Longlegs content warnings: So, how scary is Longlegs really?

Hailed as not just the scariest of the year, but of the decade, Longlegs has had high expectations from the start of its terrifying marketing campaign. Does it live up to the hype? With a 91% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes and a Certified Fresh seal, the film is certainly set for success and seems to be on track toward a great opening weekend at the box office.

But is it really as scary as everyone is saying? Well, scares are subjective. We can't make a blanket statement. I saw the movie, and while I'm not sure I'd say it's the scariest of the decade, it did make for a profoundly uncomfortable viewing experience (in the best way).

If you're nervous about seeing Longlegs and want more information about what to expect regarding content warnings, the following article will help you decide whether this is a suitable film for you to watch.

Jump scare count: I counted about three, and they all spooked me.

Mature themes

Putting aside tangible aspects like strong language and gore, Longlegs is a viscerally unsettling film with dread baked into every single frame. It revels in its weirdness, helped along by Nicolas Cage's deeply unsettling performance. Longlegs has an aura of discomfort from the start and deals with very heavy and mature themes, making it unsuitable for young viewers or anyone who gets skittish and spooked easily.

That said, there isn't any sexuality or nudity present in the movie, so you don't have to worry about awkwardly watching a graphic sex scene with your parent or teen sitting beside you. There's also not any drugs or alcohol present in the film.

Satanism is integral to the storyline and a big part of the overall plot. The film is rife with satanic references and mentions/allusions to Hell. One character commits suicide, though it happens off-screen.

Longlegs doesn't feature many curse words, but the killer's decoded messages are disturbing enough without them. He writes things like "I'll bleed her dry" and "I'll cut her hanging milk tits off." It's very uncomfortable.

Violence and gore

Given that this is a horror movie and a serial killer thriller at that, there is an expected amount of violence and gore, used sparingly to great effect. Realistic-looking crime scene photographs are shown often and another scene shows the aftermath of a murder spree, including a close-up of a rotting, maggot-infested corpse.

The opening scene features a man getting shot in the head point-blank; a man murders his wife with an ax; a woman shoots another in the head with a shotgun; and a different character shoots two other characters—one in the chest and the other in the head. In most instances, viewers are only shown the aftermath or blood splatter, but the scenes are chilling nonetheless.

The goriest scene involves a character brutally slamming their head into a table repeatedly, to the point the skin splits revealing the skull beneath.

Longlegs is now playing in theaters nationwide. To stay up to date on thrillers, sci-fi, and horror, bookmark 1428 Elm and follow our Facebook page and Twitter account!