Summary Nicolas Cage's performance in Longlegs is highly anticipated and praised for its intensity and commitment, surprising even the director. Director Osgood Perkins compared working with Cage to having a racehorse in the movie, allowing the actor creative control with a gentle touch. Perkins found working with Cage to be a gratifying experience, highlighting the joy of witnessing those special "Nic Cage-esque moments" on screen.
As one of the most anticipated horror movies of the year, Longlegs has a lot of hype surrounding it, mostly due in part to the strategic marketing campaign that has kept the appearance of star Nicolas Cage under wraps. Now, director Osgood Perkins is opening up about what it was like to work with the 60-year-old actor on the production, which also stars Maika Monroe as FBI agent Lee Harker on a quest to take down a satanic serial killer. Hitting theaters on July 12, 2024, Longlegs is being called by some "the scariest movie in years."
Speaking with Total Film ahead of the release of Longlegs (via GamesRadar), Perkins compared working with Cage to being a kid on Christmas morning. Reports of Nicolas Cage being one of the best actors in Hollywood are not exaggerated, according to the director, who says that the star is everything people say about him, and more.
"He's everything that you want him to be , I'm so happy to report. It's like you've come down on Christmas morning and there's a Nicolas Cage-shaped package under your Christmas tree. You open it up and he just starts going ?"
Longlegs R 4.5/5
Longlegs is a horror thriller film by writer-director Osgood Perkins. When FBI agent Lee Harker is assigned to a serial killer cold case, their investigation leads them down a rabbit hole riddled with disturbing discoveries and the occult at the center of it all. When the trail of evidence reveals a personal connection, it becomes a race against time to prevent another murder.
Release Date July 12, 2024 Director Oz Perkins Cast Nicolas Cage , Alicia Witt , Maika Monroe , Blair Underwood Main Genre Horror
Cage has long been known as an actor that brings his own unique style to his roles, and Longlegs is no exception. Perkins would elaborate further, saying that the National Treasure star is "intensely prepared" and brings to the table a level of commitment that surprised even him.
"He's intensely prepared . He has read everything. He's seen every movie that you could ever want to reference. He knows everybody's name. He knows every performance, he can quote every song. He likes all the same things you do. He's in complete control of his instrument . He's just on it. It was a privilege. What can I say?"
Osgood Perkins Compares Nicolas Cage to a Racehorse "It's Just Gonna Do Its Thing" Close
No stranger to the horror genre, Osgood Perkins is the son of the late Anthony Perkins, who played the tortured soul of Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho and its three sequels. Getting his start as an actor, Perkins appeared in Psycho II as the younger version of his father's character, and would go on to also be featured in the likes of Legally Blonde, Not Another Teen Movie, and Dead & Breakfast before turning his attention to writing and directing.
His directorial debut came by way of the critically acclaimed 2015 supernatural horror movie The Blackcoat's Daughter, and since then he's directed a number of notable actors, including Ruth Wilson, Paula Prentiss, Bob Balaban, Sophia Lillis, and Alice Krieg. When it comes to Nicolas Cage, however, Perkins says that he was along for the ride, allowing the actor to take control of a scene while he stood by to "make sure nothing went too far."
"It's like having a racehorse in your movie . It's like, 'Well, I guess it's just gonna do its thing, and I'll just stand by and make sure that nothing goes too far one way or doesn't go far enough another way.' I mean, I can't imagine directing Nicolas Cage with a strong hand; it's a very gentle touch. You're just positioning little things here and there, every once in a while. He's like a cello or a harp , or a saxophone."
Related 'That Was Scary:' Nicolas Cage Reveals His Unexpected Inspiration for Longlegs
Nicolas Cage took inspiration for his serial killer character in Longlegs from what is supposed to be a cherished figure in one's life.
As a longtime fan of Cage, Perkins would also mention that working with the actor was a "gratifying" experience, saying, "I love when those kinds of little Nic Cage-esque moments peak out." Audiences will get to see those moments - and more - for themselves when Longlegs hits theaters on July 12, 2024.
Check out MovieWeb's own interview with director Osgood Perkins and star Maika Monroe below before Longlegs premieres in theaters this weekend.
