X is a simple, yet effective horror movie that takes a demented twist on vintage pornography. The film is centered around a group of adult filmmakers, as they spend the night at an elderly couple's cottage. The horror-thriller stars Mia Goth as Maxine/Pearl, Jenny Ortega as Lorraine, Brittany Snow as Bobby-Lynne, Kid Cudi as Jackson, Stephen Ure as Howard, Martin Henderson as Wayne, and Owen Campbell as RJ. This is the first film in TI West's "X" Trilogy and it serves as a sinful love letter to the slasher films of the 70s.
The story is straightforward, well-paced, and engaging. The horror/slasher genre has explored many settings and themes. Everso often the genre punishes the characters for violating the "rules" of the game via immorality. X is no different, however the concept of morality is explored from the frame of "immorality" is moralitly. The protagonists and antagonists are each victims of their own desires. Sex is effectively juxtaposed to religion. The film pits both concepts at odds. As the first film in the trilogy, X presents each character in a manner that entices the viewer to want more. Depth is well-applied to each character through dialogue and nonverbal expressions. Plot points are foreshadowed with effective pay-offs. At times the simplicity hurts the film. There's not much to the story outside of what is presented. In an era of psychological horror-thrillers, this film finds itself being fairly undemanding. It's not much of a "scary" movie. However, despite the film not being "scary," the tension building is enticing.
The cast has great chemistry. Mia Goth's portrayal of both Maxine and Pearl are distinct. Each character shares motivation, however each are different. Maxine is relatively harmless and bright eyed, where as Pearl is cynical and seasoned. Each character has a different twang to their southern accents. Goth makes each character unique and special in their own rights. Brittany Snow stands out as Bobby-Lynne. Snow's delivery of a porn starlet is outlandish for her filmography, however she fits perfectly in the role. Bobby-Lynne is the base for the sexuality that the film exhumes. Kid Cudi's portrayal of Jackson is solid. Jackson is a warm character, yet masculine character that adds an air of ease to the cast. Stephen Ure, Jenny Ortega, Martin Henderson, and Owen Campbell are all good in their roles. Each character interaction is natural. The film's charm is predicated on the cast's chemistry. Whereas most slasher film throws random personalities together, X throws like-minded parties into the bog and comes out clean.
The cinematography is a throw-back to 70s films. The camera zooms and encloses into characters from a wide shot, delivering a vintage experience. At times, the film mimics that of 70s pornography taking a 4:3 aspect ratio, providing an air of authenticity. Lighting is used effectively. The film is very dark at times, adding to the overall tension. The use of the color red enhances the deaths, as well as the gore within the film. Largely, the film is well-edited. Moments of tension are matched with sex scenes in a manner that successfully juxtaposes the scenes while telling one cohesive story.
Overall, X is a simple, yet enjoyable slasher flick. It effectively pays homage to classic slasher thrillers, while placing its own stamp on the genre. The film is bolstered by the cast's chemistry and engaging cinematography. The use of sex and religion is thematically well crafted. TI West constructs a soft-core horror porno that leaves much to be explored.
The story is straightforward, well-paced, and engaging. The horror/slasher genre has explored many settings and themes. Everso often the genre punishes the characters for violating the "rules" of the game via immorality. X is no different, however the concept of morality is explored from the frame of "immorality" is moralitly. The protagonists and antagonists are each victims of their own desires. Sex is effectively juxtaposed to religion. The film pits both concepts at odds. As the first film in the trilogy, X presents each character in a manner that entices the viewer to want more. Depth is well-applied to each character through dialogue and nonverbal expressions. Plot points are foreshadowed with effective pay-offs. At times the simplicity hurts the film. There's not much to the story outside of what is presented. In an era of psychological horror-thrillers, this film finds itself being fairly undemanding. It's not much of a "scary" movie. However, despite the film not being "scary," the tension building is enticing.
The cast has great chemistry. Mia Goth's portrayal of both Maxine and Pearl are distinct. Each character shares motivation, however each are different. Maxine is relatively harmless and bright eyed, where as Pearl is cynical and seasoned. Each character has a different twang to their southern accents. Goth makes each character unique and special in their own rights. Brittany Snow stands out as Bobby-Lynne. Snow's delivery of a porn starlet is outlandish for her filmography, however she fits perfectly in the role. Bobby-Lynne is the base for the sexuality that the film exhumes. Kid Cudi's portrayal of Jackson is solid. Jackson is a warm character, yet masculine character that adds an air of ease to the cast. Stephen Ure, Jenny Ortega, Martin Henderson, and Owen Campbell are all good in their roles. Each character interaction is natural. The film's charm is predicated on the cast's chemistry. Whereas most slasher film throws random personalities together, X throws like-minded parties into the bog and comes out clean.
The cinematography is a throw-back to 70s films. The camera zooms and encloses into characters from a wide shot, delivering a vintage experience. At times, the film mimics that of 70s pornography taking a 4:3 aspect ratio, providing an air of authenticity. Lighting is used effectively. The film is very dark at times, adding to the overall tension. The use of the color red enhances the deaths, as well as the gore within the film. Largely, the film is well-edited. Moments of tension are matched with sex scenes in a manner that successfully juxtaposes the scenes while telling one cohesive story.
Overall, X is a simple, yet enjoyable slasher flick. It effectively pays homage to classic slasher thrillers, while placing its own stamp on the genre. The film is bolstered by the cast's chemistry and engaging cinematography. The use of sex and religion is thematically well crafted. TI West constructs a soft-core horror porno that leaves much to be explored.