Osgood Perkins Drew Inspiration From This Infamous Murder Case for ‘Longlegs’

Osgood Perkins might be a new name to some horror fans, thanks to his chilling 2024 film ‘Longlegs’, but his contributions to the genre extend far beyond Nicolas Cage in terrifying makeup. Known for his psychological horror work, Perkins has directed several unsettling films, including ‘The Blackcoat’s Daughter’ and ‘Gretel & Hansel’, which reimagines a classic fairytale with a dark twist. Horror seems to run in his blood, as he is the son of Anthony Perkins, the actor who famously portrayed Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’.

Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’ drew inspiration from the real-life horrors of Ed Gein, raising the question: where do horror creators find their inspiration, and how often does it come from true events? In the case of ‘Longlegs’, Perkins revealed that the film was inspired by the infamous JonBenét Ramsey murder case, a tragic and still-unsolved crime involving the death of a six-year-old girl in 1996. 

Image Courtesy: IMDb

Perkins shared that he was particularly struck by a detail from the case: the Ramsey parents had given JonBenét a life-size doll of herself, which was found in the basement, eerily mirroring the circumstances of her own death.

‘Longlegs’ incorporates this disturbing idea, with life-sized dolls playing a central role in the film’s horror. Victims receive these dolls before their deaths, allowing the murderer—played by Nicolas Cage—to enter their homes without being physically present. Cage’s character is grotesque, with features distorted by botched plastic surgery, making him both terrifying and unrecognizable. The eerie parallels between the film and the Ramsey case, especially the use of dolls and the basement setting, add a layer of unsettling realism to the horror.

Image Courtesy: NPR

While Perkins crafted a horror film that is sure to leave a lasting impact, it’s important to note that he drew inspiration from a true crime case involving the death of a child. Though Perkins mentions the case was solved by a “vagrant,” it remains officially unsolved, making the connection between ‘Longlegs’ and the Ramsey case even more disturbing and powerfully executed.

–Farheen Ali