Osgood Perkins‘ “Longlegs” walks a tricky line between realism and theatricality, balancing a heightened visual style — characterized by extreme wide-angle lensing and off-kilter compositions that keep the audience on edge — with meticulous recreations of 1970s and 1990s clothes, cars, and environments. Add to that the wild tonal swings between mortifying horror, sly comedy, and somber poignancy — plus a go-for-broke performance by Nicholas Cage in the title role that’s extreme even for the guy who brought us Castor Troy and Sailor Ripley — and you’ve got a filmmaking tightrope act dependent on a perfect calibration of every craft.

That was particularly true of the hair and makeup departments, which were tasked with bringing a number of challenging characters to life, not just the gruesome lead. IndieWire previously spoke with Perkins and special effects makeup artist Felix Fox about the conception and execution of Cage’s uniquely horrifying serial killer, whose...