In these modern times, the drive-in kind of serves as a tribute to the old days of cinema; a nice secluded locale where individuals can enjoy the film or just the experience in relative isolation. It is an experience that is felt less and less nowadays, given IMAX screens, Dolby theaters, and the wealth of things that are provided at normal multiplexes. 

Since the very beginning, drive-ins have always been a great place to see the new horror or exploitation films, generally because standard multiplex theaters would refuse to show them. Studios paid drive-ins good money to show their films and typically they could turn out a decent profit despite their low budgets. Films like Night of the Living Dead (1968), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), I Spit on Your Grave (1978), and The Evil Dead (1981), amongst others, found success at drive-ins throughout the 70s and 80s. 

The popularity of drive-ins began to fade as the allure of seeing new violent films became more mainstream and those films were released into regular theaters. 

Drive-ins in Indiana open annually around March, but the best time to go is now. As the autumnal season begins, there is no better time to enjoy what the drive-in has to offer. 

Last week, the Tibbs Drive-in did a double feature of two new horror films, M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap and Osgood Perkins’ Longlegs. Both films feature great premises for an intense night out at the movies, and deliver fine entertainment for what they are worth. 

Longlegs is perhaps the most polarizing and divisive horror film to be released this year so far, due in part to the brilliant marketing campaign. Earlier in the year, I sat through multiple trailers that seemed to be random shots of empty rooms, Satanic symbols, detective work, demonic noises, and finally the title. Speculation on the internet grew, and soon the first reviews began to attach a high level of prestige for the film, deeming it “the best horror film of the year” and “the scariest film since The Silence of the Lambs”. 

It was distributed by Neon Rated in July, and was a surprise hit, grossing nearly 100 million worldwide and becoming the studio’s highest grossing film to date. In short, it rounded all of the bases. 

The film tells the story of FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe, It Follows, God is a Bullet) who is assigned to a case following a serial killer who has accumulated bodies over a period of multiple decades. She sets out to take down the killer, revealing that these horrific crimes are more than just one man’s sadistic dreams brought to life. 

Immediately, the most recognizable attribute is the cinematography and shot composition. Most of the time, characters are shot in the dead center of the frame, leaving a ton of empty space on either side of them. It makes the film very unsettling because the viewer is constantly looking to see if there’s anything hidden in the shot, like a figure in the background. 

The sound design is also a highlight, as key points in the film are punctuated by these demonic noises that break up the monotony of the everyday sounds. There is music, but it’s not a loud, pulsating sound that keeps the film going. It’s a very quiet film until these loud noises jolt you from the trance that the cinematography puts you in. 

At this point, it’s probably not a spoiler that Nicolas Cage plays the titular character “Longlegs” when he is eventually unmasked (that’s all I’ll say) and once he appears he delivers a very unsettling performance as this deeply disturbed, haunted man. Depending on the viewer, its effectiveness can vary, but it’s undeniable that he gave it his all. 

Maika Monroe in the lead role does a very good job. Her character isn’t very loud, sticking with the quiet atmosphere of the film. Her performance begins to make more sense as the film unfolds; the subtleties and way she acts has its reasoning before the final frames. 

Longlegs is a film that is best left the less that is revealed. Delving further into plot development would naturally touch the realm of spoilers, and I’m not seeking to ruin the film for anyone. That said, the biggest issue with the film is less of a problem and more of a ‘jump-the-shark’ moment that may feel out of line with the obvious references to films like Silence of the Lambs. Its finale feels like a much darker X-Files episode. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it is very disturbing in its own right, but might turn away some viewers. 

Is Longlegs the scariest film of the year? That completely depends on the viewer. It depends on how versed you are in horror films, your knowledge of serial killers and the occult, and if these kinds of films scare you. Either way, it is a very solid and nerve-wracking film that will stand amongst the strongest horror pictures of 2024. 

There is no experience quite like enjoying a horror film on a drive-in screen. This is really the best time to head out there and see something, if not a horror film. And we’re just now getting into the season, so there are likely to be more screams abound as the Halloween season arrives. 

Local drive-ins: 

• Tibbs Drive-in, Indianapolis 
• The Skyline Drive-in, Shelbyville 
• Centerbrook Drive-in, Martinsville 
• Cinema 67 Drive-in, Spencer 
• Wafford Theater Outdoor Movies, Noblesville 

These are just a few of the twenty locations in the state. My recommendations are Tibbs and the Skyline, but the drive-in experience is universal no matter where you go. 

In the words of Joe Bob Briggs, “The drive-in will never die.”