Mia Goth

Jenna Ortega

Brittany Snow

Kid Cudi

Martin Henderson

Owen Campbell

Stephen Ure

James Gaylyn

Simon Prast

Geoff Dolan

Matthew J. Saville

Bryony Skillington

Karen Gillan

Pascal Garneau

Frank Rueter

Jacob Jaffke

Peter Phok

Tomas Deckaj

Ant Davies

Sophie Massey Broadbery

Sue Mercer

Davi Aquino

Bill Meadows

Sam Spicer

Augie Davis

Chelsea Wolfe

Ashley Levinson

Jared Connon

Dennis Cummings

Harrison Kreiss

Karina Manashil

David Kashevaroff

Rebecca Dealy

Jessica Kelly

Tom Hammock

Thomas Salpietro

Malgosia Turzanska

Eli Roth

Margaret Austin

Ti West

Celia Rowlson-Hall

Tyler Bates

Karijus Schlogl

Cilla Leckie

Alex Falkner

Franca Gallo

Kevin Wasner

Matthew Ericson

Jonathan Greber

Frank A. Montaño

Graham Reznick

Abigail Savage

Eliot Rockett

Ali Herting

Rebecca Birstock

Karla Spika

Desiree Rose Cheer

Sarah Dunn

Olivia Masicz

Phred Palmer

Ruby Fitzgerald

Martin Bath

Abby Mariama

Andrew Driver

Ngaere Robertson

Codey Morris

Dean Hudson

Patrick Pabalan

Zachary Hyland

Laetitia Belen

Angelu Cayanan

Melissa Lawrence

Chris Moss

Courtney Mayhew

Mark Papalii

Dominic Crossman

Andy MacRae

Hansel Verkerk

Jan Kleinheins

Justin Sykes

Conrad Hawkins

Travis Edwards

Eliza Zolnai

Verity Mackintosh

Seanne Culhane

Lucy Burns

Reneau Skinner

Karen Kong

Monique Andrews

Kyle Hooker

Ayler Raven-Pearce

Anastasya Achita Putri

Joe Fragassi

Sarah Rubano

Frankie Karena

Jose Noriega

Sanchia Reed

Cody Dysart

Robert Pickens

Sofia Sue Pedersen

Blair Ryan

Katie Fox-Heywood

Brad Cunningham

Sally Gray

Jasmine Rogers-Scott

Jess Neff

Holly Williamson

X Collection

Horror

Mystery

Thriller

Little Lamb Productions

United States of America

English

sheriff

war veteran

gas station

shotgun

1970s

texas

alligator

porn star

serial killer

slasher

porn actress

elderly couple

isolated farmhouse

existentialism

adult filmmaking

televangelist

intimate

pastiche

compassionate

Manuel São Bento

MORE REVIEWS @ https://www.msbreviews.com/

"X pays homage to 70/80s classic slashers while simultaneously tackling important themes related to sexual pleasure/freedom, age, and self-acceptance in a deeper and more intelligent screenplay than meets the eye.

Ti West (In a Valley of Violence) returns six years after his last feature film with a clear vision of a story that mixes uninhibited pornography with the purest gore that can be found on the big screen, all wrapped up in a constantly captivating narrative and insane third act.

Mia Goth (Emma) shines tremendously with an imperceptible dual role that transforms a technically interesting movie into something truly impressive - makeup, visual/practical effects, and score deserve much praise.

As hilarious as it is terrifying, it will be hard to forget, regardless of where the viewer falls on the opinion spectrum."

Rating: B+

CinemaSerf

Hmmm - I didn't really get what all the fuss is about with this. A group of folks rent a house on the farm of an elderly couple. They arrive and settle down to make their porn film. Director "RJ" (Owen Campbell) isn't happy when his girlfriend "Lorraine" (Jenna Ortega) wants to join in and determines to skedaddle in the middle of the night. Suffice to say, he doesn't quite manage and next thing the whole load of them are in peril of their lives. This contains one of the daftest old age sex scenes I have ever seen, but that is all I found even vaguely memorable about this rather derivative film. Sure, it's got an hungry alligator but the ending is weak, and the characters just parodied everything crass from the tacky late 1970s adult entertainment industry in a really flat, sterile, fashion. Takes too long to get going, and certainly does not need to be seen on a big screen. More V than X, I'd say.

Certainly a messed up horror-thriller, this had its moments but I'm not sure how much replay power it has. However the acting was fairly good, particularly Mia Goth and the premise itself was fun. **3.5/5**

Nathan

Finally, a new quality original slasher! What a refreshing entry into the modern-day horror genre. So many movies are either plagued with remakes or supernatural elements, it is so nice to see a back to bones hack and slash. This movie does way more than that though, deep down there is a very heart touching story about growing old and becoming irrelevant. It is so interesting to be so emotionally connected to the killer but yet disturbed by the actions they take as well. I just cannot get over how good this movie is! The gore, the setup, the dialogue, the plot, everything about it I dug. Extremely excited to see what Pearl has to offer later this month.

**Score:** _93%_ |
**Verdict:** _Masterpiece_

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

**By: Louisa Moore / www.ScreenZealots.com**

Ti West is a great visual director, and you can count on his films looking polished and amazing. Such is the case with “X,” the first film in his series of slashers (including the prequel, “Pearl,” and the upcoming “MaXXXine,” which is currently in development). While “X” was released first, I would still recommend watching “Pearl” beforehand. Either order is fine, but I think screening the prequel and keeping the actual story timeline in order makes the most sense if you’re just starting out. “X” features grindhouse style horror that offers an homage to 1970s classics like “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” but the film also lends a unique, fresh spin on the genre.

The year is 1979, and aspiring adult film actress Maxine Minx (Mia Goth) is joined by her cast and crew (Brittany Snow, Kid Cudi, Jenna Ortega, Owen Campbell, and Martin Henderson) to make a different kind of pornographic picture. The group ventures to a remote farmhouse in rural Texas to shoot their film, but something feels “off” about the elderly property owners Howard and Pearl (Stephen Ure and Goth, in a dual role). Their reclusive hosts are unaware of what’s going on out back until they catch the performers in the act. This sets off a chain of very violent events that has everyone fighting for their lives.

The retro horror setting serves the story well, even if it has the most basic of plots. What makes this script (penned by West) stand out is the dry humor and interesting, well-written characters that have a lot of depth. It doesn’t take long to start to like and care for these people, which makes their inevitable demise hit a little harder. West’s script includes themes of aging, ambition, voyeurism, and jealousy, all tied together with the joy of setting yourself free from repression. Stifled desire causes the elderly couple to begin their killing spree, but there is so much more underneath the carnage.

The film features explicit bloody violence, gore, nudity, and sex, earning its hard “R” rating. West doesn’t turn his camera from the bloodshed even when the audience instinctively looks away. If you aren’t accustomed to horror, this film may not be for you.

The cast is comprised of terrific indie actors who trust their director onscreen and off, which shows in their work. Being able to feel so free in front of the camera makes it an easier task to also stand behind it, and all of this results in great entertainment for the audience. The movie is fun and smart, if uncomplicated.

“X” ends with a wholly satisfying finale and avoids the pitfalls of frustrating the audience, as so many independent horror films seem to do. It’s a slower burn for sure, but what a rewarding ride.

I will be doing a combined review for the two films, "X" and "Pearl."

Upon seeing the high ratings given by both the general public and critics to these movies, I am left puzzled about what truly makes a good film.

Let's start with "X," a movie that I found to be absolutely terrible. The film revolves around pornography rather than a cohesive storyline, resulting in a disjointed and atrocious viewing experience. The cinematography, acting, storytelling, and writing were all subpar, yet critics inexplicably praised it.

The attempt to elevate the film with Jenna Ortega fell short, as she had minimal screen time amidst excessive male and adult nudity, making it unsuitable for general viewing. This is a movie best watched in private, not recommended by me at all.

Moving on to "Pearl," I was equally disappointed as it also relied heavily on sexual themes. The film took a bizarre turn, culminating in a scene that made me walk out of the theater in disbelief.

It's baffling to see these films receive acclaim, especially when performances like Mia Goth's are lacking. It seems that the current focus is on titillation rather than genuine storytelling.

As we await the verdict on the third film, it appears that the world may be more interested in gratification than meaningful narratives.

X by Ti West is definitely a unique take on the slasher genre. The story feels fresh and unlike anything I’ve seen before, making it a solid introduction to something new. The acting by all the characters was good, not perfect, but strong enough to carry the film. It didn’t blow me away, but it worked well with the story.

The plot itself is very straightforward and easy to follow, but it takes a bit too long to get going. The first act feels stretched out, with not much happening until later, and it’s a little unclear when the first act transitions into the second. That pacing could’ve been tighter, but once the story picks up, things really start moving, and the payoff is worth it.

Visually, the film nails the 1970s vibe with gritty yet polished cinematography that draws you in. An interesting choice is the use of the 1.37:1 and the 1.90:1 aspect ratio, which enhances the viewing experience. Overall, it’s a solid horror movie with a unique spin, even if it has its pacing flaws. It’s definitely worth a watch if you’re into stylish, slow-burn horror.

X( 2022)

Get Ready for One Killer ClimaX.

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A review by Manuel São Bento

Written by Manuel São Bento on Fri Mar 25 2022

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