Osgood Perkins’ New Horror Movie Already Looks 10x Scarier Than Longlegs

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Horror director Osgood Perkins is quickly becoming a unique voice in the genre. After gaining recognition with films like The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2015) and I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016), he’s developed a signature style focused on creating a deeply unsettling atmosphere, raw emotional impact, and blending psychological tension with classic horror elements. His latest films, Longlegs and The Monkey, have been critically acclaimed and solidified his reputation as a leading horror filmmaker. Longlegs was especially successful, earning $128 million worldwide on a $10 million budget, proving that Perkins’s style of horror can also appeal to a broad audience.

Perkins is poised for even greater success with their new film, releasing in theaters on November 14th. The movie, a collaboration with Neon, stars Tatiana Maslany as Liz and Rossif Sutherland as Malcolm. The story centers around a couple’s anniversary weekend at a remote cabin, where Malcolm leaves Liz alone to face a terrifying presence that reveals the cabin’s dark history. While the plot seems straightforward, it hints at a much deeper and more impactful horror experience. Following two recent critically acclaimed horror films, this new project, Keeper, reflects Perkins’ growing reputation for creating films that are not only frightening but also emotionally resonant.

What We Know About Keeper So Far

Initial details about the upcoming film, Keeper, indicate a story that feels both personal and grand in scope. Though set during a private weekend trip, the film explores deep secrets, unsettling forces, and the effects of loneliness. Written by Nick Lepard and a collaboration between Canadian and American production companies Oddfellows and Neon, Keeper features cinematography by Jeremy Cox and a score by Edo Van Breemen. Filming concluded in Vancouver in July 2024, with a planned theatrical release on November 14th.

Neon, a well-respected independent distributor, quickly secured the rights to the film, continuing a successful working relationship with the filmmaker after previous collaborations like Longlegs and The Monkey. This shows how much Neon believes in the project. The story initially seems like a typical anniversary getaway: Liz and Malcolm travel to a cabin, but Malcolm unexpectedly has to return to the city, leaving Liz alone. She then encounters a sinister force that unveils the cabin’s hidden history. The film builds its horror around feelings of isolation and broken relationships, set within the confines of the secluded cabin. The trailer and promotional materials highlight both the chilling absence of Malcolm and the growing sense of dread, hinting at a hidden family history and an ancient evil lurking beneath a normal surface.

The anticipation for Keeper is high because it follows two successful films by director Damian Perkins. He first gained critical and commercial attention with Longlegs, and then used the popularity of Stephen King and familiar horror tropes in The Monkey to create a scary and self-aware film. Keeper seems to combine the strengths of both, suggesting it’s more than just another typical horror movie—it aims to be a truly terrifying experience. Early reviews describe it as ‘surrealist’ and note its small cast, implying a focus on atmosphere and psychological horror rather than jump scares. The film appears to explore deeper themes like family history, emotional wounds, and lingering memories, marking a new direction for Perkins.

The film boasts a skilled director, a reliable distribution company, and talented actors known within the horror genre, all built around a unique and promising story. It’s already generating buzz, with early praise coming from horror icons like Guillermo del Toro, James Wan, and Damien Leone of Terrifier. While it’s yet to be seen if it will outdo Longlegs, the circumstances are encouraging. Director Oz Perkins working with Neon for his third major horror film demonstrates a strong partnership and a desire to push boundaries, and the horror community is eagerly anticipating its release.

Longlegs and The Monkey Cemented Osgood Perkins As a Legendary Horror Auteur

Osgood Perkins’ film Longlegs, released last summer by Neon, proved to be a breakthrough for the director. Featuring Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Blair Underwood, and Alicia Witt, the film—set and filmed across Oregon—uniquely combines satanic horror with the structure of a detective thriller. Longlegs received strong critical acclaim, earning an 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and becoming Neon’s highest-grossing domestic film with a worldwide revenue of around $128 million, despite its small budget. Reviewers particularly highlighted Perkins’s skillful direction, the film’s distinctive visual style, and its genuinely frightening atmosphere, signaling that he was capable of creating both critically successful and commercially viable horror films.

Ozi Perkins’s film Longlegs really defined his style, focusing on broken families, striking visuals, and horror that comes from the past rather than just jump scares. While full of horror movie references, it also felt deeply personal. Its success created a lot of pressure for his next film. The Monkey, released in 2025, was an adaptation of a Stephen King story and did well, but it was seen as more unusual and artistic than Longlegs. People viewed Longlegs as Perkins’s big break, The Monkey as him exploring new ideas, and now Keeper seems to be where he solidifies and refines his unique horror brand.

It’s useful to compare Longlegs and Keeper because claims that the new film is scarier depend on how we view the first one. Longlegs was intense, but openly drew from many horror styles. Keeper, on the other hand, seems to be aiming for a more refined and unsettling experience – not just more shocking, but more deeply psychological. Director Osgood Perkins appears to be building on what worked before, shifting from a focus on occult horror to something more focused, personal, and thought-provoking. The excitement around Keeper suggests a similar change: more genuine terror, less over-the-top style, and a richer, more complex story with fewer familiar horror clichés. In a way, Keeper isn’t just a sequel; it shows that Osgood Perkins has a clear vision for his work.

Keeper Is Perkins’ Most Ambitious and Terrifying Project to Date

Osgood Perkins’ journey to becoming a filmmaker is somewhat unique. As the son of Anthony Perkins, known for his role in Psycho, he transitioned from acting to directing. His early films, like The Blackcoat’s Daughter and I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House, established him as a skilled creator of atmospheric horror, though they didn’t reach a wide audience. His latest film, Longlegs, proved he could create a commercially successful movie without sacrificing his artistic vision. This positions him among horror directors who successfully blend genre conventions with their personal style.

Perkins focuses on building suspense, exploring emotional pain, and creating unsettling atmospheres rather than relying on sudden shocks. He uses horror to delve into themes of inherited sadness, feeling like an outsider, and the subtle ways fear builds. In his film Keeper, the remote cabin and the husband’s lingering absence nod to familiar horror elements, but Perkins uses these to create a sense of psychological unease. The frightening presence isn’t a monster in the traditional sense, but a representation of buried pasts and deep loneliness. What sets his films apart is his belief that true horror isn’t about what you see, but about what remains unseen – and everything from the visuals to the acting and the film’s pace works to create that feeling.

Osgood Perkins is quickly becoming a director to watch, largely because he consistently pushes boundaries and avoids predictable horror tropes. Fans are already calling him one of the best new voices in the genre, and his film Keeper is being discussed as even more intense and frightening than his previous work, Longlegs. This creates a high level of anticipation for his films – people expect to be truly scared. This puts pressure on him, but it also confirms he’s operating as a distinctive and respected filmmaker – an auteur. The current conversation isn’t if his films will be scary, but how scary they’ll be, which signals he’s truly established himself as a major talent.

The partnership with Neon is key to Perkins’s success. Neon’s approach to releasing films—choosing specific theaters, creating compelling trailers, and confident marketing—is building Perkins’s reputation. With Keeper, he’ll have released three significant films in just two years, each one more ambitious than the last—a remarkably fast rise in the horror genre. This isn’t just about one movie; it’s about establishing Perkins as a major director. Keeper has the potential to solidify his position among acclaimed horror filmmakers like Ari Aster, Jordan Peele, and Robert Eggers, who successfully combine artistic vision with commercial appeal.

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2025-10-29 00:38