Nicolas Cage’s new movie, Longlegs, is a spooky thriller featuring a very unique and menacing villain. The actor has talked about how much effort he put into playing the titular character. He drew inspiration from his own life, especially his mother late Joy Vogelsang, who struggled with schizophrenia and depression.
By thinking about what might have caused his mother’s mental illness, Cage added a personal touch to the character. His commitment to developing his character really shows in his performance.
Early reviews say that Longlegs is one of the most horrifying and nerve-wracking villains in recent movies. However, did you know that this movie is said to be very similar to a famous Anthony Hopkins film that won big at the Oscars?
Looks like Nicolas Cage’s Longlegs Drew Inspiration from Oscar-Winning Flick
Director Osgood “Oz” Perkins recently told PEOPLE that Longlegs was initially meant to honor the 1991 Oscar-winning The Silence of the Lambs. This film made history at the Oscars as the third in Academy history to win the ‘Big Five’ Academy Awards for producing, directing, lead actor, lead actress, and screenwriting. It would have starred Nicolas Cage in a role similar to Anthony Hopkins‘ famous Hannibal Lecter.
Maika Monroe would play an FBI agent like Jodie Foster‘s Clarice Starling, and Cage would be the serial killer she hunts. But Perkins wanted to add his own special twist to this classic trope. The director said:
The character of Longlegs was a character that I had imagined in other scenarios. He had tried to kind of nose his way into other projects. [He] envisioned [movie’s villain as] a pathetic-ish guy who kind of comes to your kid’s birthday party, sort of a clown, but not really.
Perkins, a well-regarded figure in indie films, has always been a fan of Cage’s talent. Getting the Hollywood star on board for Longlegs was a big win for the director. Perkins was pleasantly surprised that Cage stuck closely to the script instead of improvising, which was unexpected.
Here’s How Nicolas Cage Transformed into a Uniquely Chilling Villain
As Oz Perkins described that he envisioned Nicolas Cage’s character as someone who looks like a clownish figure with a dark side. This unusual take makes Longlegs different from other films with traditionally scary villains.
The filmmakers teamed up to create Longlegs’ creepy look and movements. Special effects makeup was key, and Cage dived into using prosthetics to look completely different. This was new for Cage, who usually didn’t use prosthetics in his past roles.
Cage and Perkins also looked into the character’s mind. They got ideas from surprising places, like glam rock star Marc Bolan from T. Rex. Longlegs is a villain that truly stands out. Even though he isn’t on screen a lot, his presence is powerful, thanks to the way he’s introduced. Neon, the distributor, decided not to show Cage’s character in the trailers, keeping his creepy effect intact for the viewers.
Longlegs is currently screening in theatres!
Frequently asked questions
Is Longlegs really based on The Silence of the Lambs?
The article reports that director Osgood “Oz” Perkins originally conceived Longlegs as his version of the 1991 Best Picture winner, with Nicolas Cage reportedly cast in a role similar to Anthony Hopkins’s Hannibal Lecter and Maika Monroe as an FBI agent modeled on Jodie Foster’s Clarice Starling. Perkins later reshaped the villain into a stranger, more unsettling figure instead of a straightforward Lecter copy.
What did Nicolas Cage draw on to play the villain in Longlegs?
Cage has said he drew inspiration from his own life, particularly his late mother Joy Vogelsang, who lived with schizophrenia and severe depression. Thinking about what may have caused her illness informed his approach to the character. Cage also used prosthetics for the role, which was unusual since he historically avoided heavy makeup effects in past performances.
Why doesn’t Longlegs’s villain appear in the movie’s trailers?
The article reports that distributor Neon deliberately chose not to show Nicolas Cage’s character in any marketing materials, preserving the shock of his appearance for theatrical audiences. Director Oz Perkins also drew inspiration from other sources, including glam rock star Marc Bolan, when shaping the villain’s unsettling look and presence.
