The Legally Blonde‘s Dorky David actor Osgood Perkins, is now a celebrated filmmaker and has one of the most wickedly brilliant minds in Hollywood. And if movies like The Monkey and Longlegs are any indication, his imagination knows no bounds, and that is exactly what the industry needs right now. Though he’s been in the industry for years, his name exploded overnight following the success of Longlegs, starring Nicolas Cage.
But rather than taking the mainstream route or diving into superhero films, Perkins is now fully committed to bringing his eerie, unconventional visions to life. And honestly, that’s exactly why fans can’t wait to see what he does next. Here’s what he had to say about his approach and what’s coming up in the years ahead!
Osgood Perkins on how Longlegs‘ surprise success turned his world upside down!
Nicolas Cage‘s horror hit Longlegs took the world by storm last year! Grossing $126 million at the box office and earning an impressive 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film became a massive success.
With a budget of under $10 million, it’s exactly the kind of hidden gem audiences love to stumble upon, and now that they have, they can’t stop talking about it.
In fact, Longlegs even ranked as the third most popular streaming movie for the week of 13–19th of February. Safe to say, the film’s success has changed a thing or two for the director Osgood Perkins. In a recent chat with Variety, he opened up about how it transformed his career! He said,
The success of ‘Longlegs’ was a shock. It’s an offbeat movie and the demographic is for weird people—It’s changed everything and nothing, It’s given me confidence, but it’s not like I’m going to run off and make a video game movie or an X-Men movie. I don’t think anybody wants that. You can probably just expect more of the same from me, but just made better.
With Longlegs‘ success and The Monkey already generating major buzz, Osgood Perkins is on the rise. The doors are wide open for the filmmaker, and he is making sure he perfects his craft. He further explained,
I’m just going to get better. I’m going to learn how to do it more and get in better step with the other artists I collaborate with, who are great at their jobs. I’m learning every day and practice makes perfect.
And fans are all in for it! Perkins’ films have a unique edge that sets them apart. In an industry overflowing with recycled formulas, his work feels like a breath of fresh air, especially for horror lovers who are desperate for something new. Simple yet brutal, his stories have set expectations sky-high, and audiences can’t wait to see what he does next.
Osgood Perkins on the origins of his twisted vision and his unique relationship with death…
The Monkey is a seriously twisted film yet with a simple premise, Theo James plays the twins whose lives are cursed by a wind-up toy monkey that kills someone every time its key is turned.
But for director Osgood Perkins, death isn’t just a plot device, it’s something deeply personal. His father, Psycho star Anthony Perkins, passed away from an AIDS-related illness and his mother, actor Berry Berenson, tragically lost her life in the 9/11 attacks.
Over time, his perspective on death has shifted, and rather than dwelling in darkness, he now explores its nuances with a strangely lighthearted touch, bringing that unique vision to his films. Speaking on The Monkey, he explained in the same Variety chat,
I’m certainly writing from an autobiographical place, given that I sustained some pretty insane kind of deaths in my life, I think that if I had written this movie when I was 29, it would have been pretty sad. But now that I’m 51, it’s a pretty funny movie. Time changes everything, it breaks it all down like a silt in a riverbed. If I was going to give a movie about death to an audience, I wasn’t going to hand them a bummer – I was going to hand a delight, an opportunity to shake it off and have a smile.
Now that his films are finally getting the recognition and love they deserve, Osgood Perkins is relieved to see just how many “weird “minds are out there waiting for more such stories. Thus, it has only fueled his passion even more, pushing him to keep making movies that stay true to his unique vision.
The Monkey is now playing in theaters!
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