Longlegshas proven to be one of the biggest surprises of the year so far, and has already been setting records for both independent cinema and the horror genrewhen it comes to its extraordinary box office performance.While anyone who sawOsgood Perkins’ previous filmsGreta & HanselorThe Blackcoat’s Daughteris aware that he can create some truly terrifying imagery,Longlegsshocked many viewers with its disturbing ending and unusually haunting performance fromNicolas Cage.It’s the rare film that doesn’t rely on jump scares or easy solutions to truly give audiences nightmares.
Longlegsdeals with subjects like Satanism, childhood trauma, serial killers, and 1980s moral panic, all of which have been documented extensively insome of the best drama shows of the past several decades.Here are the ten best shows to watch if you likedLonglegs.
10‘Mindhunter’ (2017-2019)
Created by Joe Penhall
WhileLonglegsis deeply inspired by the style ofJonathan Demme’s horror classicThe Silence of the Lambs,Mindhunteris based on the true story that inspired the character of Will Graham in theHannibalfranchise. David Fincher’s historical investigative series followed the FBI Agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) as they investigate a series of serial killers, including Charles Manson, BTK, and the Son of Sam. These interviews help them map out elements of criminal psychology, allowing them to coin the phrase “serial killer” that would be relentlessly used by films likeLonglegsin the subsequent decades.
Mindhunterunderstands that pure horror is a villain that cannot be reasoned with or dissuaded from acts of evil,and created some of the scariest moments on television in recent memory.Longlegsmay have provided some solace forthose disappointed byMindhunter’s cancellation.
Mindhunter
Watch on Netflix
9‘Hannibal’ (2013-2015)
Developed by Bryan Fuller
There are many comparisons to be drawn betweenLonglegsandThe Silence of the Lambs, as they are both investigative thrillers that examine the perils that detectives face when they get too entrenched in disturbing cases. However,Hannibalmay be thesingle greatest adaptation of Thomas Harris’ source material, as it examines the unique relationship between Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and Dr. Hannibal Lector (Mads Mikkelsen).
Hannibalhas the same arthouse sensibilities asLonglegs, as it impressively manages to incorporate some surrealist imagery and horrific qualities within a network procedural series.Hannibalmay have been canceled before it got the opportunity to dive deep into an adaptation ofThe Silence of the Lambs, but the haunting portrayal of how a monster like Hannibal could be hiding in plain sight proved to be a worthy new addition to the canon of one of the horror genre’s most memorable villains.
8‘True Detective’ (2014-2024)
Created by Nic Pizzolatto (Seasons 1-3) & Issa Lopez (Seasons 4 & 5)
True Detectiveset the standard for what an investigative thriller could look like on television,as it epitomized the “prestige TV” format before it became popularized in the subsequent decade.True Detectivestands out compared to other crime shows because its cinematography, editing, non-linear narrative constraints, and appearances by major movie stars likeMatthew McConaugheyandWoody Harrelsonmake it feel more cinematic than a majority of the films released every year.
True Detectivehasleaned more into the horror genre in its recent seasons, with this year’sTrue Detective: Night Countrycontaining the same type of spiritual and Satanic overtones that madeLonglegsso terrifying for audiences. The insertion of bizarre and upsetting imagery into a story that feels otherwise fairly realistic has allowed bothTrue DetectiveandLonglegsto trek into territory that can give even the most ardent horror fan nightmares.
True Detective
7‘Eric’ (2024)
Created by Abi Morgan
Ericis a unique Netflix show that, likeLonglegs, can’t be defined by just one genre.Ericis simultaneously a haunting drama about childhood abuse, a condmentation of the racists practices of the New York Police Department, a bizarre horror tale with graphic imagery, and the realization of the darkest use of puppets sinceThe Dark Crystalmade its auspicious debut in the 1980s.
Ericis unlike anything else on television,but those that enjoyed the risky storytelling inLonglegsmay appreciate another novel work of strange horror fiction that refuses to apologize for how unabashedly original it is.Longlegsmay have providedMaika Monroewith the opportunity to play a protagonist unlike anything else in her career, butEricletBenedict Cumberbatchflex his range by playing the single darkest and most imminently unlikeable character he’s ever appeared as.
6‘Twin Peaks’ (1990-2017)
Created by Mark Frost and David Lynch
Twin Peaksis one of the best television shows ever made, andchanged the way audiences related to serialized storytelling.WhileDavid Lynchhad proven himself as a masterful horror storyteller with films likeBlue VelvetandEraserhead,Twin Peakssubverted the typical investigative procedural by examining the lingering effects of grief upon a closely-knit community that contains many dark secrets.
Twin Peaksuses the same suburban gothic aesthetic thatLonglegsused to great effect, and contains many of the same ambiguous qualities. The joy of watching bothTwin PeaksandLonglegsis that neither can easily be explained after just one viewing; they’re the types of stories that benefit from discussion about the hidden symbolism and secret allusions to a larger mythology that is never explicitly spelled out for the viewer. Unsurprisingly, both have earned a strong cult fandom.
Twin Peaks
5‘Sharp Objects’ (2018)
Created by Marti Noxon
AlthoughLonglegsis ostensibly a serial killer film that adheres to the inherent conventions of the subgenre, it’s also a startling examination about the lies that parents tell their children, and how they can lead to a state of arrested development.Sharp Objectsis a brilliant HBO miniseries that tells an absorbing horror mystery centered around traumatic childhoods, revealing itself to be an intimate examination of how children cope with their parents’ decisions as they grow up and move on.
BothLonglegsandSharp Objectsfeature interesting relationships between mothers and daughters, providing a needed feminist perspective on a genre that is often dominated by men.Between its gothic undertonesand the amazing performances byAmy AdamsandPatricia Clarkson,Sharp Objectsis a truly riveting view for anyone that counts themselves as a fan of Perkins’ unique approach to horror inLonglegs.
Sharp Objects
Watch on Max
4‘Midnight Mass’ (2021)
Created by Mike Flanagan
Midnight Massexamines the Satanic themes and horror that is only hinted at inLonglegs, and may stand as the greatest single project thatthe horror maestroMike Flanaganhas created thus far.LikeLonglegs, Midnight Massis able to initially present viewers with a story that seems familiar before terrifying them with a haunting presence of unspeakable evil.
Midnight MassandLonglegsboth examine how charismatic villains can take hold of vulnerable communitiesthat are looking for a way to get past a period of isolation. Cage’s work inLonglegsis certainly some of the best that he has done within the past few years, butHamish Linklater’s terrifying performance inMidnight Massshould ensure that he becomes one of the legends of the horror genre within the next several decades. Rarely has a screen villain been so indescribably malicious.
Midnight Mass
3‘Angel’ (1999-2004)
Created by Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt
Angelintertwined the noir and horror genres long beforeLonglegs, and proved to be one of the rare television spinoff shows that managed to surpass the legacy of its predecessor. WhileDavid Boreanaz’s titular anti-hero had made his debut onBuffy the Vampire Slayer, the spinoff series transported him to Los Angeles, where he worked on investigative paranormal activity relating to the supernatural law firm Wolfram & Hart.
Angelexamined the cyclical nature of eviland its ability to change forms, showing how those that considered themselves to be heroes were ultimately up against insurmountable odds. LikeLonglegs,Angelended on a high note that may have divided its core fanbase; its series finale “Not Fade Away” concluded on an ambiguous, and quite upsetting, note that continues to spark debate in the two decades since its initial debut on the WB network.
2‘Ripley’ (2024)
Created by Steven Zaillian
Ripleydelved into criminal psychology similarly toLonglegs, as both showed how those with the most sinister motivations can be hiding in plain sight. While it’s hardly the first adaptation ofPatricia Highsmith’s thriller novelThe Talented Mr. Ripley,Steve Zaillian’sincredible Netflix series took its timeto flesh out all the characters in intimate detail.
LikeLonglegs,Ripleysucceeded because it pays tribute to the noir genre, all whilst following an untraditional protagonist. Neither puts too much emphasis on jump scares; in fact, the creeping examination of Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott) and his fascination with high society in France is far more terrifying than any overt moments of violence would have been.Ripleyis just as gorgeous, thought-provoking, and remarkably well acted as any of the most successful horror films released in theaters in recent memory.
1‘Killing Eve’ (2018-2022)
Created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Killing Evebroke new ground in the crime thriller genre because it perfected the “cat and mouse” dynamicbetween a detective and investigator. AlthoughLonglegstruly hit its peak whenever Monroe and Cage were on-screen together, the chemistry betweenSandra OhandJodie ComeronKilling Evemade for one of the most complex dynamics in television history.
LikeLonglegs,Killing Evewas completely unpredictable, andoften changed the direction of its narrativeat surprising injunctions in the story. While the controversial finale of the fourth and final season may have split the fanbase down the middle,Killing Evecontained the same shocking violence, deep examination of desire, and utter cynicism about the state of the world that madeLonglegsfeel like such an outlier when compared to the other horror films released in theaters over the course of the last decade.
