Longlegs, the latest horror movie from writer/director Oz Perkins, is taking audiences worldwide for a ride. Praised as one of the best movies of the year so far – no thanks in part to Nicolas Cage’s unhinged performance – viewers might be wondering which movies manage to capture the same intensity, themes and storytelling of Longlegs. Here are 10 movies that are similar to Longlegs that you need to watch if you haven’t already.
The following list isn’t in any particular order. We’ve also assembled this list based on some of our personal opinions and those already cited on message boards and forums as being obvious (and not-so-obvious) inspirations for the movie. If you haven’t seen Longlegs yet but want to get a taste of what’s to come, hopefully this list will help you narrow down the best palate cleansers.
10 Movies Like Longlegs and Where to Watch Them
1. The Silence of the Lambs
You’re going to hear this comparison everywhere but Longlegs is, in many ways, clearly inspired by 1991’s serial killer thriller, The Silence of the Lambs. Following a detective (played by Jodie Foster) who’s tracking down an elusive serial killer named Buffalo Bill, she enlists the help of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a convicted cannibalistic killer, to understand the madness of a murderer. The Silence of the Lambs is a classic for a reason – it even won Best Picture at the Oscars.
2. Se7en
Another big inspiration for Longlegs is Se7en, director David Fincher’s slow-burn thriller starring Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt. In Se7en, two detectives are put on the case of a serial killer who kills his victims based on the seven deadly sins. Like Longlegs, Se7en is drenched in tension and an atmosphere of dread – where things are always slightly “off” and you can’t put your finger on it.
3. Zodiac
Going hand-in-hand with Se7en is yet another David Fincher serial killer thriller, this time based on true events. Zodiac recounts the time period in which the infamous real-life Zodiac killer was active in San Francisco. Packed with Hollywood A-listers like Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo and Jake Gyllenhaal, Zodiac is a long but worthwhile dive into the methodical madness behind one of history’s most frightening murderers.
4. It Follows
If you want more horror from Longlegs actress (and new certified scream queen) Maika Monroe, look no further than her debut horror movie, It Follows. Monroe plays a young woman who is stalked by a strange entity that literally slowly follows her everywhere she goes. It Follows might be short on genuine scares but it has a terrific atmosphere that builds tension throughout the run time.
5. Insomnia
One of director Christopher Nolan’s earlier and more underappreciated movies, Insomnia features a chilling performance from the late Robin Williams as a killer being chased by a detective (Al Pacino) who is slowly losing sleep and sanity in a small Alaskan town where the sun never truly sets. Insomnia is almost claustrophobic in how it depicts sleep depravity but in the end, you’re put in the detective’s shoes and taken down some dark roads.
6. I Saw The Devil
Another serial killer thriller, this time from South Korea. I Saw The Devil flips the genre on its head and delivers an unforgettable and unique story of vengeance about a secret agent on the hunt for an elusive murderer. Things get ugly when the agent goes down a path of revenge and takes matters into his own hands.
7. The Empty Man
The Empty Man slipped under many radars when it came out in 2020 but it’s well worth watching today if you haven’t. Following a similar structure to Longlegs, a retired cop begins investigating a series of disappearances in a small town which the locals believe was caused by a supernatural urban legend called The Empty Man. It’s another slow burn into madness but one that you simply cannot miss.
8. Suspiria (2018)
The quality of the Suspiria remake is hotly debated in the horror community but in our opinion, it’s a very welcomed modern reimagining of Dario Argento’s classic. With a star-studded cast including Mia Goth, Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton and Chloe Grace Moretz, it follows dancers at a prestigious dance company being stalked by an unshakeable darkness. Rife with atmospheric dread and mystery, Suspiria is unlike any other horror movie you’ll watch.
9. Gretel & Hansel
Longlegs director Oz Perkins’ take on the familiar fairy tale, 2020’s Gretel & Hansel will give you a sense of his precise directing style and the eerie tone he is able to effortlessly establish in his movies. It’s another slow thriller but deliberately so as the movie unravels its darkest secrets and mysteries for maximum impact. It’s a lot more divisive than Longlegs but for any aspiring director trying to get a sense of how Perkins evolved his talent, you need to watch Gretel & Hansel.
10. Hereditary
Audiences described Longlegs as being “evil” by its tone and style, so we couldn’t help but include Hereditary on this list too since it achieves a similar result. Arguably the most popular entry on the list, Hereditary is a grim dismantling of a grief-stricken family being haunted by unimaginable terrors. It scared viewers in 2018 and it still manages to conjure up dread today, making it a difficult movie to watch but one that should delight horror enthusiasts.
