As a movie buff with a deep appreciation for the art of sound design, I was utterly captivated by the unique and chilling audio experience that Eugenio Battaglia created for “Longlegs.” His innovative approach to subliminal messaging and hypnotic whispers added an eerie layer to this already suspenseful film.
SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for “Longlegs,” now playing in theaters.
During their initial conversation about the film’s audio design, director Osgood Perkins instructed Eugenio Battaglia, the sound designer and editor known as “Longlegs,” to create a soundtrack that had a “rock ‘n’ roll” vibe.
During the 1970s rock ‘n’ roll ambiance he aimed for and considering the film’s occult theme, I proposed an intriguing concept to Battaglia from EbMaster. I suggested incorporating subtle, subconscious messages into the soundtrack. Osswald desired this element to evoke a sense of mind manipulation, as it mirrors the main character’s experience.
As a movie enthusiast, I’d seize the opportunity to experiment with unique sound effects. When Battaglia mentioned knowing precisely what he required, my heart raced with excitement. In an instant, I reached out and snatched up a 360 ambisonic microphone – this unconventional microphone is often employed in ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) recordings. With a towel in hand, I began to softly rub it over the microphone and whispered into it, creating an intriguing blend of hypnotic and unsettling sounds.
During his recording process, Battaglia shares, he employed various whispering techniques. He used subtle methods, such as including subliminal messages. At times, he added humorous comments like “Leave a great review on Rotten Tomatoes!” or pretended to be Longlegs himself and then recorded it in reverse. By reversing the entire movie, one might uncover these hidden jokes.
FBI agent Lee Harker, portrayed by Maika Monroe, pursues the elusive killer, referred to as “Longlegs” (Nicolas Cage), who manages to exterminate entire families without a single piece of evidence linking him to the crime scenes. As Lee delves deeper into the investigation, she uncovers a chilling discovery: Longlegs paid a visit to her home around her birthday – a ritual he followed with each victim.
Lee forms a strong bond with the film’s antagonist throughout the movie, exhibiting strange behaviors such as having premonitions involving red snakes. Battaglia attempted to add authenticity to these vision sequences by shaking metal balls, intending for the noise to mimic that of a projector.
Battaglia explained that he gave the sound a distinct personality in the film by adjusting the volume levels, making it seem as if the viewers were experiencing the sounds from Harker’s perspective.
In my creative process, I aimed to maintain subtle background noises while amplifying the more distinct sounds. This way, you could pick up on every footstep near her or the music coming from the neighbors’ place. The tranquil ambiance created a feeling of suspense, making you think, “Something’s about to happen.” We’d let that tension build for a while, allowing people to let their guard down, only to surprise them with an unexpected, high-pitched sound. It’s the perfect blend of anticipation and surprise!
In the movie, Longlegs mentions repeatedly that he works for “the man in charge,” a point Battaglia emphasized during his recording sessions.
“Battaglia explained that he captured the heartbeat sound in the film by recording himself climbing stairs. He then added heavy beats, reversed the recording, and experimented with various techniques. His goal was to create a gritty, raw 70s-inspired soundtrack filled with whispers and small experimental elements.”
Regarding the initial scene in the movie where Longlegs meets Lee as a child, Battaglia formerly described it as completely silent before showing a glimpse of the murderer’s face. However, Perkins suggested introducing brief orchestral interludes according to Battaglia, with the intention of integrating sounds earlier on to surprise and confuse the audience.
At first, the setting is tranquil as Battaglia describes, featuring mainly the rhythmic crunching of footsteps and rustling of a jacket. However, when Longlegs utters his distinctive “cuckoo” call, a sudden sense of unease takes over.
“Battaglia describes the score as increasingly unsettling with bizarre visuals. The technique was minimal, mostly involving hushed whispers which aligns with the subtle nature of such content. The belief that one has heard something leaves one in a susceptible state of hypnosis.”
As Longlegs departs from a film store with a young girl in distress, he lets out a bloodcurdling scream that is unsettlingly animalistic. Likewise, an eerie and otherworldly sound echoes through a flashback, as the serial killer serenades Ruth (portrayed by Alicia Witt) upon her discovery of him in her garden.
An electric guitar, Battaglia says, helped him achieve that unnatural shriek.
In my perspective, I found it intriguing if he could have this otherworldly assistant to reach new vocal heights. So, I merely inserted a guitar and fine-tuned its pitches to match Nicolas Cage’s voice perfectly. Surprisingly simple, yet the end result wasn’t that of a guitar, but rather, it seemed like him succumbing entirely to possession.
In her investigation of the serial killer, Harker uncovers a shocking truth: her own mother, Ruth, had been his accomplice all along. Dressed as a nun, she would present possessed dolls, crafted by Longlegs, to unsuspecting families under the guise of “gifts from the church.” Once given these dolls, which contained orbs filled with Satanic suggestions from Longlegs, the families would fall into a trance and unwittingly commit murder against each other.
At a crucial point, Lee comes to the startling realization that Longlegs wasn’t acting alone – they had an accomplice. Longlegs instructed Lee to visit their mother, Ruth, to uncover the hidden truth. Upon arriving at Ruth’s house, Lee learns the shocking revelation: Ruth had been Longlegs’ secret collaborator all along.
As Harker treads quietly through the house, preparing for a showdown with her mother, the film subtly amplified the footsteps and creaks to heighten the tension.
“Battaglia explained how he added my heartbeats pounding and hushed whispers to heighten the tension, suggesting she was near discovering the source. I took cues from ‘Lord of the Rings,’ where the ominous whispers during the Eye of Sauron’s calls created a magical, spellbinding atmosphere.”
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2024-07-18 21:47