Love him or hate him, Osgood Perkins is a director with style. Despite his beginnings as an actor, he’s now known for his horror direction. Often tragic yet beautiful in a twisted way, his style focuses on the mundanity of the suburban United States with strands of magical realism woven throughout. His style certainly isn’t for everyone, and Longlegs’ mixed critical response is evidence of that. I would argue though, that even if he is divisive, he is undeniably an auteur and a skilled artist.
Ahead of the release of his newest film The Monkey, I decided to go back and rewatch his entire filmography. While it’s a mixed bag overall, I can say with confidence it’s all worth watching. I should note that I’m not going to include Hansel and Gretel or The Girl in the Photographs here, as I’m only ranking movies that Perkins both wrote and directed.
3. I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016)
“I have heard myself say that a house with a death in it can never again be bought or sold by the living. It can only be borrowed from the ghosts that have stayed behind.”
I didn’t even realize this was an Osgood Perkins movie for the longest time. It had been sitting in my Netflix recommendations for years, always with a really vague description of what the movie was actually about. When I learned it was a Perkins movie, I finally watched it and it was … not what I expected.
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House is not a horror film, not really. It’s more like a pensive gothic drama, spending much of its runtime on careful and breathtaking shots of the small house where the film is set. The story follows Lily, a young hospice nurse who has moved in to take care of Iris Blum, the home’s sole resident and a retired horror author. It is a strange movie, with glacial pacing and quiet whispered dialogue. Despite that though, something about this movie worked for me. It had some really interesting ideas about the nature of ghosts and the afterlife of those who meet an unexpected end. It did some time bending that I wasn’t expecting, and overall I found it to be an enjoyable watch.
That being said, it is SLOW moving. Lily’s dialogue definitely shifts towards the fart-sniffing self-important side and some of the scenes meant to be poetic don’t land as well as they could. Even so, I still liked it for what it was.
2. The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2015)
“You didn’t hear about Jen Darling’s sister? Graduated three years ago. She walked in on them one night… worshipping the Devil.”
It physically hurt me to not put this movie at number one, because I love it so much. Perkins is good at creating this environment that plays into my exact brand of discomfort, and the boarding school in The Blackcoat’s Daughter is it in a nutshell. The creaking floors, the popping of the old radiator, and the sinister quiet of a New England snowstorm. That being said, the real strength of this movie rests on Kiernan Shipka’s performance as Kat, and she nails it. She goes full Resident Evil 7 here, and it doesn’t feel corny or over the top. The moments where she’s sweet and shy are just as real as her moments of vile possession. Perkins also does an incredible job at showing just enough gore or horror, leaving the grisly bits just out of the camera’s view long enough to get your heart pumping before the reveal.
This is also not a perfect film. I think a lot of Rose’s story feels just kind of there, but it is necessary for the full picture the story is painting. Unfortunately though, there are moments where the tension just wanes and it’s a real shame because when this movie is good, it’s really good. I think this will still hit for some people though, particularly if you like a slow burn.
1. Longlegs (2024)
“You could’ve played nice with me. But you didn’t. And that is the reason for all of this.”
The worst thing you could do is walk into this movie expecting Silence of the Lambs because this is not that. Even though there were moments where I was reminded of thrillers like Fincher’s Zodiac, this is a weird twisted horror drama that’s not going to work for everyone. The magical realism that Perkins toyed with in his previous films is on full display here, with Maika Monroe’s Lee Harker being confirmed to have some kind of clairvoyance within the opening scenes of the film. I think if you can’t get behind the premise, you’re going to walk away disappointed and confused. But if you can buy in, boy what a ride this is. You think you know where it’s going in the first act, but it becomes something else entirely by the end.
Nicolas Cage’s performance as the titular Longlegs left me slack-jawed in a good way, and this was the movie that made me decide that going forward, I need to see all of Perkins upcoming stuff in theaters. It’s funny, it’s wild and it scared the shit out of me. Go watch it.
Prediction: The Monkey (2025)
“The coroner said it was an accident, but it was no accident. It was a monkey.”
Okay, I have to disclose that I’m pretty biased as a very loyal Stephen King fan, but this looks fantastic. Yes, it’s looking much more like a dark comedy, but having read the short story, I think that direction makes a lot of sense. Many of King’s villains are so absurd that it teeters on the edge between horror and darkly funny, and after seeing Theo James kill it in season two of White Lotus, I think he’s a great choice for the lead.
I predict this might be Osgood Perkins’ best film. His style is a great match for King’s writing, which is known for interesting characters and magical realism that borders on bonkers. I think the comedic tone could also help general audiences warm up to some of the wacky stuff that has alienated people in his previous films. If it ends up being a dumpster fire I’ll eat my words, but I don’t think I’ll have to.
Have you seen all of Perkins’ films? If so, do you agree with my ranking? Chime in the comments below and I’d be glad to tell you you’re wrong (just kidding).