LONGLEGS: Osgood Perkins and Maika Monroe Discuss Crafting a Chilling Crime Thriller

Maika Monroe in LONGLEGS | Photo Courtesy of NEON

By Shannon McGrew

In Osgood Perkins's (The Blackcoat's Daughter) latest film, LONGLEGS, an FBI agent in pursuit of a serial killer uncovers a series of occult clues that she must solve to end his terrifying killing spree.

For the release of LONGLEGS, Creepy Kingdom's Shannon McGrew spoke with writer/director Osgood Perkins and actor Maika Monroe, who portrays FBI agent Lee Harker. During their chat, they discussed everything from Maika's love of crime thrillers to Osgood's hope that this will be a transportive horror experience for fans.

It is such a pleasure to speak with you both today about LONGLEGS. To start things off, Maika, what was it about the script for LONGLEGS that drew you in?

Maika Monroe: I grew up loving crime movies and crime thrillers. Silence of the Lambs was one of those films that stuck with me and is up there in my [list of] top ten favorite movies. I think reading the script for the first time, there was those sort of nostalgic late 90s sort of crime movie feels that I loved. I really felt like I knew where the [script] was going. I don't remember what page it was, but it then really took a turn. The script stood out to me and made me immediately want to do it.

For you, Osgood, how did you know Maika was the perfect person to embody the role of Agent Lee Harker?

Osgood Perkins: I'd always admired Maika's work from afar on screen and the reserve that she uses. I love actors who do less than more, like Steve McQueen, who used to give his dialogue away to other actors in the scene. He'd say, "I don't want to say that; you say I'll just listen to it." There's something so compelling about people who can appear on screen and withhold something, but you can see it. You can see the withholding. You can see that there's something underneath the surface that's really wanting to get out. Maika really has a lot of that going on.

Horror fans are chomping at the bit for the release of LONGLEGS. What are you most excited for them to experience with this film?

Osgood Perkins: I want people to have a good time. I want people to feel like Silence of the Lambs really was such a wonderful thing for all of us. What a gift that movie was. What a fine piece of working art that is. Then [while watching LONGLEGS], have it turn into, oh, no, there's a whole other universe of things happening, which is what a good horror picture should be, right? It should transport you past the liminal state of knowing what's happening in your life to the place of thinking I really don't know anything. I have no idea what's coming or what's back there, or what's under the thing. The hope is that the audience wants to go on that trip and has a lark.

LONGLEGS arrives in theaters July 12, 2024.