Longlegs Explained: A Snapshot (or Polaroid) of Evil- Pictures, Orbs, and Parallel Universes

If you’ve made it to the end of Longlegs (2024) and found yourself clutching the nearest pillow in confusion, fear not (well, maybe fear Nicholas Cage because he is making some bold choices). Directed by Oz Perkins, this movie’s cryptic ending, unsettling visuals, and unapologetically weird world-building have spawned a myriad of critic theories that range from “Oh, that makes sense” to “I feel certain there is not a shared cinematic universe here?” Buckle up as we dive into the rich tapestry of interpretations surrounding Longlegs — a film that dares to ask, Is there such a thing as too much Cage?

From a technical perspective, Longlegs is a visual and auditory feast. Directed by Oz Perkins, the film employs the haunting cinematography of Andrés Arochi Tinajero, whose use of stark contrasts and shadow-drenched imagery creates an atmosphere of dread that lingers long after the credits roll. The sound design, layered with unsettling whispers and dissonant tones, further blurs the line between the tangible and the otherworldly. It’s a testament to Perkins’ vision and Arochi’s craft that every frame feels meticulously designed to unnerve. Ready to dive in? You can watch Longlegs now here. WATCH IT NOW BEFORE WE SPOIL IT BELOW

The Basics: What Longlegs is About SPOILERS TO COME

First, a quick recap for those who might’ve watched the movie through their fingers: Longlegs follows the journey of FBI agent Lee Harker as they investigate a string of brutal murders linked to an enigmatic figure played by Nicolas Cage. This towering, spectral presence — nicknamed “Longlegs” — seems to be more than human, leaving behind an aura of dread and mystery. Harker’s investigation spirals into an exploration of the supernatural, as they uncover links between the killings, occult rituals, and their own haunted past.

By the end, the film drops its most bombastic twist: the universe in which Longlegs exists may not be the same universe as ours. A revelation that is harder to ignore on a second or third watch.

Longlegs Explained Theory 1: The Creature as a Manifestation of Trauma

One of the most popular interpretations centers on the idea that Longlegs isn’t a physical being but a manifestation of collective trauma. Agent Harker’s life is steeped in unresolved guilt and fear, particularly surrounding a tragic event hinted at throughout the film. The murders and rituals tied to Longlegs seem to parallel Harker’s internal struggle, creating a narrative where the creature symbolizes the shadows of the human psyche.

The cryptic symbols found at crime scenes? They resemble arcane sigils that could be interpreted as pathways into the subconscious. According to this theory, Longlegs is less of a villain and more of a psychic wound made flesh, feeding on unspoken horrors and unresolved emotions. Sigils often act as keys to unlocking specific powers, charms, or wards. In this context they support this manifestation of trauma. Think of them more as package ingredients letting the audience know what magic composes Longlegs

Longlegs Explained Theory 2: The Meta-Multiverse Theory – The Viewer as the Villain

What if Longlegs isn’t about the characters, but about you? The movie’s ending explicitly states that its universe doesn’t exist in the same plane as ours. Combine this with the film’s tendency to break the fourth wall (remember when Cage’s character gazes directly into the camera during the ritual scene?) and you’ve got a case for the audience being complicit in the chaos. This would hardly be the first film to implicate the audience in the violence on screen (looking at you Gasper)

Under this interpretation, Longlegs is a commentary on voyeurism in horror. By watching the characters suffer, you’re effectively feeding the creature. Every scream, every tear, every gruesome kill fuels its existence. The symbols it leaves behind? They’re glyphs meant to bridge the gap between their world and our own, pulling the audience closer to the action until they are a part of the narrative. In this way the rune’s exist like scars on our world indicating where a foreign entity or place itself has violated our own universe. They are existential scars.

So, next time you pop on a horror movie, remember: you might just be summoning something not entirely different than the myth of the tulpa. In this interpretation, Longlegs exists at the crossroads of multiple dimensions. The creature is a byproduct of universes bleeding into each other, a being that doesn’t belong anywhere and thus exists everywhere. The film’s cryptic ending has perplexed audiences near and far. Harker seems to be caught in a universe sized mouse trap set by Longlegs. One could easily interpret Harker as one more person who has been caught in he gravitational force of a creature who seems pulled out of space and time.

This theory also explains the film’s obsession with cycles and repetition. Just as the murders follow a recurring pattern, so too does the collapse of one reality into another. Harker’s investigation, then, is less about stopping Longlegs and more about understanding the inevitability of cosmic entropy. It is a bleak world we live in.

The Final Verdict

Whether you see Longlegs as a study of trauma or a meta-commentary on the nature of storytelling, one thing’s for sure: it’s a film that refuses to be pinned down. Its ending is as haunting as it is ambiguous, daring viewers to look beyond the screen and question their own place in the narrative.

So, is Longlegs a masterpiece of modern horror, or an exercise in pretentious weirdness? That’s for you to decide. Just don’t be surprised if you start noticing strange symbols around your house. After all, who’s to say their universe isn’t leaking into ours?