This is one of those films I’ve heard a lot about from the film people I follow, who mostly praised it as this unexpected horror gem. So when I noticed X landed on Amazon Prime, I knew I had to watch it. And it (mostly) delivered on what I hoped for. It’s just a shame that the longer the film was, the more predictable it became.
Let’s start from the beginning, the homage to the original The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974, my review here) couldn’t be more obvious, from the setting in Texas to the time period being the 70s too, and I applaud that. You can tell Ti West loves that film, and I think it shows, especially in the first 30 minutes. But this is where the resemblance ends, as X goes its own way and makes the “villain(s)” something more “down-to-earth” – old people. I loved the atmosphere of the first hour or so; when we are building towards something, we know something is wrong, but we must wait to see when and how the penny drops.
And once it dropped, it lost a bit of steam for me. Don’t get me wrong, there were scenes that were worth it, and X is an overall great horror film, but once you see what our protagonists are up against, it makes it less scary and more predictable. Everything from the jump scares to where the story goes, nothing will surprise you. But what this movie lacks in this department, it makes up for in the gore category. Almost all the deaths that happen in this film happen on-screen and are quite brutal. I liked that decision, not flinching, showing us all the gory details.
What made this movie so special was its cast, especially the three leading ladies. 2022 was a big year for Jenna Ortega, so of course, she is here, and she was great in her role of this quiet mouse, who might be a bit wilder than expected. Because of Jenna and the main star, many people seem to be “skipping over” Brittany Snow, but let’s not. I only know her from the Pitch Perfect trilogy, so she may have surprised me the most, as her role is unlike anything I would expect from her. She portrays this “valley girl”, not afraid of anything, and I thought she showed us that she could do much more than we give her credit for. But this film belongs to the one and only Mia Goth.
Not only she portrayed a double role (I don’t think it is a spoiler, but I won’t mention who) she nails both of those roles. There was something about her acting, about her demeanour I found fascinating, and she is the leading lady this film deserves. She carries this film, and from what I hear in the prequel/sequel, Pearl (2022), she is even better, and some people reckon she was robbed of an Oscar nomination. I haven’t seen Pearl yet, but the moment it is streaming somewhere, I will be all over it as her character intrigued me. I also think Mia is still criminally underrated, despite being a unique actress who makes unconventional choices. I wish she would have that kind of a year/moment Jenna Ortega currently has with Wednesday (2022, my review here) at some point soon because she deserves it. And I think whether you saw this movie, Suspiria (2018) or Nymphomaniac: Vol. II (2013), you know what I am talking about.
As I mentioned before, the only negative about X is the predictability of the second half, alongside the fact that the film blends into the “generic” territory. What started as this unique film about porn, youth, morals, and these fun characters quickly turns into a paint-by-numbers generic slasher. For example, X is one of those films that starts from the end, where we see the carnage, and then we go back in time to see how it happened. And I don’t think it worked in this instance. I would much rather start with this group on their journey; rather than see how some of them end by the end.
Overall, X is a fun addition to the horror genre that still proves we can get a great, unique, gory, and raw horror film that feels different from most of the mainstream stuff. I loved the leading cast; I can’t wait to see Pearl, and I would love for more people to see this film. If for nothing else, then to see how talented Mia Goth is and why her name should be included in the “most promising and yet underappreciated actress” category. Give her an outstanding role in a major film, and you have an Oscar winner on your hands.
That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!
Until next time,
Luke