WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Longlegs (2024)
Summary
Now thatLonglegshas arrived, the serial killer thriller proves that one of Stephen King’s upcoming adaptations could become a horror classic. Director Osgood Perkins gained some critical acclaim for 2015’sThe Blackcoat’s Daughter, 2017’sI Am The Pretty Thing That Lives In the House, and 2020’sGretel and Hansel. However,Longlegsmarks his first bonafide box office hit.2024’s critically acclaimedLonglegsfollows Maika Monroe’s FBI agent Lee Harker as she tries to track down Nicholas Cage’s terrifying titular serial killer. Effectively chilling and enigmatic,Longlegswon over critics and audiences upon release.
While Perkins’ movie remains a tense watch throughout its entire runtime, it isLonglegs’ twist endingthat cements its status as a horror classic. In a brutally bleak twist, viewers learn that Cage’s eponymous killer wasn’t physically involved in the killings seen throughout the movie. Instead, he crafted lifelike dolls of young victims and these dolls, somehow possessed by Satan’s powers, convinced the fathers of these families to kill them. This conspiracy is gruesomely confirmed when Harker’s mother, revealed to be Longlegs’ accomplice, delivers a doll to her boss’s home. Only Lee and her boss’s daughter survive this visit.
Does Longlegs Have A Post-Credits Scene?
Nicolas Cage and Maika Monroe’s horror movie keeps the mystery until the end. Here’s whether there is a Longlegs post-credits scene explaining more.
Longlegs’ Ending Has A Lot In Common With 2025’s The Monkey
Osgood Perkins Also Directs The Upcoming Stephen King Killer Toy Story
The revelation ofLonglegs’ grim twist makes Perkins’ next movie all the more exciting. 2025 will see Perkins direct theStephen King adaptation ofThe Monkey, an exciting horror that brings to life a story from the author’s 1985 collectionSkeleton Crew.BothLonglegsandThe Monkeyrevolve around mysterious cursed toys(dolls inLonglegsand a windup monkey inThe Monkey) that seemingly control people’s lives thanks to some dark, unexplained influence. InThe Monkey’s original short story, two brothers discover the toy seemingly causes the death of one of their shared loved ones every time it is used.
It is not yet clear how much Perkins will change the plot ofThe Monkey. However,Longlegssuccessfully hides its twist until the movie’s closing act proves that the director has some clever tricks up his sleeve. Quite a fewshort stories from King’sSkeleton Crewhave been adapted so far, butThe Monkeyalone features the unique combination of subverted childhood innocence and nightmarish horror previously found inLonglegs.Longlegsinitially utilizes dolls for a creepy atmosphere, much like King’s short story. By the time the heroes realize these toys are cursed, it is too late in both stories.
The Monkey Can Build On Osgood Perkins’ Success With Longlegs
King’s Movie Adaptation Might Be More Accessible
The Monkeycan be a perfect follow-up toLonglegssince the Nicholas Cage serial killer thriller left a lot unexplained. Stylistically,Longlegsis more outre than comparable serial killer thrillers likeSe7enorSilence of the Lambs, but the movie is also more straightforward and accessible than Perkins’ earlier effortsI Am The Pretty Thing That Lives In This HouseorGretel and Hansel. As such,Longlegsprovides a perfect stepping stone to allow the actor-turned-director to enter the horror mainstream. With his Stephen King adaptation, Perkins can build on the hype and audience goodwill thatLonglegshas generated.
