“Longlegs” is one of the most praised horror movies released in 2024 and is considered by many critics and fans as one of the greatest thrillers in recent years. Starring Nicolas Cage (who was also one of the producers) and Maika Monroe, the movie follows an FBI agent trying to discover the identity of a serial killer called “Longlegs.” The film was directed and written by Osgood Perkins, son of the late legendary actor Anthony Perkins, who was Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock’s classic Psycho (1960). Curiously, one of Osgood’s first movie roles was as a young Norman Bates in Psycho II (1983).
Besides those interesting information about the director and screenwriter, this film also has a connection to Glam Rock, Marc Bolan and T. Rex.
The connection between Longlegs and T. Rex/Marc Bolan
(Warning: few spoilers ahead)
Oz Perkins knew the British band T. Rex but not that well when he was writing the script for Longlegs, he watched the documentary series “1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything”. He really liked a section about the Glam Rock group. So he started to listen to the band fronted by the late Marc Bolan, which became an unexpected source of inspiration. Not only for the soundtrack but also for some visual elements of the movie.
In an interview with IndieWire, Perkins recalled that he used the band to explain his vision to Nicolas Cage. “I’m feeling really confident (during the phone call with Nicolas Cage). At a certain point, I just kind of blurted out. Because I know he’s into music too, ‘Nic, I know how this might sound, but it’s T. Rex.’” Perkins said that Cage immediately understood, responding: “‘It’s amazing you said that, Oz. Because my kid is learning to play guitar. Yesterday I showed him the backwards guitar solo on ‘Cosmic Dancer,’ Marc Bolan’s solo. Yesterday,’” Oz Perkins said.
How “Get It On” was connected to the movie
Although there is no direct connection between the plot and Marc Bolan’s lyrics, Perkins found something that could be a small connection to his story. A portion of the lyrics from T. Rex’s famous song “Get It On” is shown before the opening credits. The lyrics says: “Well, you’re slim and you’re weak, you’ve got the teeth of a hydra upon you. You’re dirty sweet and you’re my girl.”
The reference to “hydra” connects to a passage from the Book of Revelation, also quoted in the film. It talks about a beast rising from the sea with 10 heads, 10 horns, and 10 crowns. And, of course, the phrase “you’re my girl” also aligns with the film’s story. As Perkins told IndieWire: “T. Rex just felt right. The humor, the language, the look, the affectation. All of it fit.”
Other Glam Rock easter eggs in Longlegs
Besides those interesting parts, the film also includes other Easter eggs. For example, a photo of Marc Bolan can be seen in the place Longlegs is hidden. Also there’s a scene where the killer talks to a doll in front of a mirror, with Lou Reed’s Transformer album cover visible in the background. As reported by IndieWire, Cage’s character was “conceived as a former Glam Rock singer. His physical appearance was inspired by Bob Dylan during his ‘Rolling Thunder Revue’ tour.”
The movie’s score also has a connection with “satanic panic” rock history. The sound designer Eugenio Battaglia explained that he was inspired by the secret backward messages that some bands were accused of embedding in their records in the 60s and 70s.
The tragic stories of Oz Perkins’ mother and father
Director and screenwriter Osgood Perkins was named after his grandfather, who was a movie star in the 1920s and 30s, even appearing in the original Scarface (1932). His son, the late Anthony Perkins, is best known for his role as Norman Bates in Psycho and also starred in Orson Welles’ famous film The Trial (1962).
Oz tragically lost his father in 1992 at the age of 60 due to AIDS-related causes. Sadly, this wasn’t the only tragedy to affect the Perkins family. His mother, Berry Berenson, was a passenger on the first plane that struck the World Trade Center during the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.