“I will not accept a life I do not deserve!”
I want this mantra engraved on my tombstone.
Ti West’s X trilogy refines horror with its thematic and stylistic diversity. Beginning with X, set in rural Texas, Ti West blends sudden and gruesome deaths with social commentary on sexual liberation, creating a modern slasher classic. The prequel, Pearl is set during WW1 and the Spanish influenza, shifts gears to a character driven narrative exploring ambition and isolation. Finally, Maxxxine explores 80s Hollywood through a lens of satanic panic and crime drama, offering a nostalgic yet fresh take on the era. The trilogy shows off West’s bold storytelling and thematic exploration by delivering narratives that resonate from the traditional genre boundaries, which makes the X trilogy a campy and bloody addition to contemporary horror cinema.
In 2022 Ti West introduces the horror world to A24’s X, which follows an adult film crew set out to make a film in the middle of nowhere rural Texas but when the two elderly hosts catch them they find themselves in danger. The kills are done well and so entertaining with Ti West using his kills as very sudden and gruesome. The perfect amount of gore for this kind of movie making it a classic type of slasher that fits the period. This movie is surrounded by sexuality and sex scenes that never felt too gratuitous and separate the social commentary that is made. The juxtaposition of the film crew and actors with the judgmental, prudish old couple is commentating on the sexual liberation that happened in the 70’s and the intergenerational conflict that can still be applied to the present day.
I wanted to highlight the cast because it's one of the best things that strengthens X. Kid Cudi stars as Jackson who is the only adult film star on set, and he gives an incredible job in this role. Brittany Snow surprised me as an adult film star showing off her versatility from other horror movies and the Pitch Perfect series. Martin Henderson is no stranger to horror as he starred in The Ring, so it was nice to see him again channeling this hard manager type. Jenna Ortega became Gen Z’s scream queen which could not be more exciting. I am so happy to see her presented with new roles and stepping out to dominate this genre. Lastly, I have to mention the standout, the ultimate star that is Mia Goth. She has such a unique look to her and fits this role because everyone around her is telling her that she has something special and manifesting stardom. Also, Mia Goth plays two roles in this, Maxine as well as the older lady Pearl, going through one hell of a transition to play her. The characters that these actors embody just make the film believable and fun.
The second installment of this trilogy, Pearl which is a prequel to X follows Pearl who is trapped on her family’s isolated farm Pearl must take care of her father along with the overbearing watch of her mother. She wants a glamorous life like she's seen in the movies. Pearl deals with her morals, ambitions, and aspirations in this origin story. This takes place during WW1 in 1918 and the time of the Spanish Influenza which is a great background to have about the Covid-19 pandemic showing masks and showing distancing. It’s weird to have two of these movies come out in 2022 with people questioning their sense of time being thrown off because a prequel in the same year as the original movie which is unheard of and takes a risk. Mia Goth and Ti West wrote the script together during a two-week required quarantine so she is credited as a writer and producer for Pearl. The cinematography, the editing, the score, and the opening credit text reflect the era this film takes place in and immerses you in that period. I love the classic transitions and the great homages to old Hollywood movies. Pearl’s technicolor world is slower pacing with less gore and more character-driven than X was. This film is all about Pearl and is a hard character study behind someone who is isolated and fights an internal battle for wanting more for herself.
Mia Goth’s performance was arguably snubbed by critics in this film. The scene at the end where Pearl has a monologue and this is done in only one take is beyond incredible, I got chills so many times and wish I could watch it for the first time again. I am not going to lie that I found myself to relate to her story in what she expresses in the monologue. Of course, I don’t agree with murder and what she does in the film but the feelings that she expresses as she covers her life story is something that audiences relate to. Wanting a better life for yourself, starving for more and living unsatisfied resonated with me. Pearl is one of my favorite horror characters that we have gotten in a long time but probably my favorite in horror media ever to be written. She is one of the most original and authentic villains that still has a heavy backstory that I have just become obsessed with. I give Pearl 10 stars all the way and I can't fault it in any way.
Maxine proves to be the most anticipated out of the three which may lead to the ratings being lower than the others because there is more room for error. When audiences have an expectation it’s easier to be disappointed, this film has been receiving mixed reviews because of the hype and critics and audiences being let down by it, however as for me, I felt the opposite where my expectations were a little low because the 80s is overdone, especially in horror.
The movie shows Maxine trying to get a part in this sequel from a movie that plays into satanic panic which connects to Maxine and centers around the killings going on in the world with a serial killer on the loose and a crime going up. The first act is probably my favorite. The beginning of this movie was so fun like the song choices, the opening credits, the montage, just a great amount of exposition given. The movie is a fan service for people who enjoy crime dramas from the 80s and more so it does not replicate what horror movies were like in the 80s. This has a mystery whodunit edge while relocating the idea of what 80s Hollywood is rather than enhancing a horror from the period. I do feel like because we have many characters in this the story kind of wavered at points where I started to question the plot instead of getting into the fun horror elements that I did not feel wowed me too much. However, I love the character Maxine so much and she is truly a badass so it; 's easy to stay hyped throughout the film but it is made for fans that like this subgenre of horror crime dramas that like that style replicated instead of anything new that X and Pearl that brought a greater message.
Overall, I think that because of the wait around this release fans of this trilogy were waiting for something grand, and although there are some surprises in this it didn't cement itself as being on the same wave as the previous film. Even after all these critics, I can’t help myself be so in awe of someone like Mia Goth who has become one of my favorite actors in the last two years and I will be following her acting. She is a threat to other actors amongst so many and her performance in Pearl alone is just legendary. The X trilogy deserves all the recognition in an era where we do not see original movies being made to continue into something like this. Ti West has successfully created the most tonally different trilogies I’ve ever seen and made his mark in the horror genre.
Written By Daniel Rojas
Graphic By Katelynn Herrera