X is a 2022 horror slasher thriller written, directed and edited by Ti West. West is no stranger to the horror genre, previously directing the 2009 horror The House of the Devil, as well as a segment for the 2012 horror anthology V/H/S. X premiered at the SXSW Film Festival on March 13th, with filming taking place in New Zealand.
A group of actors set out to make an adult film in rural Texas under the noses of their reclusive hosts, but when the elderly couple catches their young guests in the act, the cast finds themselves in a desperate fight for their lives.
The film stars Mia Goth, Martin Henderson, Kid Cudi, Jenna Ortega, Brittany Snow, Owen Campbell, and Stephen Ure.
X made its debut in theaters on March 18th, courtesy of A24.
THE GOOD
I’m not going to beat around the bush here, X was nothing short of incredible. This is elevated horror in its finest form. What is “elevated horror” you ask? Well, it is defined as a subgenre within horror that relies more on dramatic elements and overarching themes, as opposed to the tried and true reliance on gore or the basic elements that make up a quality slasher. Examples would be films like The Babadook, It Follows, The Witch, or even Goodnight Mommy. And don’t worry by no means does that make a movie less scary, if anything you end up thinking about the movie long after the end credits, and often in the middle of the night. Trust me on that.
From the immersive 70’s setting, fresh and innovative screenplay, the surprisingly likable characters, great acting, creepy and old-school horror feel, this movie has it all. Within the first 5-minutes the throwback horror feel from my youth was front and center, and I was like a kid on Christmas morning getting ready to open the big present. X opens to a vibe that has Toby Hooper’s 1974 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre written all over it to the point where you almost expect Leatherface to come running out swinging his chainsaw at any moment. And to be honest, if Ti West said this elderly couple was somehow within the same family tree you wouldn’t question it for a second. But with that being said, with X there is more more than meets the eye and that also goes for the films antagonists. I also got a Evil Dead vibe from the film during quite a few scenes, which spoiler alert, involve lots of blood and gore. Bottom line, the stage is set right away and if you can appreciate quality horror, this is an experience you don’t want to miss.
Okay, so let’s go ahead and talk about the basic but essential horror elements you can expect from X. Creepy and downright grotesque old people? Check. Sketchy dolls that belong in The Conjuring museum under lock and key? Check. A twisted blend of debilitating horror and fun rarely found in horror films today? Check. Lots of extremely well-crafted and tense moments that will have you wanting to yell at the screen for all the right reasons? Check. Unapologetic and extremely prevalent nudity that will have you looking around the theater to make sure you aren’t the only one completely locked in? Check, and double check. You get the idea.
The story absolutely impressed me in terms of how layered it was, and the fact that it really did drive the film as opposed to just relying on blood and gore, or even nudity for that matter. I briefly touched on the idea of elevated horror earlier in the review, and it all comes down to story and feel. Writer and director Ti West came to the table with an innovative and powerful script that felt raw and relatable, touching on the fleeting idea of youth and the inevitable fact that one day we will all be old looking at pictures of what once was. Will we all turn into sadistic psychos fueled by rage and jealousy? I sure hope not. Sorry to get all sad and depressing on you, but the films ability to tap into something so deeply rooted in our own underlying fears as it relates to life and eventual death, is a big reason why it works so well. We aren’t dealing with a scenario where people are just killing for the thrill of it, the rage you encounter in X is very specific and intentional, and that in itself is horrifying.
Let’s be honest, with a horror film that’s technically in the slasher genre especially compared to anything else from Ti West, the last thing you expect is quality acting. That’s just a fact we have grown to accept throughout the years. And it’s not even a bad thing, it’s just part of the formula and it works. But, with X, things are different. Very different. This is a horror slasher where the acting is a strength instead of a weakness you try to ignore. The entire cast is just awesome. Due to the fact that this movie was filmed during the pandemic, the cast had to fly out to New Zealand, quarantine for a few weeks where they bonded and became a tight knit group, and then went right to filming. And this was their reality until filming concluded, which makes perfect sense to me because the chemistry felt genuine and real. So, let’s talk about the cast so they can get the credit they absolutely deserve.
We can start with the actor who takes center stage from the beginning, and that would be Martin Henderson. Henderson, best known for his role on the long running drama series Grey’s Anatomy, was fantastic. I can’t really explain it but he somehow reminded me of a young Kurt Russell from back in his Overboard days. He was just so believable from his southern accent to his cowboy hat, and I really enjoyed his energetic on-screen presence. Now this might feel like a bit of a curveball, but I’m a guy that likes to give credit where credit is due, and Kid Cudi is making moves as an actor. I really enjoyed his character and felt like he embodied the 70’s feel the film was going for, and was one of the most likable characters in my opinion. I couldn’t be happier for him for what is turning out to be a very successful film career after his role in the recently released Netflix satire film, Don’t Look Up (full review here). Jenny Ortega, an up-and-coming actress who recently starred in the HBO Max film The Fallout, was great as well. She has a very intriguing innocence about her that made for a very interesting character.
Brittany Snow, who was really the gasoline on the fire as far as the cast and I mean that in the best way possible, was just magical. Her character was a veteran in the world of perversion, and let me just say she was very believable. Her character was confident and driven, but more than anything else she wasn’t afraid to be herself, and I loved that about her. Owen Campbell, a fairly under the radar actor who starred in the 2017 indie horror thriller Super Dark Times, was great filling the role as the nerdy guy you need in every horror film. Admittedly I am underselling him a bit as he was an integral part of the cast and the progression of the story. Plus, don’t sleep on him because the kid can act. I have to talk about the films antagonists, the reclusive elderly couple who are just sooooooo damn good in this. The old man is played by Lord of the Rings star Stephen Ure, and boy is he great in this. His character is the first thing that will put a pit in the stomach of viewers as soon as he is introduced, and it is all uphill from there, or I guess downhill depending on how you look at it. I really enjoyed how uncomfortable his character made me during the entire film.
Actress Mia Goth, full name Mia Gypsy da Silva Goth, who graces the primary poster for the film, is equal parts endearing, strong-willed, and gorgeous. At first you can’t quite figure out if maybe she is the weak one of the bunch, but she quickly transforms into someone I surely wouldn’t want to mess with. Maybe it was the freckles or just the mysterious element of her character, but she was one of my favorites. Goth is the swiss army knife of the cast, and you will know what I mean once you see the movie. Also, as I mentioned she is downright beautiful which is always a plus in my book. Actor James Gaylyn may only get about five minutes of screen time as Sheriff Dentler, but trust me he still manages to make quite an impression. The entire cast is fantastic, and if you read my review for the recently released Texas Chainsaw Massacre, it was nice to have some eye candy for a change.
On the technical side of things X puts on an absolute clinic. Whether we want to focus on how effective they were with immersing viewers in the 70’s feel, the great use of camera work and focus on soundtrack and score, or my personal favorite the incredible editing style. Ti West has a certain style in mind and he made that a reality, ensuring that even though the film might borrow elements from other horror classics, it still very much forges it’s own path. During one of the more gruesome scenes, the camera will switch back and forth from the gruesome and bloody attack to the actual blood splatter on the bright headlights of a truck, for example.
We also get quite a few instances where the screen is either split between two events happening at the same time, or just jumps away from one event at an intense moment which really throws off the viewers. I won’t get too in depth on it but the editing is different from anything I have seen in quite sometime making the film feel wholly original, and that was massive for me. Ti West, who is credited as editor along with David Kashevaroff, is a really multitalented guy and that’s all I will say about that. The more I reflect on the movie, the more I appreciate everything about it. Just so many small details that fans of quality filmmaking are sure to appreciate. I’m not surprised that is the case considering A24’s involvement. Don’t try to psychoanalyze me or anything, but something about this movie just made me feel at home.
As soon as the iconic 1976 rock Don’t Fear the Reaper from Blue Oyster Cult began pumping out of the theater speakers, I knew I was in for a special treat with this movie. This song has become a staple for horror movies for the past 40+ years, appearing in Halloween (1978), The Stand (1974), Scream (1996), and Halloween (2007), as well as a few goofier horror flicks including The Frighteners (1996), and Zombieland (2009). Bottom line, this song was basically made for horror movies. The specific scene in X that showcases this classic tune was a tone-setter for me, and boy was it a surreal mix of gruesome, fresh and original horror elements, and a make your skin crawl weirdness which is a always a treat in my book. I won’t give anything away of course, but this scene knocked over the first domino in terms of when the film really gets going.
THE BAD
I’m sure it’s obvious by now that I have very little negative to say about this movie, but I do feel like a few disclaimers are necessary. So before you pack the family into the minivan and head out for a wholesome movie night, X is a very GRAPHIC movie. Yes, I used ALL CAPS on purpose. I’m not going to sugarcoat it, this is basically soft core porn blended with a pretty brutal horror slasher. I’m not saying I wasn’t feeling it because I was (see above as a reminder), I’m just giving you a heads up just in case that’s not your thing. So yeah, if you have an aversion to nudity and/or gore, you better steer clear.
THE VERDICT
A rare well-acted and extremely graphic edge of your seat horror thriller blending elements of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Evil Dead, X is a nostalgic haymaker for genre fans and old-school horror enthusiasts showcasing one of the most original screenplays in quite some time. Bottom line, if you have the stomach for it, this is as satisfying as it is inappropriate. If writer/director Ti West wasn’t already on your radar, he should be now. This guy is the sheer definition of a triple threat. I just enjoyed so much about this movie and since I left the theater I can’t get it out of my head, it’s just that good. So yeah, trust in the holy grail that is A24 and head out to the theater to support high quality cinema so we can get more original films like X. I can’t wait to see it again. Plus, director Ti West has confirmed that a prequel film titled Pearl has been in the works for quite some time, and is now in the editing stages. We will be sure to share any updates on that as they become available.
TED TAKES RATING - 9.7/10
X is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.