Neon Finally Drops the First Full-Length Trailer for ‘Longlegs’
Neon has been intriguing viewers with its cryptic and terrifying marketing campaign for Longlegs. Now, the studio has finally dropped the movie’s full trailer.
The indie studio behind recent hits like Ava DuVernay’s Origin and the Oscar-nominated Anatomy of a Fall is distributing the upcoming horror thriller film. Earlier this year, the studio dropped a chilling teaser on its X account but did not specify what movie it was for. The caption read, “Every year there is another.” Meanwhile, the clip slowly pushes in on an unsettling family photo while a garbled 911 call plays in the background. Though it’s difficult to make out the audio, the caller says something about “my daughter” and “that’s not my daughter” before the screen switches to another still image of a crime scene followed by some symbols.
Initially, viewers speculated that the teaser was for the upcoming film Cuckoo. However, fans were able to crack the code given in symbols at the end, claiming it spells Longlegs. The unique marketing tactic has definitely caught viewers’ attention. Here’s what we know about Longlegs so far.
Neon drops the official trailer for Longlegs
After a series of cryptic teases, Neon has finally dropped the first full trailer for Longlegs and confirmed the movie will be released in theaters on July 12.
Even though it’s the first full-length trailer, it still follows the cryptic nature of the original teasers. Viewers get a good look at Maika Monroe as a female FBI agent investigating an occult case. It seems she is being terrorized by the same force she’s investigating as she experiences supernatural occurrences. Most of the trailer cuts through a series of gruesome crime scenes and violent attacks, somehow all connected to the occult mystery on Monroe’s hands. Nicolas Cage appears as the film’s villain in a blink-and-you’ll-miss moment and is heard threatening Monroe.
For the most part, though, the movie still gives nothing away. It’s still unclear what Cage’s role is and what exactly Monroe’s character is investigating. Meanwhile, the video’s description only includes this cryptic line in place of a synopsis: As many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. The line is a reference to a verse in the Bible’s Book of Revelation, which warns of an anti-Christ figure called the beast who forces individuals to worship its statue. It is one of a few religious references in the film’s marketing, as the teasers and trailers have also shown or referred to nuns, crosses, and prayer.
Longlegs drops four creepy new posters
Neon released four official posters for Longlegs, and they are just about as creepy as the teasers. Each poster depicts or foreshadows a crime and includes a brief caption about the victims. Check out the posters and their captions below:
Given that Longlegs focuses on an investigation into a serial killer, the photos appear to display some of his crimes. If all these crime scenes and victims are related, it would mean the killer’s crimes span from 1974 to 1992. There are also hints of the occult, with mentions of priests, crime scenes with no forced entry, a wounded nun, and the bizarre placement of victims. Ultimately, though, the posters are horrifying and intriguing without giving too much away.
What to expect from Longlegs
Longlegs was first announced in November 2022, with Oz Perkins (Gretel & Hansel, The Blackcoat’s Daughter) directing. Initially, the teasers surprisingly kept one of the biggest draws hidden from audiences, as they contain minimal hints of the cast, which includes several big names—notably Nicolas Cage, who signed on to star in and produce Longlegs. It is believed he is playing a serial killer.
Starring opposite Cage is Maika Monroe, whose credits include Watcher and It Follows. She’s portraying Lee Harker, an FBI agent investigating a serial killer case. Meanwhile, Alicia Witt and Blair Underwood co-star along with Lisa Chandler, Erin Boyes, Rryla McIntosh, Dakota Daulby, and Charles Jarman.
One teaser of Longlegs sees a man attacking a priest (Jarman) with an axe inside of a church before switching to a shot of a woman studying an evidence board. Although only her back is shown, it is presumably Monroe’s Harker. Meanwhile, a creepy voice that could belong to Cage can be heard saying what sounds like, “There she is.”
Preceding that teaser was another one titled “Remember to say your prayers,” which sees two people digging under floorboards while a woman’s voice reminds viewers to say their prayers.
While the teasers and trailer don’t give away much about the plot, the film’s IMDb synopsis reads:
FBI Agent Lee Harker is assigned to an unsolved serial killer case that takes unexpected turns, revealing evidence of the occult. Harker discovers a personal connection to the killer and must stop him before he strikes again.
The mention of the occult partially explains what is up with the strange symbols, crosses, nuns, and priests in the teasers. But viewers are still mystified over what exactly Harker uncovers in her investigation. This lack of knowledge isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Nowadays, many trailers get criticized for making viewers feel like they’ve already seen the whole movie; going in the opposite direction and not even showing the biggest star in the film is an interesting strategy.
(featured image: Neon)
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