Director Oz Perkins Talks ‘The Monkey,’ Spills Secrets of ‘Longlegs’

Longlegs was not only one of the most successful horror films of 2024, it was also one of the best movies of the year too. The dense, unnerving movie was like a modern take on Silence of the Lambs, complete with dreadful atmosphere, a litany of strong performances, including Maika Monroe, and a frightening Nicolas Cage you won't be able to unseen.

The man behind Longlegs is writer/director Osgood "Oz" Perkins. If the name is at even the least bit familiar, you probably recall his father, actor Anthony Perkins, who played Norman Bates in Psycho. Perkins is readying the release of his new film, The Monkey, on Friday, February 21st. I had the (last-minute) privilege of chatting with the filmmaker about his latest.

From early on in our conversation, I can tell Perkins is a thoughtful person. He's somebody who is arresting in his eloquence and calm, almost slightly awkward, nature. He's the son of two creatives in the aforementioned Anthony and actress Berry Berenson, both of whom died tragically young.

His new film, The Monkey, he says is very much akin to wacky horror-comedies like Gremlins, a dead/dying breed if there ever were one. He calls it "a blast," with a lot of passion and talent on the screen. He recommends taking your children to it (age 12+, he clarifies), and feels they'll have a lot of fun.

Furthermore, Perkins is one of those artists who is perfectly content to let his art breathe. He's happy to talk about it, but not too deeply, as if to ruin the mystery. I tried to get him to spill some secrets about Longlegs, such as the hidden devil imagery in the backgrounds. He obliged, to a point, but also left me with a new prism through which to view the film. That is one of pop-art, a nod to his late mother, who worked with Andy Warhol.

Oz Perkins is a fascinating individual, one with whom I hope to chat again. For more information on The Monkey, which hits theaters this Friday, February 21st, check out the film's IMDb page. Take a listen to my interview with Oz Perkins below!