Cunt really got into this one
1 month ago (edited)
Let's start with who/what "Longlegs" is. Baal, the demon that once ruled hell, is described as having an ashen look or carrying ash and having a hoarse, peculiar voice. Of note was that his form was inconsistent, having different faces/different heads, but he is depicted as having the body/legs of a spider. In some interpretations, people would sacrifice children to him. He granted wisdom, control over men, and powers such as invisibility. Baal eventually gave up the throne in hell to Satan, taking on the role of prince. It's unclear if he bowed willingly or put up a fight, but he became Satan's subject. So, while Baal had some independence, he would not have the power to harm anything created or protected by Satan. One way to look at this is that Lee's relationship to Satan predates her meeting Longlegs, by way of her mother--why the mother always pushed her to pray, though Lee can't do it because it "scared" her (possessed people or those under demonic influence supposedly cannot recite prayers). So, while Longlegs may have wanted Lee's family in his ritual, he couldn't take her. Notable that he certainly couldn't possess the father. Instead, Longlegs forced/tricked Lee's mother to take part in his plans, a bargain with a demon on top of a bargain with the devil. Likewise, Lee's psychic powers could be a remnant of Satan--unclear if she was his child, but that would explain a lot. "Evil vs Evil" is a theme that goes back to The Exorcist and, of course, into thousands of years of mythology before that: some evil spirits feud with or are subjugated by others. Humans sometimes hope to play them against each other. Though in regards to demonology, there is a lot of order and hierarchy, almost a civility to how the realm operates. This helps put some context to Longleg's comments about being a "friend of a friend" and talking about the "man downstairs" and the very loaded statement about "we" learning she wanted to go into law enforcement (possibly talking about him, mom, And Satan). It also frames the Baphomet looking demon as being a separate entity, simply watching Lee from afar. The Longlegs himself is likely a possessed human. It's unknown how he fell into his state, but some of his quirks may be related; he listened to rock music, kept/drew symbols, and crafted dolls (which can be related to dark magic). What we physically see is the end result of long-term possession, a shell of a man, corrupted and rotten. Though extremely powerful, hence his ability to craft mind-controlling artifacts and get the fathers to kill their families. It's hinted that he's been going into the hardware store for years (for supplies) and that family has seen his decline--not explicitly shown but we can imagine they were quick to report him once the FBI put out his image. It would also explain why Longlegs wanted out of the physical body once he thought his work was done; the "hail Satan" is not just a farewell; it is the demon committing his end to Satan, giving him glory, and returning to his service. Personally I haven't looked at any of the website or trailers, though some of those themes may resonate with anyone that digs in some more.