One of the Most Clever Horror Films of the Year
Read Time:2 Minute, 11 Second
MOVIE REVIEW
Pearl
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Genre: Horror
Year Released: 2022
Runtime: 1h 42m
Director(s): Ti West
Writer(s): Ti West (based on characters created by,) Mia Goth
Cast: David Corenswet, Mia Goth, Emma Jenkins-Purro, Alistair Sewell, Matthew Sunderland, Tandi Wright
Where To Watch: In theaters now
I initially saw trailers for X way back when, and this is everything I had hoped it would be. Sadly I didn’t connect with X the same way I did here; I appreciated the ideas behind this film and the execution of how it was all put together. I love that Mia Goth not only was an executive producer but also wrote the screenplay as well. She may become type-cast after this trilogy of films (MaXXXine, the sequel to X, is coming soon), but I think it’s well worth it. In all honesty, I don’t want to see that happen to her, but this role is becoming iconic.
I thought this was everything a horror film should be; it was a slow burn without being boring. The kills were great; the atmosphere was perfect and different from everything else you see out there. I also appreciated the technicolor feel of it, and I thought it added a touch that made you not expect it to be a horror film (if that makes sense.)
My most significant issue with the film is probably that her roles in this trilogy are becoming somewhat “confusing” she so far has played three distinct parts (only two characters.) However, the two characters are very similar, besides a few visual distinctions (freckles.) There is the possibility that somehow MaXXXine will give us a good reason that ties it all together.
Overall, I think this redeemed X for me; I still have issues with it, but I believe that expanding this world has given me more appreciation for it than I previously had. I think this could be one of the most successful shared modern horror universes if handled with care, and the spinoff potential is pretty much limitless as this world grows. I’m curious how deep this rabbit hole goes and ready to see what West has in store for us next.
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Now, that’s how you do an origin story.
Im here from Tiktok. Mia Goth deserves all the praise and all the awards but saddly she will get no awards for this beautifully haunting role. Mia Goth playes Pearl in this prequel to X a young woman living on a farm taking care of here family while her boyfriend is off fighting in the war. Pearl dreams of something bigger and better she is suppose to be a star and she will stop at nothing to reach her goal. This tone is a very different shift from X. While X is more of a 70’s gritty sexpoltation Texas Chainsaw movie. Peral is a much brighter Wizard of OZ, Sound of Music meets a slow burn character study, psychological thriller. How far would you go to reach your goals? And should everyone really be a star? Mia Goths monologue in the end is so well done it will for sure be something acting students use throughout the rest of time
I love that review! Thank you so much! Genuinely! I hope Goth ends up with some form of recognition for this, I know its gotten several nominations in smaller award shows, and agree, sadly the Academy won’t look in its general direction.
Ooof again I know people will not be happy with me on this.. But… Pearl and X are horror movies that I feel try so hard to be artsy that it loses so much focus on the horror aspect. It can be a great story. It is a great story for both films. But they never really felt like horror to me. I felt the focus was more on how it was filmed. Sure it has kills but action movies have kills to.