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+. - Arlecchinata - 7 April 2024
A slasher with a soul
If you're familiar with horror tropes, this film should come as a pleasant surprise.
While very aware of the stereotypes it frequently references, 'X' makes a habit of disrupting them in a way that feels neither misplaced nor contrived. Rather than clinging to the standardised archetypes that have been hackneyed by the slasher genre, 'X' breathes new life into its characters by imbuing them with more agency and occasional displays of unpredictability.
The plot is worthy of positive note as well. The writing feels credible and deliberate, and there's a satisfying level of nuance to the script one can't always expect to find in a horror film. The duality of life and death is thematically quite strong, and the elements used to portray this juxtaposition-youth, beauty, and sex, as opposed to the fear of decrepitude-are seamlessly woven into the storyline.
(Also worthy of note is the parallel between Pearl and Maxine, which was artfully constructed throughout the film, already setting the stage for the imminent prequel).
The film's visuals are very immersive and feature some references classic horror fans might find entertaining-'The Shining', 'Psycho', and 'Friday the 13th' are the main ones that come to mind.
Overall, 'X' is aesthetically satisfying and positively refreshing. It's a skilfully-crafted slasher with a soul. - carlosenriqueamaro-247-439723 - 13 January 2023
Thought of this being a "NC-17" rated film.
1.) All the editing need be extended to prolong this production.
2.) The scenes of Loraine in the dungeon were too separated from storyline and missed the dungeon windows escape route. (However, "The Shining," scene references were extraordinary.) 3.) I've come to realize "X" rating is not my cup of tea as far as genre goes for me, myself, and I.
4.) The scene transitions are a sigh of relief compared to the productions of todays era.
5.) Where may I find a 24 pack of that Pearl Brewery beverage that Loraine took a drink from? "I would, but I did," cheer to that.
6.) JustrealizedI've2left.. - CDiablo - 6 January 2023
Pretty much as generic as it gets
Other than the setup, this one is as generic of a slasher you can get.
Rather than "Teens going to camp/roadtrip/somewhere desolate" this one is based on a crew getting together to film a porno at the advent of the low cost video camera. They rent a property but the property owners happen to be the highest energy elderly people on the planet, as well as murderers.
Like you would expect from a generic slasher, none of the characters are really fleshed out. Some of the special effects are good. Some of the odder things in the movie being Mia Goth's uncanny valley old person makeup as well as a few scenes of goofy schlock near the end of the movie that were completely out of place.
There isn't a single stand out thing about the movie but it's isn't bad, just bare minimum competent. Have you seen all the other slashers and want one that doesn't stink, give X a go. - markgorman - 28 December 2022
A well above average horror.
X is a superior horror movie. Clearly borrowing from the territory of Texas Chainsaw Massacre it manages to, nevertheless, be refreshingly original.
The premise is this. A (relatively) young young bunch of hipsters head out into the Texas countryside in 1979 having booked a cabin on a ranch in which to stay.
Their mission? To create a porno (or adult film as it was called in those days).
Upon arrival (and becoming apparent from a stopover at a petrol station that they are in Bible Belt and that sort of thing is not approved of) they are confronted by the owner of their accommodation. He's very, very old and has an itchy trigger finger on his shotgun and appears to have forgotten the transaction (it was pre airbnb days).
His (hidden) wife is even older, but it transpires she seems to have a taste for a bit of jiggy jiggy and soon enters the fray in a quite unexpected way.
Much carnage (and a fair bit of nudity) follow but it's funny in a way and it's nice to see 90 + year old serial killers getting their moment in cinema.
It's shot really well and Mia Goth is terrific in the lead.
Netflix. Recommended. - benmgiddings - 15 December 2022
Don't expect and you won't be dissapointed!
Saw this film middle of the week without any real high hopes and was pleasantly surprised.
A group of friends travel to remote location to shoot a porno... Things then take an unexpected turn for the worst.
The cinematography is excellent with a soundtrack that runs alongside it well for a slasher flick.
Yes! The storyline is predictable
Yes! The acting is somewhat lacking in certain places.
Yes! The film is mediocre and at times disturbing for the sake of being disturbing. Or Gorey for being Gorey.
But if you want to put your feet up, unwind watch a film with a bit of everything, fright night horror with sex, humour, violence and gore you've come to the right place. - Stanlee107 - 2 December 2022
X plict!
This film is a blend of the 1970s sexploitation storyline intertwined with creepy murders & M. Night Shyamalan's the Village.
It is decent enough. This film within a film format is nothing new to a tried and used genre.
The cast is distinctive enough. It follows the predictable idiotic route whereby the characters make silly decision one after another.
It is no classic but it is watchable. The colour palate at which is shot is in keeping with the 1970s vibes.
It may be sending out the unintentional message that older people in a redneck community may but be as innocent as they seem. That said the ending is satisfying enough. - rws_20 - 18 November 2022
So boring
No idea why this film has rave reviews? It's so boring.
Nothing happens for the first hour and then the characters start getting picked off, one by one, for no reason whatsoever, in really cliché ways.
The "villains" are laughable; some weird old couple with bad make up.
The script is pretty much boredom with a bit of sex here and there.
It just crawls along, telling an absolute nothing story about '70s porn actors, and then the old couple decide to start taking them all out in really stupid ways.
Don't get the acclaim surrounding this flick at all?
Really boring horror. Definitely don't recommend. - mesaxi - 4 November 2022
A Proper Slasher
I'm not much for slashers, especially the modern ones that have just gotten way over-the-top. This was more like a nod to the older style of slasher, less about the gore and more about the kill if you know what I mean. It would have been easy to just dump buckets of blood, but they didn't do that. I also went in expecting a big, exploitive T&A flick which is not what it was. There are a couple of scenes of people shooting the porno, but they're not there for spank bait. They're part of the plot, there's minimal nudity, and there are jokes being made throughout.
While it was a nod to the old school, it also had some very original points to it. If you're into slashers, X is a pretty good one.
