Glam Rock and Gore

Serial killers, doll possession… and Rock and Roll? One of the year's scariest films has a surprising source of inspiration in a 70’s UK glam rock band.

Maika Monroe in "Longlegs."  Courtesy of Neon via @GQ

The film stars veteran scream queen Maika Monroe as FBI agent Lee Harker, who is hunting down the serial killer “Longlegs” played by Nicholas Cage. The film terrified audiences with its equally beautiful and creepy cinematography, and a rather unhinged performance by Cage. What audiences might not get on the first watch is the musical influence of the glam rock band, T. Rex.

Pioneers of the glam rock movement, T. Rex was formed in London in 1967 by frontman Marc Bolan. Initially experimenting with psychedelic rock, characterized by surrealist sounds and mythological influences, the band gained wider popularity as they transitioned to silk shirts and glitter eye makeup. In the early ‘70s, their music became filled with innuendos and electric guitars, paired with Bolan’s stage showmanship, certifying them as early leaders of the movement. Their new sound and style got them commercial success, and a publicist even coined the term “T. Rexstasy” to describe their fanatical popularity. The film opens with a title card with bright red lyrics from their 1971 song “Bang a Gong (Get It On)”

“Well, you’re slim and you're weak
You’ve got the teeth of a hydra upon you
You’re dirty, sweet, and you're my girl”

The film is rooted in occultism, with an overarching theme of devil worship. There’s plenty of blood and gore, but on the surface, it feels devoid of any musical inspiration, which makes the influence all the more surprising. Satanism and rock music have long been linked, with countless metal and rock bands embracing the so-called dark side, armed with pentagrams and black makeup - but usually just for shows. Historically, T. Rex had no connection to the occult, and while some other bands like Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin might seem like more fitting muses, director Oz Perkins describes the two as a “misfit combo”.

Front man Marc Bolan, between Elton John (left) and Ring Starr (right) with percussionist Mickey Finn on the end photographed at the “Born to Boogie” movie premiere in 1972. Sourced from Cleveland News.

Perkins admitted that he had never listened to T. Rex before creating the film. Though he had always been aware of the band, he started listening to them heavily during the writing process, which he claimed became an integral part of the film’s core. The connection, he says, is something more cosmic than it is tangible. While initially wanting to keep this link a secret, coincidence turned into conviction as more and more threads connecting the band emerged during pre-production. While trying to sell Cage on the character, Perkins told him of his inspiration, and Cage responded by saying he had just shown his son a guitar solo from one of their songs, “Cosmic Dancer”, the day before. The film’s soundtrack, a collaboration between director Perkins and sound editor Eugenio Battaglia, is overtly eerie but contains layers of reversed sounds and subliminal messages, a nod to techniques common among ‘70s rock records. In an interview with IndieWire, Battaglia said that Perkins told him that while this is a horror film, “more than anything, this is a rock’n’roll film”.

Longlegs seeps into the mind of our hesitant protagonist, and the sound reflects this, featuring hypnotic and trance-like elements. Battaglia used a binaural microphone that recorded in 360 degrees, making every sound feel inescapable and overwhelming. With sound coming from every direction and the specific use of widescreen images, the film feels increasingly caged (no pun intended) and more and more menacing by the minute. In the interview, Battaglia suggested that audiences should watch the film with a pair of quality headphones to fully appreciate how the sound affects the characters. As a bonus, when played in reverse, you can hear every sound effect recorded by Battaglia, including him impersonating the killer, and things like the “Our Father” prayer recited backwards.

Besides being sonically inspired, there was visual inspiration as well. Nicholas Cage's frightening makeover can be attributed to glam rock aesthetics. The character’s fictional background as a former glam rock singer is reflected in Cage’s appearance, which features full prosthetics, stark white face makeup, and long hair, making him look nothing like himself. With his high-pitched voice, and Cage’s note that the character was partially inspired by his own mother, Cage also embodies some of the androgyny associated with glam rock. Monroe’s horrified reaction upon seeing the killer for the first time—and Cage in full makeup—was famously genuine, as they were kept apart during filming.

Longlegs masterfully taps into the insidious concept of evil lurking beneath the surface, echoing the persistent cultural belief that rock music secretly harbors satanic connections. Perkins' surprising decision to draw inspiration from T.Rex, a band with seemingly no ties to the occult, emphasizes this theme of hidden darkness. The movie itself is a disturbing puzzle that unravels into a delightfully shocking ending, and this particular connection adds another fascinating layer to Perkins’ creation. From the opening shot, you can tell that the film is extremely well-made, and these intricacies reveal the thought and care Perkins put into it. So go for the striking visuals and Monroe and Cage’s unnerving performances, but stay for the hidden details. After all, the devil's in the details!