody showing how crazy of a person he can be when there’s too much overhype for the film.

[@nox5870]

It wasn't ''A Scariest film of the Decade'', But it was definitely an interesting watch, I would definitely recommend it to people who are more into crime/thriller genre, because this is definitely not a horror film. It has horror elements but it wasn't a full blown horror movie from start to finish. There was some unsettling and creepy parts but I never felt truly scared. Nic Cage and Maika Monroe were both great, the actress who plays Lee's mother in the film was fantastic, she was absolutely creepy. But it definitely a type of movie that you need to see twice, it demands that. So I am definitely going to be seeing again but this time alone at home. I just came out of the screening couple of minutes ago, so the movie is very fresh in my mind but I just... I don't know, I need to sit with this movie for a bit and think how I feel about it, because there were stuff I really, really liked and then there were some other stuff that I would put under a question mark. That's why I think it necessary to see it twice. I can say that I think this film should have been either longer or a mini-series, a 1 hour 40 minute runtime is not enough to tell such a story I feel like, there is quite a lot that is left to viewer's imagination, a very ambiguous ending. I don't hate the ending but I do wish we got a conclusion, it felt like we will be getting Longlegs 2 or something... but either way, I can't decide fully on how I feel about this film, I will say I did like it more than I did not like it, but I don't want to go in the details because I am not 100% sure if even the things I did not like I truly don't like you know? But it definitely was an experience that I overall enjoyed but at the same let down by few things, I did feel like it needed to be longer at the very least and the jumpscares were weak... absolutely weak to me. But I will still recommend for anybody to go check it out for yourself, especially like I said before if you are fan of these type of movies (Silence of the Lambs, Seven or Zodiac) then this could be a good time for you. I will say this, this film is definitely also not on par with Silence of the Lambs or Seven in terms of filmmaking, storytelling and etc etc... It definitely pays homage to those films but at the same time brings an interesting unique twist to the movie which I did really like. So yeah, go check it out. I feel like this movie is going to be very divisive, some people will love it some people will like it and some will straight out hate it, it definitely a more of A24 type movie. Also, Nic Cage's performance was definitely something... I did not know how to approach his character... but eventually he did get under my skin but I can see some people straight out laugh at this character because of how ridiculous he is in this. Even I smiled couple of times because Nic Cage was having a lot of fun in this one, oh my oh my... He was chewing every scene, the interrogation scene definitely is going to be a memorable scene from the movie. Gosh, I went on a huge rant.. I need to chill, but at the moment it very hard for me to rate this, I need to wait a bit until I can truly comprehend what I just saw.

[@GuyLovesAnOnion]

That’s like saying Silence of the Lambs isn’t a horror film. It is

[@nox5870]

@GuyLovesAnOnion It really isn't, but if you think it is.. okay. Like I said before in my previous comment if you read it all and read every word then you would notice I did say it had "Horror elements but it's not a full blown horror film like some would expect and that it's not the scariest film of the decade." There were no scenes of intense scare for me (In Longlegs) maybe it was for you and that's fine, what might be scary for you might not be scary for others.

[@nox5870]

@GuyLovesAnOnion And that is the only thing you got out of my long comment? 😀 wow, there was literally no point in your comment. You just commented for the sake of commenting.

[@copilmissletoe86]

To me this movie is a good example of art made with someone who is a master of the medium, but somewhat lacking in imagination. It was extremely well made and achieves the sense of dread it was going for, but the concepts revealed in the exposition segment at the end felt too bizarre for its own good. I’ve seen similar concepts executed much better (The Wailing comes to mind) which left me somewhat disappointed

[@CodyLeachYT]

I imagine the final 15 minutes will break it for many people

[@copilmissletoe86]

@@CodyLeachYT and still tho, it didn’t necessarily even break it for me. I thought the movie was fine, even better than fine but not Silence of the Lambs or Se7en level by any means. Btw Cody, if you haven’t seen them, The Wailing and I Saw The Devil. Both South Korean horror movies and very much worth your time

[@77Creation]

He's not at all lacking in imagination. He's lacking in the ability to put that imagination into a screenplay. And if you know Osgood, you know bizarre, dream logic is his thing. But I agree, The Wailing is one of the best horror films I've seen in years.

[@dylangreen110]

I thought it was just a bunch of unsettling imagery thrown together and they called it a horror movie. Actors were great, cinematography was great, everything else was just a lil lame and lackluster. Too many cheap jumpscares, didn’t seem cohesive at all, just odd for the sake of being odd. But maybe I’m just being pessimistic.

[@Razieleatssouls]

I'm with ya, the story felt very thin to me and lacked engaging scenes and resolution. There are plenty of films that do better with this mystery style, more recently Prisoners and Barbarian come to mind.

[@emersonv]

Me the whole time I just had the attitude of that kid at the store that was just over the creepy man's nonsense

[@phaedrus7971]

Do we all unanimously agree that it was a bad idea for the writer/director to have the mother just explain everything at the end? It turned a really fantastic film into a Scooby Doo episode all of a sudden. Someone must have noticed in editing!

[@jonfreeman9682]

Very bad. Nothing like an exposition dump at the end to tie up loose ends. Annabelle did the doll killer possession thing better.

[@imperialbeautee]

Idk, I am the kind of person who needs things "explained" cause if I leave a movie feeling confused I will obsess over it looking for possible explanations 😂

[@loganleatherman7647]

@theoriginalbunnygirl Honestly, that would’ve been better than what we got. Leaving the movie still with questions and the tension that built up the whole time makes it sit with you long after it’s over and really gives you chills to think back on. That’s why I like Skinamarink so much. This movie however just destroys all of that at the end with really dumb answers to great questions

[@ryanswayze8822]

Just saw it, I was kind of let down by it honestly, fuck hype.

[@jonathanbaumler]

I left the theater extremely disappointed. It’s definitely not the sadistic serial killer film we were marketed.

[@siriush100]

Almost fell asleep on about 3 separate occasions. It's honestly pretty perplexing and somewhat comical as to what people consider to be good cinema in 2024. Do people just feel incredibly desperate to feel like they're a part of something?

[@donniegrobmeier2719]

@@siriush100what? If someone thinks something is good are they not supposed to say it’s good?

[@517Spidy]

Same not impressed it was no Silence of the Lambs

[@sheeplenk]

Appreciate your rant, I used to fall victim to that kind of hype, and it absolutely makes me not trust early reviews. I’m glad someone with an audience is calling them out.

[@JaimeEnFuego]

The burden of expectation is SO pervasive and totally agree man, borderline nauseating.

[@DanielSelk]

I agree with you all the way. Hype is totally overhyped. I didn't go into the movie blind but I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was a very disturbing/unsettling movie that made me need to catch my breath a few times...but I remember when the credits rolled internally I did say "...wait, that's it? That's how it ends??" It wasn't as satisfying as I wanted it to be. I wish people would stop saying "BEST movie ever" and "NEVER have we seen something like this!" or "MOST-" GAH!!! Stop it! Even my favorite films I would not expect people to make their favorite. I have my own personal scale of 1-10 and this movie was a solid 8. Did a lot of things right...but the ending made it fall short for me.

[@LOWBORN-the-LOATHSOME]

-This did analog horror better than Late Night with the Devil. -I want a season of True Detective just like this movie. POSSIBLE SPOILERS: -Kiernan Shipka and Alicia Witt stole the show for me. -There was an clever and indirect reference to Jodie Foster; when Lee was talking about how she initially wanted to be an actress when she was a child, Carter's daughter Ruby says, 'but that'll mess you up.'

[@NASTYVEGASNATE]

Cody one thing that always impresses me about you, is you always tell things the way they are. I’m not speaking about your reviews, some I completely disagree with but to each is own. I’m speaking about your directness. That 5 min speech at the end about “reviewers” I found so fucking refreshing. It was like talking to a close friend about a subject. You have a way to relate that is awesome. Don’t ever change dude.

[@leezaaylward2866]

The thing is I was looking forward to this movie and to be honest I really didn’t like it, it didn’t scare me, maybe intentionally all the spaces were claustrophobic but not in a horror movie way more like a windowless office on a Tuesday at 10:00am kind of way. So I thought maybe I missed something but couldn’t bring myself to rewatch this, I reviewed a few spoiler reviews and ending explained videos and still I did not find this entertaining I was bored. Maybe it’s an unpopular opinion Nicholas Cage’s performance was quirky and interesting but by no means his best, see Vampires kiss or Wild at heart… this is my opinion it’s unpopular but I own it.

[@craigroth7008]

As someone who avoids any reviews until after i see a movie, i would just like to say the first review i consult after seeing a film is yours cody. You're the fucking best

[@Sean-wk5vt]

It has a lot of disturbing scenes But it had this Silence of the Lambs temu vibe Silence of the Lambs Is a classic This wasn't

[@FirstnameLastname-qc3xx]

I literally just left the theater. Idk what the FUCK I just saw. I love it and I hate it and idk what reality is

[@CodyLeachYT]

Haha that’s a good response from this movie!

[@Willthethrill19]

Literally the same thoughts I’ve been having all night since I walked out lol. I’m so mixed on this. Expectations had a lot to do with it. I’m gonna need to rewatch this before I can really gather my full thoughts. I did enjoy it. Good performances, incredible atmosphere. But I definitely was expecting something a bit different overall. I’m sure it’ll grow on me as time goes on.

[@NewtonDKC]

I only worked 1/2 a day and saw the literal first showing in my town so I could avoid spoilers….gotta say I didn’t like it. Overhyped it certainly is. The big twist or spoiler I tried so hard to avoid just doesn’t exist, or at least what I’m guessing they are referring to, is pretty freakin obvious from only a few scenes in, so by the end when it is made even more obvious I was like “that’s it? Seriously?”. I guess they didn’t think it was obvious enough from the several scenes that I thought already made it clear. Unless it’s some of the other stuff that just seems like more stuff cribbed from other horror movies of late and make little sense in any real world way. I hate movies that make screechingly loud noises to scare you because they haven’t come up with something truly scary on its own. This movie does that (take ear plugs just to be safe…for real; if you don’t need the. Great, but if you find you do need them you’ll be ever so grateful you have them!). Those sounds are in the trailer tho the scenes aren’t necessarily the ones played over in the movie. And Nicholas Cage…um, don’t expect much of him or you will be disappointed and I just didn’t find the “look” worthy of the hype it’s getting. In fact, I wonder if they have kept it from being seen because IMO it’s like a cross between some aging glam rocker and…well, just that. And people keep saying “the makeup” but to me it looks like a mask. I mean not that he’s wearing a mask in the film, but literally wearing a latex mask. I dunno, maybe I’m not the target audience but I just thought it felt like a bunch of bits cribbed from a half a dozen other (better?) horror movies and mixed together with an unsatisfying conclusion that relies on so many… not sure if the correct description is coincidences or characters so ridiculously dense that the facts they list as relevant to the murders never occur to them that they themselves fit some of those very dates/ages/etc. Anyway, didnt like it, wasnt impressed and anyone who compares Longlegs to Silence of the Lambs probably didn’t see one or both because one of those movies is a true scary, suspenseful masterpiece of a classic and the other is…not.

[@TheAmateursOriginalMusic]

@@NewtonDKCwhy was he called Long Legs?🤷‍♂️

[@jeans4108]

Me too. Idk what to think

[@MexiChrist]

The overhype thing happened to me with Barbarian. I honestly couldn’t describe how deflated I was leaving the theater because I had read nothing but over the top glowing praise about how it was “the most original horror in years”. Nowadays I avoid trailers outright and attempt to go in as blind as possible.

[@vicdog4440]

Yup. I was gonna comment but i couldn't even remember the name of that blasted movie. It was such a let down and unbelievable plot that I couldn't think of the name lol

[@ProfessorHubertFarnsworth]

Yeah once the reveal was superhuman inbred woman, I went from enjoying that movie to absolutely hating it. I'm so over that trope that somehow inbreeding makes you impossibly strong and nigh invincible. In reality it's the exact opposite due to a dilution of your DNA/genes.

[@DropDeadFredo]

It’s probably not going to live up to the hype, but I’m stoked to see this movie. It can’t be worse than the likes of Barbarian or Smile. Smile getting a sequel is a horror in and of itself. Also, the fact that I have to come to terms with this movie hopefully not being as bad as the trash being put out as horror is sad.

[@HJRIV]

I had this same reaction to Thanksgiving and In a Violent Nature. I did not enjoy either movie.

[@Trill_Tour]

Easily the best horror movie of the year and there's been a lot of good ones

[@SnitchNarc]

Shit is barely a horror movie.

[@GuyLovesAnOnion]

@@SnitchNarc horror is very broad. Like by todays standards most people wouldn’t call Rosemarys Baby a horror film when it most certainly is

[@Smokinduckz]

What good horror movie have we gotten? It's been a pretty terrible year for horror imo

[@77Creation]

@@Smokinduckz Meh...Lots of swings. Lots of misses.

[@chopchop1437]

​@GuyLovesAnOnion "hOrRoR iS vErY bRoAd" man shut the hell up it's either scary or it's not.

[@MatthewBahl-on1ou]

Cody. Been following you for a long time and have always enjoyed your channel. I don’t comment much - just here and there - but i have to say. This review really resonated with me. You described what you liked so well, and in a way that felt personal to me, that I decided to go see this movie. I was turned off by some of the early critics, but you helped me understand that there are some cynical people hyping films and that is hurting theaters, not helping. I’m going to go see this in the theatre because I like 90s serial killer films and wild Nick Cage performances. If that’s what I’m getting I’m heading to the big screen instead of waiting for streaming. Thank you.

[@linger4605]

Pros: Sets up a great, eerie atmosphere. Makes you guess and be attentive while giving you minimal each shot. There's a feeling of unease and dread with the locations and the acting from the center characters. Movie was great for 3/4's of the movie (final act below.) The "less is more approach" from older horror movis is present for the first half and definitely increased the eeriness and unsettlingly feeling you get; almost like when you feel someone watching you in the dark. Cons: The acting from the center characters was a bit much. It's almost as if every character was told to act socially awkward and slightly creepy. Nicolas Cage's character was effective until we finally get a sit down with the character and then he just went over the top ridiculous. They really should have told Cage to tone it down a bit. This movie suffers from "Hollywood showing us too much" syndrome. Less is more. Let the audience imagination do some work. Don't show us everything. Major CON: Like most movies these days 3/4 of the movie was entertaining, but the entire last act was ridiculous and lame. Every modern day movie seems to suffer from this. Like, they have no clue how to end something and it feels cheap for the audience. The ending feels empty and you can see things coming a mile away. The movie explains what it can, but it would have been better if they hadn't. Relying on atmosphere was the strong point and should have stayed there

[@jimmynoir]

One detail that I hated was the smoke effect that dissipated when a doll was destroyed. It’s minor I know, but it does remove a bit of mystique from the film for me. I welcome supernatural implications but I’d like to see it done in a pulled back manner (which is what this film is going for anyway). If Lee just collapsed when the doll was destroyed, I would’ve understood it just the same.

[@ryancooper2439]

I agree 100% you are already expecting something to happen if it’s destroyed so the effect really isn’t necessary. Didn’t ruin anything for me but I could have done without it.

[@crystalguardian5854]

To be fair, the hype train on movies does need to stop. I feel like I had a similar experience last year with across the spider verse and John wick 4 which ended up being my 2 biggest movie disappointments where I walked in knowing about everyone talking about how amazing they were and then I walk out saying it was ok or massively disappointing. It seriously needs to stop

[@CoryPlaysDrums]

I personally loved this movie. Better than Hereditary for me. Dark, suspenseful and very creative with the scares.

[@lets_go_brandon2]

Wow. This surprises me, but I think that is awesome. I couldn’t disagree more but your opinion is bold and well accepted.

[@kaceygetz7905]

went in not knowing about the hype and blind... absolutely loved it and i will be going to see it again

[@RobertBurns71405]

For me, It lived up to the hype and exceeded my already high expectations! Easily the scariest movie I’ve seen in years, but respect your opinion!

[@CodyLeachYT]

Like I said, we all have different expectations for a “scary” movie.

[@donniegrobmeier2719]

@@CodyLeachYTyeah the idea of everything happening is the scary part. The movie itself? Not scary.

[@ArchDonMagicJuan]

Definitely had me shook after but an uneasiness I didn’t like because all the satanic shit and I generally enjoy horror movies just not this type. Have you guys seen that Talk to me that one was one the scariest I seen in theater and a type of scary i like

[@AnubisConstantine]

that’s why I like your reviews. No bull💩 just honesty. always appreciated, great video & thank you

[@spitfire0993dk]

You tell it like it is man, and that’s why you’re my go to reviewer. I continue to go straight to your channel to see what you thought about a movie after I’ve seen it. Keep it up!

[@kilroy19701]

Earned a subscriber on that reviewer rant! Thanks for having me ! Loved this movie.

[@DaveC74]

You never go full cage

[@Aus10-1]

Lol

[@danielmilford-robertson9853]

Underrated comment 👏🏻

[@desziziree]

Wow. I really like your review style. I watched this because I came out of the theater thinking, " I surely missed something important " because my reaction to Longlegs was not on par with the reviews. I was not scared, just... unsettled. You just earned a new subscriber. Thank you

[@bruh_hahaha]

Nicolas Cage channeling Lisa Rinna is glorious.

[@mooncherie1]

Not Lisa bloody Rinna😩😩😩😅💀

[@paulyc454]

I was getting more vicki from the orange county housewives 😂

[@erinnadia0409]

lol I was getting Micky Rouke 😅

[@Treyseenittoo]

This man started cooking at 19:40 🗣️

[@Jude9000]

I genuinely believe this has one of the best opening scenes ever in film in terms of horror

[@mrfreeseat]

And then it was downhill after that

[@Jude9000]

@@mrfreeseat I personally really enjoyed the film so I disagree

[@markmononoke7672]

Also enjoyed the heck out of it. The beginning was very disturbing! Hah set the tone very well

[@broghad8241]

Its not better than Scream. Stop it

[@Jude9000]

@@broghad8241 it’s subjective, I do think scream is more iconic obviously

[@richard_gonzalez]

I admittedly bought into the hype of this movie. It started of so strong, but the sort of twist ending just fell really flat for me. I didn't hate the movie, but it really just fell apart at the end for me.

[@Kilan80]

I just saw this movie... It ended. The guy behind me said, " this STUPID ass shit" , with exasperated breath. I agreed in laughter...

[@paulclay4293]

I think that may have been me lol

[@Kilan80]

@@paulclay4293 lol

[@NumbersToThePowerOf2]

Unpopular opinion and might be expectations set in a place they shouldn't have been (I went in thinking this was a straight horror movie with Nic Cage) but I busted out laughing every time Nic Cage was on screen and there were a lot of other people in my theater doing the same. I loved the atmosphere this film set up I will watch it again once it's streaming and see if I enjoui t better knowing what it is.

[@ILikeScreamandIceCream]

Loved the movie, might have been favorite of the year with more Nicolas Cage and without that crappy "twist"

[@weirdguy1495]

I mostly come to you when it comes to reviews for your honesty, so you're preaching to the choir on this one. I think you're doing the right thing calling out fakes.

[@jamesgreen5371]

I freaking loved it. I would even love to see a prequel about how cage became longlegs

[@chopchop1437]

Makeup.

[@TwistedReality13]

​@@chopchop1437😂 ass 😂😂

[@StevenE-l9y]

Longlegs was the devil in human form.

[@lonerebeI]

This was not an overhype for me at all. We've had enough of those these recent years.. Definitely not the scariest movie but it is really good and well-made.

[@h48300]

Ok but I saw it because people said it was like 90s serial killers movies … and that’s a lie. It’s offensive to compare it to Silence of the Lambs or Seven. It’s elevated horror, and if I’d known that then I wouldn’t have seen it. Really hated it overall.

[@glamdawling]

The introduction of Nic Cage in this movie gave me a jump out of my seat and I rarely jump for movies. He played that role! 😮‍💨

[@TheMovieDive]

Thanks for the rant. I always stay away from any thumbnail that says “ MASTERPIECE “ for 10 movies out of the year

[@jam_is_jammin]

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The marketing for this movie was Silence of the Lambs 2.0. What I just saw was Mrs. Doubtfire on Meth! 😂 I’m speechless. 😲

[@lets_go_brandon2]

I agree 💯 BUT on bathtub meth not like pure Breaking Bad blue meth. 😂

[@d50mx6]

Spot-on review. I went to see this movie due to the hype. A friend sent me a screenshot of someone saying it’s “he scariest movie of the decade” and other hype quotes. Therefore I went in with a nervous excitement thinking I would be seeing something similar to Hereditary. And just like you said in your review, I was let down and disappointed. .

[@dionysisnance4204]

Could not press play fast enough

[@jakelake296]

Yup.same

[@seancolorado]

I walked into the film with little to no expectations but I found myself bored at times, and when I was engaged, I felt Cage was over the top and it really ruined the experience for me and it took me out of the immersion

[@rayrayhorrorplay]

It was absolutely over hyped but I still loved the movie

[@OliTaylor]

As a huge horror fan this film bored me. I couldn’t wait to get out of the cinema. As perspective, I love slow burners, so it isn’t that. What it is is the fact that this is marketed as a horror, but it is simply a crime-thriller. And not up to the standards of Denis Villeneuves ‘Prisoners’ or Scott derricksons ‘Deliver Us From Evil’. The story is predictable and also has to explain itself in the third chapter through dialogue, which is extremely lazy writing, the characters for the most part are not flushed out as they should be, especially the mother (no spoilers) and lastly long legs himself comes across as humorous rather than chilling. The over the top singing and extended vocal inflections were just laughable, and I wasn’t alone in that, the audience that I sat with were laughing when they should not have been. It isn’t a terrible film, it does set scenes well and the picture itself is very intriguing, I liked the videography and directing for sure. But my god this was overhyped and still is.

[@sjvanzyl3457]

Felt like I watched Sinister remade by an art school student

[@stevekasan3105]

Thank you for calling out the BS 15, maybe 10 years ago this worked but the trick gets old and exposed the more it's being used. It's really hurting more than helping

[@breduke4674]

Parts one and two were great. It lost me in part three… I thought the FBI was looking for a serial killer like Zodiac but they actually were looking for a wizard. The end just fell short for me. I just imagined Voldemort putting a part of himself into horcruxes.. That ending… She knew what was happening and she let it happen. Why? There are just so many unanswered questions for me.

[@bone13tw]

Finally, one of the few honest review about this film, I was tricked by the hyperbolic and deceiving PR campaign, I don't like to be tricked. (The comparison of "The Silence of the Lambs" was ridiculous, not even close.) I respect the critics that didn't follow the hype train, and I will question the integrity of those who did from now on.

[@mj2037]

I looked up no trailers, no reviews, no synopsis. All i saw was that the director is the weird dude from Legally Blonde. Longlegs was absolutely fantastic. Artful as hell in its cinematics and sound design. The story felt cheesey in a way I didnt know I missed while taking itself so seriously. It was just awesome. I'm blown away a little bit.

[@KokoTheGorilla69]

You have extremely poor taste in film

[@mj2037]

Thank you! ​@@KokoTheGorilla69

[@questionhound]

​@@KokoTheGorilla69 you said on Red Letter Media's review video about it that you were on your phone during the movie. Your opinions immediately don't matter.

[@KokoTheGorilla69]

@@questionhound I watched 90% of the film with no distractions, it sucked, so i went on my phone. If it was good, I wouldn't have been bored 🤡 Maybe you could relate with the autistic female lead or something, but it did nothing for me at all

[@questionhound]

@@KokoTheGorilla69 nah you sound like the one who's autistic who can't even respect the basic rules of the theater 🤡 Maybe just stay at home for new movies, troglodyte

[@Jmega1999]

So glad you called that out. Reviewers ive rocked with for years and usually agree with were overinflating this movie like crazy! I left so disappointed.

[@jeffmartin5066]

"scariest movie of the decade!!" Which decade? The 1920's?

[@marksminutemoviereviews1]

Loved ur rant, Cody. You hit the nail on the head with the early review nonsense. It cheapens the experience. Can’t stand the industry plants. Appreciated your honesty. 😊

[@geoffreypereira8024]

LongLegs was on screen too much. I started to notice Cage- whose performance was over the top. He's also less effective the more we see him. Also...nobody thought to question this guy- who was known around town as evidenced by the hardware store scene- when the area has experienced several grizzly, bizarre murders over the years?! Also...never seen a kid's birthday party which has just the kid, mother and father...and the father's coworker [who was invited last minute]. Too obvious the mother was involved from the first phone call. She was too creepy for that to be a surprise, especially when she mentioned "saying your prayers." If your FBI partner is murdered by the perp you're looking for.......call it in. Don't just enter the house alone and hope he surrenders. If ANOTHER perp stalks and invades your home and threatens you and your mother...tell your superiors and put your mother into protective custody [which would have ended up hastening your investigation, anyways]. When your satanically possessed FBI partner goes into the kitchen with his wife and, in addition to you KNOWING he's gonna kill her, he SAYS he's going to do it...take steps to prevent that. You're an armed LEO, FFS... In short, a good concept that needed better execution and a script doctor!

[@cassandrahinshaw4583]

Yes! All these points were frustrating to see in the movie

[@caleighhraee]

And when Longlegs was in the interrogation room and just bashed his face in. Like she wasn’t going to stop him or call for help? She just let him do it? Why? That said this movie was still better than Dream Scenario with Nicholas Cage lol

[@RyanGhoulsling]

I’m late here and felt the same about some of your complaints until a second watch when you realize she’s possessed and manipulated by the devil the whole time, not saying anything about the cypher, the parents uninviting the other birthday guests, not shooting the doll (because it’s influencing her too as soon as she comes in just like the mortician was influenced to be reluctant to cut the ball open) it’s actually pretty tight story wise if you think about it

[@TheKingOfAllHorror]

FUCK OFF, the film was kino peak horror

[@scottv8124]

Thank you for your early review statement. I fully agree, which is why your my favorite reviewer and i only watch a couple reviewers. Honesty is always the best policy

[@Tonyoung55]

Definitely good horror movie but I would agree with title over hyped a bit not a classic but very good film tho I give it a 7.5/8 out 10

[@Borosmogs]

So disappointed with this movie. Not because of the hype, just that it’s a bad movie, a slow-burn is one thing, this is a crawling, boring level of rubbish. I guess some pretentious critic said this was good and sadly it took hold. The main character is unlikeable and well not a lot else is likeable 3/10. Love ya Cody though haha. Just saying my thoughts on it.

[@HeteroSapiens7]

Director’s notes given to the two lead actors of ‘Longlegs,’ during the film’s pre-production: 1) To Maika Monroe: “Your character is ‘Data,’ from ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation.’ That’s it. I want NOTHING else but sheer Data. If you do ANYTHING differently than Data would do it, then I will fire you.” 2) To Nicolas Cage: “Remember when we watched that KZbin compilation of all the ZANIEST freak-outs you performed, during your past movies…? I want that. That’s it. I want NOTHING else but sheer KZbin Freak-Outs Nicolas. If you do ANYTHING differently than KZbin Freak-Outs Nicolas would do it, then I will fire you.” Another little-known factoid: The working title of ‘Longlegs’ was actually ‘Silence of The Lambs Fan-Fic As Performed By Poorly-Rendered Charicatures of Characters From Other Films.’ Eventually, they went in a different direction, with the title. True story…

[@whitechoco705]

Dude, I loved this movie was super hyped about watching it one of the best serial killer crime movies I've seen in a minute the eerie vibe was amazing.

[@xaviersaikaley]

Spoilers: Once Satan phone calls the main character, I realized just how horrible of a turn the 3rd act was. It literally ruined what made the first two acts did so well.

[@DeJesusCustomFootwear]

Cody you’ve convinced me for the last couple of years to really stay away from trailers and early buzz. Going into this one blind was a treat. Great effing movie, loved it!

[@marchionessamoretto7326]

Nicolas Cage never scares me

[@deontecoleman7047]

Bro people praising his performance like he's not the same way in EVERYTHING !!!

[@marchionessamoretto7326]

Oh okay ​@@deontecoleman7047

[@iamjackspyramidshapedhelmet]

Yeah he’s just too goofy lol

[@Rogerfromarea51]

Thanks for your honesty Cody