This article contains spoilers for Longlegs.
Summary
InLonglegs, protagonist Lee Harker must catch the eponymous serial killer, Longlegs, and to do that, she needs to understand why he only kills young girls with birthdays on the 14th. Released in July 2024,Longlegsis a recent horror movie following FBI agent Lee Harker as she attempts to track down an elusive murderer. However, by theend ofLonglegs,Lee realizes that her connection to the killer may run deeper than she thinks, and may explain why he’s killing in the first place.
Part of what makesLonglegssuch an interesting watchis the killer’s many quirks. Like Lee, audiences are eager to unravel and make sense of Longlegs' crimes. However, for much of the movie, his rituals don’t quite make sense. In fact, one of the biggest mysteries surrounding Longlegs' murders is thathe only chooses young girls whose birthdays are on the 14thof any given month. Although this detail seems completely random, Lee eventually gets to the bottom of this strange trend. It turns out to be much more dark and evil than just a simple date on the calendar.
Is Longlegs Inspired By A Real Serial Killer Case? True Story Connections Explained
Longlegs is a horrifying Nicolas Cage character, but does the villainous serial killer have connections to any real life serial killers?
Longlegs' 14th Day Ritual Explained
How The 14th Plays Into Longlegs' Crimes
ThoughNicolas Cage’s Longlegs has a terrifying look, the detail that really sticks out about him is his fixation on the 14th. Among the many families that are killed under his influence, the only similarity between them all is that the daughter’s birthday is on the 14th. Furthermore,the murders always occur a few days before or after the 14th. At first, this pattern seems to be somewhat random or blurry. However, under Lee’s observant eye, it becomes clear that the exact date is incredibly important to Longlegs.
When put together on a piece of paper,the dates on which Longlegs commits his crimes create the outline of an inverted triangle. Within the movie, this inverted triangle shape is a direct symbol of Satan or satanic worship. In this way, it becomes clear that Longlegs chooses his dates to please the Devil. On top of that, these dates make logical sense for how Longlegs carries out his crimes. In order for Ruth to bring the possessed dolls into the victims' homes as birthday presents, the murder must take place rather close to the actual birthday.
Longlegs' Victims' Birthday Pattern Have Religious Connections
Longlegs' Revelation Quote Explained
While Lee uncovers Longlegs' birthday trend through the inverted triangle, the movie offers other, more subtle explanations for the 14th. One of the most interesting connections is to the Book of Revelation. Throughout the film,Longlegs, Lee, and her mother Ruth all recite a quote from Revelation. The quote begins as follows: “And I saw a beast rise out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his head the name of blasphemy.” ThisBible verse is called Revelation 13:1. 13 plus one equals 14.
Based on howLonglegspresents its villains, it would be a fair assumption to say that Satan is the dragon, Longlegs is the first beast, and Ruth is the second beast.
Even the inverted triangle makes sense when compared to this Revelation quote. The writing refers to three different “beasts.” There is the dragon that “gave power to the beast,“the beast with seven heads and ten horns, and then another beast with horns like a lamb. Based on howLonglegspresents its villains, it would be a fair assumption to say that Satan is the dragon, Longlegs is the first beast, and Ruth is the second beast. Put together, these characters could represent the points of an inverted triangle. They are the opposite of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Was Longlegs' Ritual Based On Lee’s Birthday?
Lee May Have Started The Birthday Trend
Longlegsoffers many interpretations of the 14th ritual, but other theories are still prevalent. Although the Revelations 13:1 quote adds up to 14, there’s another possible reason why the killer chose that date.Longlegs' killing spree does not truly start until he meets Lee on her ninth birthday, on January 14th. From there, Lee’s memory is erased, Ruth becomes Longlegs' accomplice, and the two carry out countless murders using his possessed dolls. After meeting Lee on the 14th, perhaps Longlegs decided to keep up the trend. In this way, Lee is at the crux of the crimes.
Longlegs' real name is Dale Cobble.
In the end, the mystery is what makesLonglegssuch an enticing movie to watch. The horror film is bursting with unique forms of creepiness that can keep audiences on the edge of their seats for the entire hour and a half. However, by the end ofLonglegs,the serial killer’s crimes should make more sense, even if they are not easy to watch. The only question that remains is whether Lee really saved the world inLonglegs,or if the Devil’s influence will return once again.
Longlegs
Cast
Longlegs is a horror thriller film by writer-director Osgood Perkins. When FBI agent Lee Harker is assigned to a serial killer cold case, their investigation leads them down a rabbit hole riddled with disturbing discoveries and the occult at the center of it all. When the trail of evidence reveals a personal connection, it becomes a race against time to prevent another murder.
