Summary
Nicolas Cage’s performance in the 2024 horror hitLonglegsis a genuinely unsettling reminder of his acting abilities, providing a welcome tonic to a previous disaster that was 18 years in the making. As the titular serial killer, Cage is almost unrecognizable in eerie pale make-up, replacing his penchant for full-throttle bombast with something much more sinister. So powerful is his performance that it’s impossible to avoid comparingLonglegsto otherNicolas Cage horror movies– including those that have not been so well received.
Boasting a positive critical reception and impressive box office,Longlegshas cementedNicolas Cage’s status as a modern horror master. While the movie is in some ways the jewel in the crown,his recent movie resume is littered with successful horror movies– from the psychedelic Lovecraftian horror ofColor Out of Space, to the febrile, manic energy ofMandy. And yet, while these releases have generally been received well by both critics and the public, Cage has always pursued projects that divide opinion. Perhaps his most infamous arrived in theaters in 2006 – creating an unfortunate legacy that he’s only just recovering from.
Longlegs Is The Perfect Antidote To Nic Cage’s The Wicker Man Role
It’s Everything The 2006 Horror Is Not
While 2024’sLonglegsis a haunting exploration of evil, mixing supernatural superstition with the all-too-real malevolence of humanity, Neil LaBute’s infamousThe Wicker Manis perhaps the polar opposite. A remake of the celebrated folk horror classic – itself regarded as terrifying for its matter-of-fact insanity –The Wicker Manstars Cage as a detective sent to an obscure island to investigate unusual goings-on. It’s a set-up that has a time-honored tradition in the horror genre – from Martin Scorsese’s thrillerShutter Islandto Ari Aster’sMidsommar. What follows, however, is astonishing in the worst way imaginable.
Far from being terrifying and immersive,The Wicker Manis instead an accidental comedy. Nicolas Cage rampages around the screen, variously dressing as a bear, stealing bicycles, and punching island residents in the face. While the plot is ridiculous, the film has been seared into the public consciousness by a number of bizarre, meme-worthy moments – such as Cage’s infamous “Not the bees!” speech. WhileThe Wicker Manis undeniably entertaining, it is one of the least effective horror movies ever made – demonstrated by its abysmal Rotten Tomatoes score of 15%.
Longlegs Ending Explained: What Happens To Lee Harker
Longlegs has a horrific ending that leaves Lee Harker in an interesting situation. We break down the horror film’s ending and what happened to Harker.
Cage’s The Wicker Man Remake Was Hugely Damaging To His Horror Credentials
It Became His Defining Contribution To The Genre
Many actors make bad movies and still recover. However, Nicolas Cage’s unique approach to performance, which requires nothing less than total commitment, has helped makeThe Wicker Manan unforgettable landmark in modern horror for many viewers. Once seen,Cage’s unhinged portrayal is difficult to forget, while the rest of the movie is so inadvertently funny that it has become a touchstone for all the wrong reasons. As a result, it has arguably been difficult for Cage to reestablish himself as a horror screen presence that can be taken seriously.
While it would be unfair to say thatThe Wicker Manis the only reason Cage didn’t appear in many horror films in the decade that followed…he has only enjoyed real success as a horror actor long after the movie left theaters.
For proof of how damagingThe Wicker Manwas to Cage’s horror prospects, you only need to look at his wider career in the genre.For a decade afterThe Wicker Man, Cage only made a handful of horror movie appearances, many of which (such as his cameo inGrindhouseor his action-heavy role inDrive Angry) were a blend of horror with other cinematic traditions. While it would be unfair to say thatThe Wicker Manis the only reason Cage didn’t appear in many horror films in the decade that followed, it’s undeniable that he has only enjoyed real success as a horror actor long after the movie left theaters.
Nic Cage Has Made Good Horror Movies Since The Wicker Man
He’s Become A Prominent Presence In The Genre
The Wicker Man’s enduring legacy as part of modern meme culture made it, for many years, the quintessential Nicolas Cage horror movie. However, even before the actor found deserved critical respect withLonglegs,Cage had quietly reestablished himself as a major player in the genre. In 2017, he channeled the same manic energy seen inThe Wicker Maninto something simultaneously comic and chilling inMom and Dad. A year later, he impressed critics as the chainsaw-wielding avenger Red Miller inMandy. Subsequent projects likeColor Out of SpaceandArcadiacontinued astrong Nicolas Cage horror streak.
Even other Nicolas Cage horror films that have perhaps not been so warmly regarded have helped move the conversation about his career beyondThe Wicker Man.He was, for instance, one of the strongest parts ofRenfield– despite the film’s struggles at the box office. These releases – all coming within the past decade – have underscored how Cage’s failure withThe Wicker Manhas perhaps robbed audiences of other opportunities to see the actor operate within horror. And yet, while these films represent an undeniable resurgence, it is only withLonglegsthat his genre comeback is complete.
Is Longlegs Nicolas Cage’s best performance?
I’d definitely consider Longlegs among Nicolas Cage’s most unique and interesting performances. I was glued to the screen for every second of his presence as he managed to capture something incredibly compelling and otherworldly. I can’t bring myself to say it’s his absolute best, though, as I’m partial to Leaving Las Vegas. Pig, Adaptation, and Bringing Out the Dead are also strong contenders. Overall, Longlegs is a tad too over-the-top for me to call his best work.
Longlegs' Success Will Finally Make People Forget The Wicker Man
It’s Popular Enough To Make A Defining Impact
While many of Cage’s horror releases have been critical hits, they have lacked the broad, cross-cultural appeal necessary to truly banishThe Wicker Man’s ghost.MandyandColor Out of Space, for instance – both rated as “Certified Fresh” onRotten Tomatoes, with scores of 90% and 86%, respectively,went largely under the radar for most movie audiences.Mandymade just $1.7 million against a $6 million budget, whileColor Out of Spacemade an even less impressive $1 million. Compared to the pervasiveness with whichThe Wicker Manhas influenced the popular perception of Cage, these movies have done little to make an opposing case.
By contrast,Longlegshas the right combination of critical acclaimand popular interest to truly relegateThe Wicker Manfrom our collective subconscious once and for all.Longlegsmade a record-breaking $22.6 millionover its opening weekend, making it the single biggest opening for Neon film studios in history. This, coupled with another Certified Fresh score of 87%, means thatit has the potential to become Nicolas Cage’s best-known horror movie, with his portrayal of the film’s sinister serial killer perhaps becoming his defining genre performance.
Cage’s brilliantly effective portrayal and the lingering sense of dread the movie evokes means thatLonglegshas every chance of being more memorable than the actor’s other successful forays into the genre. The fact that Cage is genuinely terrifying also provides the requisite stark contrast toThe Wicker Man–ensuring that Cage is no longer unfairly seen as a joke. On its own terms,Longlegs' success is something for horror fans to relish. For Cage, however, it also represents redemption from one of the most misguided horror movies ever made.
