Longlegs follows the story of an FBI agent who uncovers a series of occult clues while being in pursuit of a serial killer in cases spanning over decades. Will she get to the bottom of things? The story here uses the atmospherics of the drama very well to paint a picture of horror that is terrifying in the minds of the viewers. Make no mistake, this isn’t a type of horror that induces jump scares but instead creates a world that would always make you feel the presence of a danger lurking in the corner. It is immersive and requires focus given its leisurely pace, and it accounts for a solid drama at the end of the day. At times, the writers are guilty of going slightky off-track with the logic of such films, but I was amazed with the way the events were tied leading to a logical conclusion in a terrifying screenplay standing at a shade above 90 minutes. Needless to say that the screenplay is taut and compelling in many ways.

Combining a serial killer genre with horror can be a tricky proposition given how makers could be influenced into swaying either sides of the genre. But the writing here is extremely focused with not many subplots doing the rounds. As a result, you are always present with the plight of the characters on the screen. The drama opens while showcasing a little girl who happens to follow a voice in the snow-clad valley wherein she is acquainted with a man whose face isn’t shown initially. Almost immediately, the man bends and you are privy to a pale looking shadow that you get only a quick glimpse of, bjt enough to send a shiver down your spine while diverting all your focus on the unfolding plot. The drama jumps to another timeline wherein you are introduced to the protagonist, an FBI agent who has a valued gift of being a clairvoyant, something that prompts the department to give her a decade spanning case to investigate. With one thing leading to another, the plot thickens and how!

The proceedings are engaging even while unfolding in a leisurely manner. While the viewers always have a picture of the serial killer imprinted in their minds, there is always a sense of curiosity on the supposed motive and the path of the destination of the investigation. And while the characters are introduced, there is always a danger lurking in the background, such is the intensity of the drama. The writing scores with the bouts of occultism that is introduced in the narrative, that forms a major modus operandi of the serial killer. The events are logical and coherent through and through while the investigation is on.

There are subtle bouts of horror interspersed in the narrative particularly with the events leading up to the arrest of the serial killer. And that is followed by a resounding twist in what was one of my favourite scenes at the police station that sent a chill down my spine by the end of it. There is a momentary shock following that too, even as the mystery unravels with the pieces of the jigsaw being pieced together. Yes, by the third act the cat is out of the bag and the events are predictable but that is where the atmospherics in the drama take over resulting in a satisfying conclusion wherein the vicious satanic circle would continue despite some major eliminations at the end. Overall, the writing is top notch and makes for a pretty solid watch.