X (2022) Review: Surprising and Staggering Slasher!

The year is 1979. A group of filmmakers and actors set out to rural Texas to make an adult film that will jumpstart all of their careers, both behind and in front of the camera. Renting a nearby house owned by elderly couple Henry and Pearl, the gang realizes that their sexy endeavor is anything but fun and games.

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Slasher films have never been my favorite subgroup in the horror genre but I have found myself getting sucked into them when done well. X has all of the slasher elements that make the subgenre intriguing while putting a spin on it by mirroring a 1970s horror production design amplified by performances by Brittany Snow, Mia Goth, and Kid Cudi. Martin Henderson and Jenna Ortega add to the group as well but the memorable performances here belong to the former three.

Shooting X on film also greatly adds to the 1970s design and the dialogue feels authentically modern regarding its themes of sexual freedom. I give credit to Ti West for creating an original horror slasher that feels unique from the rest of the genre, which is often difficult to do in such an overcrowded genre. X feels like it could end up being a cult following film because of its unsettling images and take on age and sex. The film has some comical moments, specifically from Brittany Snow, who I was so happy to see in another horror film, as a fan of Prom Night from 2008.

Ti West’s direction and writing puts the female characters at the forefront, never overly sexualizing them (even though the film is about a crew making an adult film), but instead making it clear the power they have compared to their male counterparts. Where X did not fully sell it for me was how obvious it was with the film’s point, even going as far as to juxtapose character’s scenes with a recorded television broadcast that spells it out for the audience. It is not necessarily a bad thing for a film to display exactly its point, but I personally like when a film is more subtle with its themes.

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That being said, I was not huge on how the film went about its themes, which ended up being the primarily horrifying element of the film. The film from a production and directing standpoint was fantastic. However, from a screenwriting standpoint, solely how the film began to unfold in the last half or so, did not set the bar high enough for me. However, X is a film you should definitely experience for yourself as it has a number of surprises within it.

‘X (2022)’ Rating – 3.5/5

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