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Director Osgood Perkins' new film LongLegs was released on July 12, 2024, and has received much appreciation from classic horror fans. The film stars Nicolas Cage and Maika Monroe. Its story revolves around a partially psychic FBI agent who gets involved in a serial killing case with a paranormal twist.
Disclaimer: The article contains spoilers for LongLegs (2024). Viewer discretion is advised.
At the end of the movie, Agent Lee Harker uncovers LongLegs' method of operation, where he uses her mother Ruth as a pawn. The beast uses gifted dolls to possess families and manipulate them into murdering each other.
Harker interrupts a birthday party where her mother is gifting one of the possessed dolls. She shoots Ruth and tries to shoot the doll as well, but her gun fires a blank. That leaves Harker face-to-face with the doll, paralysed with fright.
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The official summary of the film reads:
"In pursuit of a serial killer, an FBI agent uncovers a series of occult clues that she must solve to end his terrifying killing spree."
LongLegs ending sees Harker is likely under the doll's control
At the end of the film, Harker's (Maika Monroe) gun fails to fire a bullet when she shoots at the doll. There could be a simple explanation for this; perhaps her firearm ran out of ammo. After all, she just shot a possessed man and also her mother. But then, Harker freezes and looks at the doll in horror.
Harker's abrupt fear and the film cutting to its end means there was something more sinister going on. As Lee Harker was the original victim, and it was her mother Ruth who defended her by collaborating with the beast (Nicolas Cage), it's possible that LongLegs redirected his spirit towards her. After Ruth's death, the evil needs a way to spread and kill more unsuspecting victims.
It's likely that Harker is under a spell and might even take on the role of the monster in a subsequent storyline. As she also has a position of power in the FBI, it would make it easier for Harker to target people and cover up her tracks, but the film's open ending leaves this up to the audience's perception.
Revelation 13:1 meaning and its significance in LongLegs explored
Revelation 13:1 is a Bible verse that plays an important role in the film. In the holy text, the verse describes the Antichrist:
"And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy."
LongLegs quotes the verse right before his death and eventual resurgence as a beast. The reference might indicate the inverse of the Holy Trinity, depicted by the Devil, the Antichrist and the False Prophet.
In the film, LongLegs becomes the beast who embodies Antichrist, Harker's mother Ruth is the False Prophet, and together they use the murders as their Satanic tributes. The visuals of snakes and triangles in the film also match this analysis.
Additionally, the numbers of the verse add up to 14 (13+1), which also gives clarity on why the beast targets girls whose birthdays are on the 14th day of any given month.
Also read: With shades of The Silence of the Lambs, Longlegs weaves its own web of terror
How LongLegs ending sets the stage for a sequel
The ending of the film is left open to interpretation, as Agent Harker freezes up after coming face to face with the possessed doll. While the end is terrifying, it also leaves the possibility open for a sequel.
Although the character of LongLegs is dead in the film, it's clear that the beast's spirit still possesses and runs the dolls that put people under a murderous spell. As Harker was one of the first supposed victims, and her mother Ruth made a deal with the beast, the doll's spirit might have taken hold of Harker.
It means that Agent Lee Harker, who risked her life for the case, might now be forced to do his bidding. With this twist in the tale, Lee Harker may be now a serial killer in a position of power, under the evil being's spell. That makes way for the possibility of a very interesting sequel.
Also read: Fact Check: Does Longlegs have a post-credit scene? Explained
What is the Biblical significance of LongLegs?
In the Bible, the insect Daddy Long Legs is a symbol of positivity and good fortune. The presence of the insect is meant to indicate that God is watching over the world and over the human who comes into contact with the creature.
However, the film uses the aspect of 'watching' and twists it into something that generates horror and not good fortune. The beast watches his victims and preys upon them if their birthday is on the 14th day of any month. The dolls also possess his spirit, which watches as the family tears each other apart under the spell.
Audiences can watch LongLegs released in theatres from July 12, 2024, onwards.
