Longlegs director Oz Perkins has choice words for any transphobes

Since hitting theaters earlier this summer, Longlegs has been on everyone’s lips. The devilish horror film starring Nicolas Cage and Maika Monroe earned the meme treatment for its over-the-top elements, including the titular villain’s botched plastic surgery and odd tendency to break out in song.

But some queer folks weren’t sure what to make of the character, wondering if his obsession with beauty and surgery was a dig at LGBTQ+ folks (though queerness never comes up explicitly in the movie). Luckily, Longlegs’ writer and director Oz Perkins has stepped in to clear the air.

In an AMA (or Ask Me Anything) on Reddit, Perkins fielded questions from fans on everything from the movie’s stars to his taste in music. That’s where one fan raised the topic of transphobia to Perkins.

“First of all, I LOVED Longlegs,” they wrote. “I love all the films you’ve made, genuinely. That being said I do have a question.”

Entertainment with an edge

Whether you’re into indie comics, groundbreaking music, or queer cinema, we’re here to keep you in the loop twice a week.

Related

I Saw the TV Glow is coming to streaming, and trans folks are rejoicing

This news rules

The best gay movies, according to the internet

A controversial post scratched the surface of gay movie history, and the rest of the internet was happy to fill in the blanks.

“My friend thinks Longlegs is anti-trans. She read an interview with you where she thinks you’re saying that Longlegs is a monster because he’s trans and that his femininity is disgusting,” they continued. “I read the same article and didn’t get that at all, nor did I get anything trans-related in the film at all. […] Could you settle the score for us?”

In response, Perkins got straight to the point: “Anyone who is anti-trans is a f*cking piece of sh*t idiot and it would be great to not be confused with a f*cking piece of sh*t idiot,” he wrote.

Perkins’ reply quickly made the rounds on the internet, with people applauding his bluntness on the topic. Why beat around the bush?

Oz Perkins, writer and director of Longlegs, is doing an AMA on Reddit and he had an incredibly amazing reply that I just wanted to share here pic.twitter.com/s326kPPVR6

— Dinah / Nitara + Kombat Kids Defense Attorney 🩸🦇 (@MsDinahQuinn) August 14, 2024

he’s so fucking real for this

— pissface (@pissfacereal) August 15, 2024

📢 Anyone who is anti-trans is a fucking piece of shit idiot https://t.co/G7RC5QQHAI

— The Auntie Christ saw DRAG TALK 8/3 (@6auntie6christ6) August 15, 2024

updating my Longlegs (2024) letterboxd rating by a full star https://t.co/Nlv9ZVrkKd

— TheAllergyGirl 💜🌻🏳️‍⚧️ (@thearain60) August 15, 2024

Preach it, Mr. Perkins! pic.twitter.com/upQ8P3CiPF

— Mason J. Campbell (@voiceofspice) August 15, 2024

This is how every filmmaker should respond to transphobia btw https://t.co/DtcCu2TDDJ

— Riley (@nolowerart) August 15, 2024

Perkins’ next movie The Monkey hits theaters on February 21, 2025 (and features a bloody, bespectacled Theo James). Check out the teaser trailer below.