A quarter of 2024 has passed, and many great movies are lined up to mark their release this year. Among them is a feast of horror for the genre fans as Osgood Perkins’ is soon bringing his directorial film Longlegs, which features Nicolas Cage as a deranged killer in the first teaser. Cage is known as a master of the genre, as his previous horror film credits include Renfield and Mandy, where he gave a phenomenal performance. While Cage’s involvement in the film adds a layer to it, the cherry on top of it is the involvement of another horror icon, Maika Monroe, who has previously appeared in movies like It Follows and Watcher.
Still, the star power attached to the film is not the main reason for its hype, and neither is its premise, which will certainly be a treat to every horror genre fan. Rather, the movie’s immersive storytelling in its marketing campaign has created a terrifying and thought-provoking experience for viewers.
A key part of this clever marketing strategy is a handful of disturbing posters and teasers that come with some riddles, creating a paradox where the viewer struggles to solve them while wanting more.
What’s in store for Osgood Perkins’ upcoming horror film?
Osgood Perkins’ directed film Longlegs will soon hit the theaters, but before that, the anticipation of the viewers is ignited by some riddle containing teasers. The movie’s latest cryptic teaser comes with a puzzling message for Maika Monroe to solve as she tries to hunt down Nicolas Cage’s deranged killer. The brief teaser titled Dirty: Part Two, is an intense collage of shots and intensely atmospheric sequences, layered over the footage is the message, “Listen loud the serpents, see the darkness slithering, tell me what good is that body, if not for hiding shiny red parts.”
Horror fans also get a tease of Cage’s eerie voice with the line that closes out the footage: “There she is.” In the companion poster for the new teaser, the villain is seen from the back at a table with someone. Whether that’s Monroe questioning Cage or the missing girl in question is still a mystery.
The upcoming horror thriller is set in 1974 and focuses on Lee Harker (Monroe), a new FBI agent who has been assigned to an unsolved case of a serial killer (Cage). As the investigation becomes more complicated, occult evidence is uncovered, and Harker realizes a personal link to the killer and must act quickly to prevent another family murder.
By including these riddled teasers, Perkins has indeed taken the genre’s marketing game to the next level. Apart from Perkins’ emotionally destructive imagery, the film incorporates a soul-crushing sound design that can bring chills down even before you encounter evil.
Longlegs is scheduled to be released by Neon on July 12, 2024.
