NEW YORK (OSV News) – A complex and atmospheric horror tale, set primarily in the 1990s, "Longlegs" (Neon) is far from a mindless slasher flick. However, blood is shed in abundance on screen, especially in the latter half of the movie, thus limiting the appropriate audience for what is otherwise a sophisticated chiller.

Maika Monroe plays emotionally withdrawn FBI agent Lee Harker. In the first of many ambiguities built into the plot, early scenes suggest that Lee may -- or may not -- be clairvoyant. As a result, her boss, Agent Carter (Blair Underwood), assigns her to a case that has so far baffled her colleagues.

A deranged suspect (Nicolas Cage) who calls himself Longlegs has left letters at the crime scenes of a series of family murder-suicides in which fathers have slain their wives and children before taking their own lives. Each killing involved a 9-year-old girl as one of the victims.

The unaccountable aspect of the situation is that, according to the available evidence, Longlegs himself was never physically present in any of the homes where these horrific incidents occurred.

As Lee pursues various clues, her personal and professional lives become entangled in a bizarre way that somehow relates to her mother, Ruth (Alicia Witt). Here a religious element is introduced into the story since Ruth is a believer of some kind -- specifics are wanting -- who constantly urges her daughter to pray.

We've already learned that Longleg's missives are written in a Satanic code. Is there something supernatural going on, viewers are invited to wonder, or can things be explained scientifically?

Writer-director Oz Perkins' script blurs the lines between the natural, the paranormal, the occult and the outright demonic. Ultimately, definite answers are few but the equivocal quality of the proceedings provides moviegoers -- at least those possessing a high tolerance for sanguinary sights -- with a gripping and unsettling experience.

The film contains much gory violence, gruesome visuals, a few profanities, a couple of rough terms and at least one crude expression. The OSV News classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. - - -CAPSULE REVIEW"Longlegs" (Neon)The personal and the professional become entangled in a bizarre way as an emotionally withdrawn FBI agent (Maika Monroe) hunts down a deranged suspect (Nicolas Cage) whose exact role in a series of murder-suicides has so far baffled her colleagues (including boss Blair Underwood). Set in the 1990s, writer-director Oz Perkins' gripping and unsettling horror film blurs the lines between the natural, the paranormal, the occult and the demonic. Ultimately, definite answers are few but blood is shed in abundance, thus limiting the appropriate audience for this sophisticated chiller. Much gory violence, gruesome visuals, a few profanities, a couple of rough terms, at least one crude expression. The OSV News classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.- - -CLASSIFICATION"Longlegs" (Neon) – OSV News classification, L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. Motion Picture Association rating, R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.- - - John Mulderig is media reviewer for OSV News. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @JohnMulderig1.