Osgood “Oz” Perkins, the director behind the much-anticipated horror-thriller “Longlegs,” is experiencing a career high with the film’s release. Starring Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage, “Longlegs” has generated significant buzz, thanks in part to an innovative promotional campaign by Neon. The film, which follows an FBI agent’s (Monroe) pursuit of a Satanic serial killer (Cage), has been compared to the works of Perkins’ friend and collaborator, Jordan Peele. Interestingly, Perkins himself appeared in Peele’s “Nope” as director Fynn Bachman.
“Longlegs” hits theaters this Friday, coinciding with the release of Ti West’s “MaXXXine.” The two films share a unique connection: “MaXXXine” features scenes set on the Universal Studios backlot, where Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” was filmed. Perkins’ late father, Anthony Perkins, became a cultural icon through his role as Norman Bates in “Psycho,” a legacy that has deeply influenced Osgood’s relationship with the horror genre. Osgood even appeared as Young Norman Bates in “Psycho II” (1983).
Reflecting on his father’s career, Perkins recalls a mix of pride and unease. “My dad was a shining light in the genre space, having created one of the more indelible characters in movies,” he tells The Hollywood Reporter. However, he also remembers the less successful horror films his father made later in his career, which caused tension at home. This dichotomy has left Perkins with a complicated relationship with horror, driving him to create his own modern horror films while avoiding the recent works of his peers.
“I want to identify or atone with my father by going down the same path and representing the good name in the genre,” Perkins explains. “But I also have a sort of distaste for it. I don’t see new ones. I have no interest. I’ll never see ‘MaXXXine,’ I’ll never see ‘Pearl.’ I saw ‘X’ for reasons; it wasn’t on purpose. Contemporary things don’t interest me at all.”
Despite his aversion to contemporary horror, Perkins appreciates the genre for its capacity for invention and poetry. “It’s all guessing and grasping at what is essentially unknowable,” he says. This perspective is evident in “Longlegs,” which explores the lies parents tell to protect their children, a theme drawn from Perkins’ own experiences as both a son and a father.
“I try not to tell my children any protective lies,” Perkins says. “Having grown up in a family where certain truths were curated, not maliciously, but to sustain the family, I understand the impact of those lies. The idea that a mom can create a story, a lie, a narrative, and dress their children in it like a hazmat suit is definitely where ‘Longlegs’ came from.”
Perkins also discusses his casting choices, particularly the decision to cast Maika Monroe as the lead. Initially hesitant, Perkins was ultimately convinced by Monroe’s ability to convey hidden depths on screen. “The disparity between who Maika is in a coffee shop and who she is on screen is so vast. That’s where all the energy lies,” he says.
Nicolas Cage, who plays the serial killer Longlegs, was deeply involved in developing his character. “We set the dials together ahead of time,” Perkins explains. “He performed the words as written, treated the script as text, and there was no improvising. By the time he got to Vancouver to shoot, he was in it.”
Perkins’ next project, an adaptation of Stephen King’s short story “The Monkey,” promises to be his funniest film yet. “It’s deliberately comedic, feeling more like an old John Landis or Joe Dante movie,” he says. “I saw an opportunity to make a wry, absurdist comedy about death.”
Despite his success, Perkins remains grounded, attributing much of his inspiration to his friend Jordan Peele. “Jordan is a friend who’s shared a lot of his work and process with me. It’s so hard to do what we do, so when you have camaraderie with people you admire, it’s worth thanking them.”
As “Longlegs” prepares to hit theaters, Perkins reflects on the journey that brought him here. From grappling with his father’s legacy to carving out his own path in the horror genre, Perkins has navigated a complex landscape with creativity and resilience. His avoidance of contemporary horror films may seem unconventional, but it has allowed him to forge a unique voice in a crowded field.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
