In 1979, a group of young filmmakers set out to make an adult film in rural Texas, but when their reclusive, elderly hosts catch them in the act, the cast find themselves fighting for their lives.
- Released: 2022-03-17
- Runtime: 106 minutes
- Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thrillers
- Stars: Mia Goth, Martin Henderson, Jenna Ortega, Brittany Snow, Kid Cudi, Owen Campbell, Stephen Ure, James Gaylyn, Simon Prast, Matthew Saville, Bryony Skillington, Geoff Dolan
- Director: Ti West
Comments
- a_chinn - 30 June 2024
A love letter to grimy grindhouse horror flicks of the 70s
In preparation for the third film in Ti West's X trilogy, MAXXXINE, I decided to rewatch the first film in the series and it holds up nicely. This franchise is a homage to slasher films of different eras, this one a love letter to the likes of THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE and LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT. The prequel PEARL was a homage to the likes of William Castle's STRAIT-JACKET. The third film in the series appears to be a love letter to movies like VICE SQUAD and BODY DOUBLE, but with X, West brings back sex to contemporary horror. Set in 1979 and tells the story of a group of young folks filming an X-rated film in hopes of selling it on the burgeoning home video market. They rent a farmhouse from a creepy old couple and that's when things start to get freaky. To say any more would spoil the fun. Mia Goth is fantastic as Maxine Minx, a wannabe adult film star. Jenna Ortega is also a standout, turning in a good performance in a transitional role from her Disney parts to more adult ones. Like West's earlier film, HOUSE OF THE DEVIL, he gives the film a look as if it were shot in the era it's set, unlike the excellent TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE remake, which although set in the 70s was filmed with very modern stylistics. X has the gritty look and feel of a 70s horror flick from the muted color palette, to heavy reliance on practical special effects, to even the faux film grain, it's a fabulous conceit. Also, rewatching X after having now seen PEARL gives X an entirely new depth and level of enjoyment. The backstory provided in PEARL makes X almost heartbreaking in a few parts. Overall, X is a fantastic horror flick that doesn't require knowledge of its film forbearers, but it's a special treat and a must-see for fans of old-school 1970s horror flicks. - MovieswDan - 5 June 2024
My favorite horror film!
I just saw X which is streaming on Paramount+ and I do not know what took me so long. X is the first of a trilogy of horror movies written and directed by Ti West and produced by A24. The second installment, Pearl, is also streaming on Paramount+ and the trilogy's final installment, Maxxxine, is due to hit theaters in July. The movie takes place in rural Texas and centers around a group making an adult film in the late 70s. To be honest, it is difficult for me to put into words how much I loved this movie. First off, huge shout out to @thewickedpumpkin13 on TikTok for recommending this. If you ever find yourself in northern Rhode Island or southern Massachusetts and are in need of a good place to eat or drink, check out his channel for some great recommendations!
X was loaded with sex appeal and very gory scenes along with the wildly disturbing visuals that we have grown to expect in an A24 horror film. What sets this movie apart from other horror films that I have seen is that there is a deeper meaning to all the sex and gore. Embedded with all of that is four different love stories all happening simultaneously and intertwined together. The fact that Ti West was able to create a story that included all of these things is a true testament to his talent as not only a director but also as a screenwriter. There is one specific scene that truly stood out to me, and it involved the elderly hosts taking a break from all the killing to sit down and reaffirm their love for each other. That scene was raw, and it was real, and it showcased the true talent that Ti West is. Of course, I would be remiss if I did not mention the absolutely amazing acting performance that was delivered by Mia Goth. Among all of our modern scream queens such as Florence Pugh and Jenna Ortega, Goth is the queen of them all. She not only starred as Maxine, but she also played the elderly woman, Pearl!
The fact that this movie has only a 6.5/10 rating on IMDB is truly beyond me. There is not a single thing about this movie that is not perfect in my opinion and that is why I rate it a 10/10 on IMDB, a rating that only 3 other films out of the almost 1,900 that I've seen have received. Because of this, I would consider this film one of the most underrated movies I have ever seen.
I strongly recommend checking out both X and its sequel Pearl which are both streaming on Paramount+.
