Longlegs‘ titular serial killer and FBI agent Lee Harker recieve a surprising animated reimaging in the art style of the 80’s Beetlejuice animated series by artist DuGMcFuG. The 2024 horror thriller written and directed by Osgood Perkins stars Maika Monroe as an FBI agent who is drawn into a case centered on an occultist serial killer with chilling ties to her past. Upon release, Longlegs was praised as an unsettling tale packed with horrifying imagery and incredibly memorable performances from Monroe and Nicholas Cage, who takes on the role of the movie’s killer.
While Longlegs and Beetlejuice are vastly different entries in the horror genre, DuGMcFuG has brought the two properties together in a surprising blend on Twitter. Drawn in response to Jacob Davidson’s pitch, the artist has taken the art style of the Beetlejuice animated series, and reimagined Harker and Longlegs as characters within the show’s world.
Taking inspiration from the designs of Lydia Deetz and Betelgeuse from the animated series specifically, Harker is merged with the former, and Longlegs is merged with the latter. In the piece, Harker is the more shaken and unnerved character, while the killer is confident.
What We Know About Longlegs and Beetlejuice’s Similar 2024 Receptions
Both Movies Left An Impact On 2024
Despite their differences, one thing Longlegs and Beetlejuice do have in common is how they have achieved incredible success in 2024. Alongside its critical success, Longlegs was also able to have an incredible box-office on a budget estimated to be less than ten million dollars, grossing over one hundred and eight million globally. With this impressive haul, distribution Neon found their highest-grossing movie to date, as well as Longlegs becoming the highest-grossing independent movie of 2024.
Meanwhile, Betelgeuse returned to the big screen with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the long-awaited sequel to Tim Burton’s 1986 horror comedy to primarily positive praise from critics and viewers. Within three weeks of release, its one hundred-million budget was met, has grossed over $335 million from its international box office. As such, both Longlegs and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice are two of 2024’s most notable movie success stories.
Our Thoughts on Longlegs‘ Surprise Animated Reimagining
Some Parallels Can Be Found Between Each Cast
While in the original Beetlejuice and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice made Lydia and Betelgeuse’s relationship more romantic, the animated television series takes a much different approach to the pair. Rather than a one-sided romantic bond, Lydia and Betelgeuse are friends who engage in supernatural misadventures together in a format more toned down for young audiences. And while the truth is far more twisted, there are slim parallels between this dynamic and Harker and Longlegs.
As revealed as she dived deeper into the case, Lee met Longlegs as a child, her mother Ruth (Alicia Witt) becoming his reluctant accomplice and allowing him to stay in their basement to spare her daughter’s life. Alongside her unique supernatural talents, Lee has a longstanding connection to Longlegs, giving them close ties even though those memories of hers were repressed. As such, DuGMcFuG’s art is a twisted Beetlejuice reimagining of the Longlegs pair that is somewhat fitting.
Source: @DugMcFarlane/Twitter
