In 2024, Nicolas Cage starred in a new psychological thriller called The Surfer, and now that the trailer is finally out, I couldn’t be more excited about this new role. Since the 1980s, Cage has been a notable Hollywood star, appearing in an impressive number of movies, all of which vary intensely in terms of genre and form. Most recently, Cage starred in the Oz Perkins horror movie, Longlegs, where he played a diabolical and horrifying serial killer. Because of this incredibly creepy role, I’m pumped to see Cage return to his spooky self in The Surfer.

In Longlegs, Cage plays Dale “Longlegs” Cobble, a man who systematically kills young girls over the course of decades. While serial killers are inherently scary, Cage brings a new sense of horror to his character due to his disconcerting prosthetics, pale white face, and the strange voice he uses. There are countless moments in that movie where Cage’s mere presence sent a shiver down my spine. As a result, I am desperate to see Cage in more horror roles, and his latest project seems to be a really strong fit.

The Surfer Looks Like A Wild Follow-Up To Nicolas Cage’s Role In Longlegs

How The Surfer Relates To Longlegs

Set to release on May 2, 2025, The Surfer is a psychological thriller that follows a man simply known as The Surfer. After returning to his hometown in Australia after making a new life in America, the Surfer is embarrᴀssed in front of his son by a group of surfers. Angry and looking for revenge, the Surfer remains at the beach and intends to wage war against the other surfers. Eventually, the conflict rises to a horrifying degree, forcing the Surfer to the brink of what he is willing to do.

Based on the premises, The Surfer seems completely unlike Longlegs. There’s no obvious horror to it, and the Surfer himself seems far off from Longlegs. However, after watching the trailer, it is clear that The Surfer is no simple family drama. This movie looks like it is bursting with tension, and Cage will be at the absolute center of it. Though he appears to be a fairly regular guy, Cage will be able to show completely different sides to the Surfer that could be just as troubling as in Longlegs.

The Surfer Already Has An Impressive Score On Rotten Tomatoes

The Surfer Is Exactly What I Want From Cage

One especially exciting aspect of The Surfer is that it already has strong critical reviews. After being released at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024, the movie earned a strong 88% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviewers have praised the film for its unique themes of toxic masculinity and localism, tied up into a high-stakes thriller. Furthermore, Cage has been appreciated for his performance, which may just be the best of the year.

Overall, The Surfer is exactly what I’m looking for from Cage. Over the years, Cage has proven his ability to be a hero, a class clown, and a villain, but I am craving these more unorthodox, bizarre roles. Arguably, it is what he’s best at, and what generally does well with critics and audiences. Because of this, I cannot wait to see Nicolas Cage in The Surfer.