Nicolas Cage’s Inspiration for ‘Longlegs’ is Almost as Bizarre as the Character

‘Longlegs’ has become a major success, raking in $100 million worldwide and marking a record for distributor Neon. The film, which stars Maika Monroe as a young FBI agent chasing the enigmatic and deranged serial killer Longlegs, portrayed by Nicolas Cage, has captivated audiences with its disturbing and surreal portrayal. Cage's performance, marked by his high-pitched voice, exaggerated facial expressions, and heavy makeup, is as unsettling as it is memorable. Following the film’s release, fans have been curious about the inspiration behind Cage's unique portrayal of Longlegs. 

The answer came to light during the film’s Hollywood premiere. In an interview with Extra, which was later featured in Forbes, Cage revealed that his portrayal was influenced by his late mother, Joy Vogelsang. 

Image Courtesy: Collider

Cage shared that while his mother was not inherently sinister, her voice and mannerisms profoundly impacted him. He noted, “When I was reading this character, it became about my mom. I heard her voice—she wasn’t Satanic—but she went through a lot. I thought, ‘You know, I could put that into this character.’” Cage credited his mother for any success he achieved in the role.

For the character's visual design, Cage drew inspiration from the 1965 film ‘Juliet of the Spirits,’ directed by Federico Fellini. He was particularly influenced by a character in the film who had an androgynous, glam-rock appearance, which Cage incorporated into Longlegs to ensure the character was distinct and liberated from his own appearance.

Image Courtesy: IMDb

Interestingly, director Oz Perkins, the son of famed actor Anthony Perkins, also infused personal elements into the film. Perkins based the secondary villain, Ruth Harker, on his own mother, drawing from her experiences of concealing difficult truths. Perkins reflected on his mother’s role in protecting him from his father’s private life, saying, “No one does it right. And my mom was really great… It’s what it is, and you try to make something out of it.”

–Farheen Ali