What can’t be said about him is that, at all times, he goes for it in every single film he’s in? The newly launched film has catapulted him to fame, largely thanks to its successful advertising and marketing efforts, with snippets of footage and pre-release buzz surrounding his reportedly intense performance having garnered significant attention. As Cage delved into portraying the infamous household-focused serial killer, he drew upon elements from his own family history to inform his performance.
As Cage reminisced about his youth, a vivid memory emerged: the time he witnessed his mother, Pleasure Vogelsang, applying Noxzema cold cream. As he glanced back in time, he recalled her swift expression change – flipping her face with a sudden intensity – before fixating on him as she applied the chilled cream. The unnerving pallor of Longlegs’ skin genuinely unsettled me. In the film, his ghostly complexion bears an uncanny resemblance to that of Cage’s mother, yet without any discernible motivation or purpose behind it. While the actor hasn’t explicitly stated their reasoning behind the character’s whiteness, it’s fascinating to explore the “unusual connection” between the killer’s and color’s roles in this narrative. Cage observes that the individual in question is aware of their power, but doesn’t dwell on its magnitude. That’s a rather vague statement. It seems to lack clarity and precision, which are essential qualities for effective communication. Here’s an attempt at rephrasing the sentence in a more concise and clear manner:
“He recognizes the issue when he observes it.”
Given Nicolas Cage’s history with his mother’s struggles with schizophrenia throughout her life, it is hardly surprising that he has considered this aspect of his family dynamics a “deeply private” matter. Within his account to EW, he recounted the peculiar habit of hers, where she would often express herself in lyrical sentences, a trait that he also incorporated into Longlegs. As Cage’s tragic figure is shaped by the “merciless whispers” guiding him, he meticulously records his performance on his phone prior to its capture in early 2023, painstakingly capturing the intricate “rhythms and melodies” that define the character. By the time I got on set, the process had reached a state of fluidity, akin to conducting an orchestral performance.
Beware: Cage’s interview contains spoilers, so if you haven’t watched the film yet, refrain from proceeding beyond the warning below.
As the movie’s climax unfolds, Harker, played by Maika Monroe, confronts Longlegs, whose sinister plot involves distributing dolls imbued with dark, Satanic energy to households of women born on specific dates. It’s finally disclosed that he had fixated on her as a younger woman; however, his intentions were thwarted due to her mother’s timely intervention. Cage’s decision to join the film stemmed from the pivotal scene where Longlegs’ character takes his own life on-screen, prompting the protagonist’s emotional reunion at an assembly. Two actors had previously kept their distance, a decision they both believe was deliberately orchestrated by director Osgood Perkins, and he had been eagerly anticipating the “explosive” confrontation between their characters.
It appears that the scene has taken on a self-referential quality, inviting reflection and scrutiny of its own narrative structure and purpose. Cage has publicly professed his admiration for Marilyn Monroe’s work, particularly her performances in horror films such as “Tales of Terror” and “House on Haunted Hill”. For some viewers, it was his first encounter with her, and he dubbed the movie “one of my favorites in this genre.” With a wink, he drew parallels between the adoration for his co-star and Longlegs’ long-standing infatuation with Harker, praising her as “a hero of sorts” – a character he finally had the pleasure of meeting.
Earlier than that point in time, the film had no hesitation in shooting Longlegs immediately. As seen from various vantage points and reflected in mirrored surfaces. Perkins described Dracula’s haunting influence on young Harker, whose experiences as a toddler were repressed yet still left an indelible mark, foreshadowing the vampire’s later impact. He’s existentially ambivalent, Perkins opined, simultaneously stating that he’s somehow present while also utterly absent.
As early hype suggests, Cage brings an unsettlingly convincing intensity that’s enough to entice audiences to flock to theaters. As his impressive career milestones have accumulated over an extended period, it’s reassuring to witness him continuously uncover innovative ways to unsettle people.
