Marketing horror films is an art form in itself. From classics like The exorcist to more recent examples such as The Blair Witch Project, Paranormal activityeven SmileGreat marketing campaigns have always been a hallmark of the horror genre. And 2024 has already given us a strong year with the promotion of Long legsNicolas Cage’s mysterious new serial killer movie.
Neon’s marketing campaign for the film is largely based on what we don’t know. The studio has released several creepy teaser trailers Pictures, none of which explain the film (and may not even show any of it). But everyone is nerve-wracking.
All the teaser images and videos seem to revolve around a family that is a victim of some form of occult killer who broke into their homes. In the meantime we see FBI agents dig something up, a nun in a blood-stained habit, and even a woman who pointed a knife at her own stomach. It’s awesome, creepy and, most importantly, it’s so disturbing and peculiar that you wonder how it relates to the movie.
In an age where most trailers give away the entire movie in just three minutes, Long legs‘trailers don’t really tell us much about the film at all. Instead, they’re completely invested in vibes. They paint a very creepy picture of a movie that looks amazing and terrifying. And that’s a great way to achieve that horror movie fans to come to the cinema.
As for what the actual movie is about, it looks like it will follow a serial killer who has been at work for several years, as the teasers give us reports of crimes ranging from 1974 through at least 1992. We know that. Maika Monroe (It follows) will star in the film as an FBI agent investigating these crimes, and we know Nicolas Cage is in the film – possibly as the killer, although we can’t know for sure.
Long legs is directed by Osgood Perkins, who specializes in a specific brand of dark and brooding horror, often with deeply disturbing results such as Gretel & Hans or The daughter of the Blackcoat.
Long legs will hit theaters sometime this year.