X: Is Elon Going to Buy This Too?

X is a fun slasher that explores both self-worth and a desire to be loved by others, even if by extreme measures. It's a film I've only seen once, but my liking of the film increases more. The film, directed by Ti West and released in 2022, follows a film crew (Mia Goth as Maxine, Jenna Ortega as Lorraine, Brittany Snow as Bobby-Lynne, Scott Mescudi as Jackson, Martin Henderson as Wayne, and Owen Campbell as RJ), who travel to an elderly couple's (Mia Goth in a dule role as Pearl and Stephen Ure as Howard) farm to shoot an adult film. The crew finds themselves the targets of the murderous couple.

Though Howard does commit a murder, it's Pearl that's our main antagonist. She accidently discovers what Maxine and her colleagues are up to, and it awakens something inside her: that universal feeling to be loved. After failing to seduce Howard, Pearl's anger and frustration drives her to murder, feeling that if she's not good enough, then no one is.

In a strange turn of events, as mentioned, Howard and Pearl are the culprits of the murders in this film. In film, we’re used to adults, teenagers, and even children (looking at you, The Omen!) being the masterminds behind the killings. Elderly people seem to be a rare occurrence, even taboo. Seeing them here as the perpetrators is a fresh twist, as these old timers don’t want to serve you cookies.

X also has fun with the slasher trope of "kill the people who have sex first." Though Maxine is the main character, the movie seems to imply that she's going to die. It seems so as Ortega's Lorraine is the only person of the film crew (initially) not interested in sex, merely having taken the job in a desperate attempt to make ends meet. When Lorraine does decide she wants to try some sexy play time, she, in the rules of slasher films, throws her "I'm Going to Survive" card out the window.

I have one last compliment before I wrap up. The film is set in 1979, but if you'd told me that it was released in 1970s instead of 2022, I'd have no trouble believing you. It would feel right at home being released shortly after The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), as it gives the same vibe as that film, particularly before Pearl gets to killing.

This is a film that I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end, and I eagerly wait for when I watch Pearl (2022, a prequel to this film) and MaXXXine (2024, a sequel to this film). If those two are just as good as this, then horror fans have a found a fantastic trilogy.

Cast

Mia Goth as Maxine/Pearl

Jenna Ortega as Lorraine

Brittany Snow as Bobby-Lynne

Scott Mescudi as Jackson

Owen Campbell

Stepen Ure as Howard