Maika Monroe in a still from ‘Longlegs’
| Photo Credit: YouTube/ Neon

In a new promo for the upcoming horror film Longlegs, titled “Heartbeat,” we get a glimpse of the intense first encounter between Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage. The promo focuses on the scene where Monroe’s character, FBI agent Lee Harker, sees Cage’s terrifying portrayal of the serial killer Longlegs for the first time. The film crew captured Monroe’s heart rate during this moment, which spiked to an astonishing 170 bpm.

Monroe described the moment as unforgettable: “When I walked in and saw Nicolas Cage as Longlegs, that was a visceral experience I’ll never forget.” Although the promo tactically avoids revealing Cage’s full appearance, Monroe’s fear seems testament to his transformation.

The plot of Longlegs follows FBI agent Lee Harker as she delves into a complex case entangled with occult elements and a ruthless killer who has a personal connection to her. The stakes escalate as Harker races against time to save another family from becoming victims.

Director Oz Perkins explained the decision to keep Cage’s character under wraps: “It’s driving people towards a freak show at a circus tent. We’ve got the thing behind the curtain, and when there’s enough people gathered ‘round, we’re going to pull the curtain.”

Nicolas Cage, likened his character to a volatile substance: “The monster is a highly, highly dangerous substance. The way it’s moved, unveiled, deployed has to be treated very carefully.”

Longlegs has been compared to classic psychological thrillers like The Silence of the Lambs, and Neon’s viral marketing strategy for the film has been the talk of town.

Longlegs hits theatres on July 12.