{"id":54720,"date":"2024-07-12T11:00:07","date_gmt":"2024-07-12T09:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=2070856"},"modified":"2024-07-12T13:15:01","modified_gmt":"2024-07-12T11:15:01","slug":"is-longlegs-based-on-a-true-story","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/is-longlegs-based-on-a-true-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Longlegs based on a true story?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The terrifying new horror film is now showing in UK cinemas. <\/p>

By Patrick Cremona\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 12 July 2024 at 09:00 AM<\/p>

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New horror film Longlegs<\/a> has generated a lot of buzz ahead if its release \u2013 and now it\u2019s finally arrived to terrify viewers in UK cinemas.<\/p>\n

The latest from writer\/director Osgood Perkins \u2013 who is the son of Psycho star Anthony Perkins \u2013 the film is a serial killer thriller in the mould of films like The Silence of the Lambs and Zodiac, following a young FBI agent (Maika Monroe) who gets drawn into a shocking case that grows more chilling by the minute.<\/p>\n

The title refers to the name of the serial killer played by Nicolas Cage in one of his most unhinged performances yet, an instant classic horror character who will likely haunt many viewers\u2019 nightmares.<\/p>\n

But is he based on a real life killer? And does the film have any basis in a true story? Read on for everything you need to know.<\/p>

Is Longlegs based on a true story?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Nicolas\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Nicolas Cage as Longlegs in Longlegs.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

No \u2013 Longlegs is an entirely fictional story<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Of course, given the supernatural elements to the plot, it won\u2019t come as too much of a surprise that some aspects of the film are not based in real life.<\/p>\n

But none of the more grounded aspects of the film are based on a true story either, and nor did writer\/directed Osgood Perkins take any inspiration from any real-life serial killers when creating the titular antagonist. Indeed, during a recent appearance on the Inside Total Film podcast<\/a>, Perkins revealed that he has something of an aversion to true crime.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t look at real things. I don\u2019t like them. They don\u2019t sit well with me. I don\u2019t want to know,\u201d he explained. \u201cAll this stuff couldn\u2019t be more fictionalised and totally made up.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cThat\u2019s part of the fun of it [for] me. It\u2019s like, \u2018Oh, that\u2019s how FBI people probably talk. Oh, that\u2019s how they would probably come into a room. I don\u2019t know, maybe it\u2019s something like this<\/em>\u2018. It\u2019s part of what keeps it light for me, honestly. I\u2019m not interested in what these sickos do. To me, this is a different kind of poem, you know, and it\u2019s totally just make believe.\u201d<\/p>\n

So there you have it \u2013 the film is not even slightly based on a true story. And that knowledge will certainly make getting to sleep a little easier after seeing the film\u2026<\/p>\n