15 Best Movies Like Longlegs

Long legs became one of the most talked about horror films of the year, leaving many fans looking for other films with a similar vibe. Starring Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage, the film is a gripping story of an FBI agent on the trail of a serial killer only to discover some disturbing hidden clues as she delves deeper into the case. From intrigue over Cage's mysterious role in the film to talk about shocking moments, Long legs became a subject of fascination for the public.

Something the film does so effectively by combining elements of the crime and horror genres. From Monroe's grounded hero investigating a case to the terror and mystery surrounding Nicolas Cage's character, these elements combine wonderfully, feeling unique but also bringing out other films to carry out the approach. Horror and crime films belong to a subgenre that doesn't get talked about enough, and there are plenty of films released in the past that are sure to scratch the same itch as Long legs.

15

Taking Lives (2004)

Angelina Jolie hunts a killer who steals victims' identities

Long legs is a dark and violent exploration of this investigation, with Lee being dragged deeper into the case to the point that it's difficult to leave. It reflects the protagonist of the thriller Taking lives also with Angelina Jolie playing FBI agent Illena Scott, who comes to Montreal to help track down a serial killer known for killing people and assuming their identities.

The intriguing setup of a serial killer kicks off the story that becomes a complex thriller about Scott getting involved with the star witness in this case (Ethan Hawke). The two actors make this dangerous relationship work well as the film reaches its intense and emotional conclusion. Jolie, as Maika Monroe in Long legspresents the performance of a strong heroine who can be vulnerable at the same time.

14

Rio Vento (2017)

A chilling thriller about a murder on a reservation

The atmosphere of Long legs it's part of the reason it's such an effective film. There is a sense of danger that gives Lee a sense of isolation, as if she is left alone while surrounded by danger. This sense of isolation is also present in the excellent crime thriller Wind River. Marking the directorial debut of yellow stone mentor Taylor Sheridan, Wind River stars Jeremy Renner as a hunter on a Wyoming Indian reservation who teams up with a young FBI agent (Elizabeth Olsen) in an investigation into the murder of a young girl.

Olsen's character, Jane Banner, is similar to Lee Harker's in Long legs. Both are capable agents, but they are thrown into a situation they are not fully prepared for. Although it is less a horror film than Long Legs, Wind River inspires true fear with its dark, frozen landscape and some striking sequences.

13

The girl with the dragon tattoo (2011)

Adaptation of David Fincher's dark mystery

While Long legs takes pleasure in playing with the audience's mind about what's real and what's otherworldly in its story, David Fincher's adaptation of The girl with the dragon tattoo it feels otherworldly in how graphic and disturbing its exploration of humanity's ills is. The film stars Daniel Craig as a troubled journalist who is hired by a wealthy patriarch to investigate the disappearance of his great-niece decades ago.

The character Lisbeth Salander, played by Rooney Mara in an Oscar-nominated role, is the highlight of the film and seems to be the connection with Long legs'augmented reality. Both films are deep dives into truly dark worlds, in which audiences are forced to confront some brutal and shocking aspects of society. They are dark thrillers that, however, hold your attention from beginning to end.

12

The Wicker Man (1973)

A surreal mystery with an unforgettable ending

Long legs is one of those crime thrillers that presents a typical serial story with the gradual suggestion that there is something more going on. The film's occult elements mix with elements that show the dark side of human nature. This is also explored in the wonderful cult horror film The Wicker Man. While Long legs stars Nicolas Cage appeared in a rather infamous remake, the original version is the one worth checking out.

The film follows a Scotland Yard investigator who travels to an isolated island home to a community of people who live like an eccentric cult to investigate the disappearance of a young girl.. Although some suspects emerge, the investigator gradually begins to suspect that the entire community may be complicit in the disappearance linked to their own religious beliefs. As Long legs, The Wicker Man is a dark descent into a nightmarish world with one of the best twist endings in horror history.

11

Fragility (2002)

A gothic tale of terrifying vocation

The ominous and exciting tone of Long legs it's largely thanks to the unwavering question of what the truth behind the film is. With a mix of occult and grounded crime elements, audiences don't know if they're seeing human evil or something deeper. This is also achieved in the excellent horror film Fragilitydirected by the late Bill Paxton. Matthew McConaughey stars as a man who comes to visit an FBI agent on the trail of a serial killer, claiming that the killer is his brother, who continues his father's deadly legacy..

Most of the film is told in flashbacks, detailing the lives of these brothers as their father becomes convinced that he is on a mission from God to kill demons that are hiding among them in human form. The film raises the question of whether their father is truly seeing through these human forms or if he is just a cold-blooded killer.

10

Silence of the Lambs (1991)

The greatest mix of crime and horror of all time

Silence of the Lambs is compared to Long legs more than any other filmand there are many reasons for this. The iconic 90s horror film, directed by Jonathan Demme, features an FBI agent named Clarice Starling (played by Jodie Foster) and a cannibalistic killer named Dr. Hannibal Lecter (played by Anthony Hopkins). Clarice has the mission of trying to obtain information from Hannibal, who tries to manipulate her. This is a pretty clear similarity to Long legswhich also follows an FBI agent who has a connection to a killer she is chasing or facing.

Although some may criticize Long legs Because it's so similar to this one, there's no problem for a director to take inspiration from another film. And it's also good if two directors, or even more, have the same idea. There is an interesting dichotomy when testing an FBI agent's morals. Long legs it's also truly unique in its storytelling and visual style, which sets it apart from other modern horror films.

9

Zodiac (2007)

A Horrible True Story by David Fincher

Zodiac is a compelling crime thriller directed by David Fincher and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr. based on a true story. This follows the Zodiac Killer investigation in the San Francisco Bay Areawhich plays with the minds of police officers with cards, as they try to decipher what seems like a multitude of clues taking over their lives and careers.

Because of its gruesome scenes, it added suspense and mystery surrounding the killer, and the focus on the detectives, fans of Long legs I would absolutely love David Fincher Zodiac. The Zodiac persona created a serial killer who seemed beyond human and elevated him to a new level of terror, like something out of a movie like Long legs. While the film doesn't provide answers to the unsolved case, it does provide a brilliant account of the investigation.

8

The Bone Collector (1999)

A solid duo of Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie

The Bone Collectordirected by Phillip Noyce, will attract audiences who enjoyed Long legs with its similar story and characters. It stars Angelina Jolie as Amelia Donaghy, a rookie police officer who teams up with Lincoln Rhyme, played by Denzel Washington, who is a much more experienced detective who becomes paralyzed. Amelia goes to him for help, as she needs to try to catch a serial killer called The Bone Collector, who leaves clues behind his murders.

Just like in the previously mentioned films, the protagonist is a detective at the beginning of her career and has to face a huge and frightening case of a strange and twisted killer. In fact, Jolie and Washington's star power takes The Bone Collector to another level, as it's exciting to see their characters' working relationship grow throughout the story.

7

Se7en (1995)

Another David Fincher crime masterpiece

Se7en is another film directed by David Fincher. It stars Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Spacey. Se7en tells the story of a serial killer who bases his crimes on the seven deadly sins, as homicide detectives work to solve the case and try to get into the killer's mind to find them.

Any fan of horror and cinema would like films directed by the talented David Fincher, who does not hesitate to throw audiences into the darkest and most brutal scenarios of his stories. This being the second mention of one of his crime thrillers further proves his understanding of the genre and ability to shape and define the genre itself. Se7enJohn Doe's killer seems like a precursor to Longlegs, as both are killers whose reach beyond their crimes and the influence they wield are truly frightening.

6

Imitator (1995)

A 90s thriller starring Sigourney Weaver and Holly Hunter

Directed by Jon Amiel, Imitator is a chilling 90s mystery thriller that belongs perfectly on a watch list with Long legs. The killer in this film has a habit of copying the crimes of the greatest killers in history. The people working to stop him are two women, a psychologist and a detective, played by Sigourney Weaver and Holly Hunter. As the duo hunts the killer, he seeks to become even more famous, directly threatening those on his trail.

The horror and thriller genre has great representations of women being the main characters in films like this. The same happens with Maika Monroe's character Lee Harker in Long legsas her character relates well to the latter's detectives. There is also the theme of the legacy of these murders. While Long legs Depicts the endless series of crimes committed in the name of Longlegs, Copycat is based on killers from the past.

5

Mandy (2018)

Nicolas Cage shows his unbalanced side

Mandy is a horror film that also stars Nicolas Cagereleased in 2018, which helped tell the story of Cage's victorious return to the business. Directed by Panos Cosmatos, Mandy is a bizarre story set in The Shadow Mountains in 1983. Red and Mandy (played by Andrea Riseborough) live together in the once-peaceful mountains until they are destroyed by a cult, sending Red on a journey to seek bloody revenge.

Mandy is not as grounded in reality as Longlegs and actually embraces the surrealism of her story, making it like a gothic fairytale full of blood and chaos. However, although Cage is the hero this time, he faces a villain who shares cultist similarities with Longlegs. Furthermore, both films show how versatile Cage can be within a genre.

4

The Blackcoat's Daughter (2015)

Oz Perkins' first feature film

The Blackcoat's Daughter is a film that was also directed by the same director as Long legsOsgood Perkins. It follows the story of two girls named Kat (played by Long legs cast member Kiernan Shipka) and Rose (played by Lucy Boynton) who spend winter break at their religious school. Joan (played by Emma Roberts) gets trapped and meets these girls, only to discover that Kat is being chased by something evil.

The ties to satanic evil and the mystery that surrounds it, along with Perkins' overall tone and directorial style make it The Blackcoat's Daughter and Long legs a great pair to watch together. It is possible to see the filmmaker building certain ideas from the previous film that would be revisited in Long legs. However, both also serve as distinct horror films that showcase Perkins as a talent to watch.

3

Gretel and Hansel (2020)

A dark and gritty fairy tale

Gretel and John is another horror film by Oz Perkins and is a newer release in 2020. This terrifying fantasy film tells the classic story of Hansel and Gretel in a dark and twisted way. This is often a common theme in horror: taking something not so scary, like a classic children's tale with a dark beginning, and telling the horrific version of the story. However, it's really impressive to pull this off and make it truly horrible and less cheesy. Gretel and John it does good.

This 2020 film proved that Perkins was able to mix genres well; something he does perfectly in Long legs. Gretal and Hansel is a great watch for viewers looking to familiarize themselves with Perkins' style of horror. Despite the very different configurations, Long legs at times it can feel like a grounded gothic fairytale, with Perkins perhaps coaxing that vibe out of this early effort.

2

The Empty Man (2020)

An underrated crime and horror film

The empty man is another gripping horror and crime story that takes place in the real world, but features a villain who seems larger than life in the most disturbing way. The film follows a former police officer named James Lasombra (played by James Badge Dale) who investigates the disappearance of teenagers. The residents of the small town believe that the urban legend called The Empty Man is responsible.

Since this film follows the investigation of an unknown killer, fans of Long legs would appreciate this similar story. The two films also share absolutely terrifying opening scenes that grip the audience from the start. The mystery of what lies behind this terrible and dangerous killer provides a gripping narrative, even if The empty man It lacks a performance like Nicolas Cage's to really elevate the villain.

1

Observer (2022)

Another great performance by Maika Monroe

Observer is a 2022 mystery thriller starring Maika Monroe, helping to build her title as one of the biggest names in horror, which solidified with Long legs. It tells the story of a young actress who begins to notice someone stalking her. She just moved to a new city with her boyfriend, like she notices a stranger watching her from across the street from where she lives. Coincidentally, a serial killer is stalking the city and she believes her stalker may be the same person.

With its similar serial killer plot, characters, and the same main cast member, it's hard to imagine fans of Long legs not liking this one. Monroe gives a very different but no less effective performance. She brings similar vulnerability to the character who is another protagonist who seems to be haunted by this killer at every turn.