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Set in the late 1970s, X follows an amateur film crew that's planning to shoot a pornographic film. For their location, they've chosen a secluded farm in rural Texas owned by Howard and Pearl, an elderly couple that don't seem to know or understand what the aspiring filmmakers are planning. But shortly after they start filming, they start being hunted by a mysterious but ruthless killer.
The above quote is the call to work of Wayne (Martin Henderson), the film's producer and boyfriend of Maxine (Mia Goth), one of the main actresses of the film, as they prepare to film the first sex scene; but it might as well be the call of director, writer, and producer Ti West as he makes the film. He spends just the right amount of time setting everything up before "cutting to the chase" and "giving people what they want" from a slasher, which is sex and gore.
The truth is that, unlike the film's fictional crew, X doesn't try to hide its intentions. It gives people "what they want to see", with some nice kills and gore, and several effective jump scares, while also not hiding the inspiration it draws from films like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Shining, or other slashers and horror films of the era.
However, X does seem to add some layers on top of it that give a bit more depth to what's happening than your average slasher; whether it is from Howard and Pearl's relationship or Maxine's drive and motivations. This is the first film I see from West, but I really enjoyed his craft, and how he reveals certain things at the most opportune moments. The kind of director that not only gives you what you want to see, but knows the right time to give it to you.
Grade:
X
(2022, West)
A film that starts with the letters W, X, Y or Z • A film from 2020
(2022, West)
A film that starts with the letters W, X, Y or Z • A film from 2020
"Alright, that's enough jabbering. I reckon it's about high time we cut to the chase and give the people what they want to see."
Set in the late 1970s, X follows an amateur film crew that's planning to shoot a pornographic film. For their location, they've chosen a secluded farm in rural Texas owned by Howard and Pearl, an elderly couple that don't seem to know or understand what the aspiring filmmakers are planning. But shortly after they start filming, they start being hunted by a mysterious but ruthless killer.
The above quote is the call to work of Wayne (Martin Henderson), the film's producer and boyfriend of Maxine (Mia Goth), one of the main actresses of the film, as they prepare to film the first sex scene; but it might as well be the call of director, writer, and producer Ti West as he makes the film. He spends just the right amount of time setting everything up before "cutting to the chase" and "giving people what they want" from a slasher, which is sex and gore.
The truth is that, unlike the film's fictional crew, X doesn't try to hide its intentions. It gives people "what they want to see", with some nice kills and gore, and several effective jump scares, while also not hiding the inspiration it draws from films like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Shining, or other slashers and horror films of the era.
However, X does seem to add some layers on top of it that give a bit more depth to what's happening than your average slasher; whether it is from Howard and Pearl's relationship or Maxine's drive and motivations. This is the first film I see from West, but I really enjoyed his craft, and how he reveals certain things at the most opportune moments. The kind of director that not only gives you what you want to see, but knows the right time to give it to you.
Grade: