While Nicolas Cage’s psychological horror-thriller is a blast, will it be enough to dethrone The Silence of the Lambs as the best of its kind?
The similarities are not too marked, but they can be seen.
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Shortly after its release in 1991, The Silence of the Lambs, widely regarded as the greatest psychological thriller ever made, became a worldwide success, both at the box office and with critics. And now, three decades later, it seems that it is finally facing a worthy rival, as Nicolas Cage’s new horror film has exceeded all expectations and it seems that the comparison is more than worthy.
It should be noted that the parallels between the two productions are a way of drawing attention, but even so, it is impossible not to notice that some references have been taken from The Silence of the Lambs in terms of the treatment of the villain Longlegs.
Like Hannibal Lecter, the Longlegs barely appears on screen. But these few minutes are enough to make your hair stand on end. Neither of these villains is better than the other, but both seem strangely friendly, yet at the same time have a menacing presence.
Although Longlegs is more supernatural, it plays out like a traditional police procedural.
Longlegs has some supernatural twists that mark its own essence
The similarities are undeniable, but the narrative is different. Longlegs makes use of supernatural elements, in this case, the protagonist is clairvoyant, which allows her to see beyond the human senses of her companions. In a way, the supernatural essence ends up being more reminiscent of films like Hereditary (2018), than a crime thriller like The Silence of the Lambs.
But all that aside, Longleg plays out like a typical police procedural for the first half, without breaking the mold like Zodiac (2007) does. The procedural elements are predictable and lack the depth of The Silence of the Lambs. However, it does manage to generate enough intrigue to keep you captivated until the supernatural twists send shivers down your spine.
If we recall the end of The Silence of the Lambs, where scenes make you hold your breath because the chances of survival are extremely low, well, something similar happens with Longlegs. Some scenes will seem endless even though they last only a few seconds, because the tension is so great that once they end you will be able to sigh with relief.
Is Longlegs better than The Silence of the Lambs?
Although they can be compared, it is better to enjoy both productions without any bias.
The truth is that after watching Longlegs, you’ll notice that it could be a more niche film compared to The Silence of the Lambs, especially if we take into account the number of supernatural twists it rubs shoulders with.
On the other hand, the proceedings are considerably less detailed and leave us wanting more, especially compared to the 90s film. But all that aside, when it comes to leaving a lasting impact on the viewer, no one can deny that Longlegs feels just as invasively terrifying as The Silence of the Lambs. It’s a story that really draws you in, somehow managing to feel personal, as if it’s something that could happen to the viewer at any moment.
In the end, it would be unfair to compare the two productions or to claim that Longlegs is not on par with The Silence of the Lambs, but Longlegs does manage to carve out its own identity in the psychological horror genre, and that deserves its credit. Thanks to its distinctive style and mix of genres, Nicolas Cage’s new film might have a bit more trouble finding its proper audience compared to The Silence of the Lambs. But it will gradually do so, and when it does, it will be one of the best psychological horror films we’ve ever seen, but even so, Jonathan Demme’s 1991 film remains unbeatable.
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