by Foster Harlfinger, Contributing Writer
Harkening back to American slasher films of the 1970s, X follows a young crew of adult filmmakers whose latest shoot in a rural Texas farmhouse takes a sudden, violent turn. Though writer and director Ti West’s first feature length horror film in almost 10 years may not be the best choice for family movie night, X is the gnarliest and most refreshingly straightforward slasher to grace the silver screen in quite some time.
The measured first half of the film acts as the perfect setup for the absolute insanity of the second. X delays its typical horror movie payoffs in service of development for its characters, led by the fame-hungry adult film actress Maxine (an outstanding Mia Goth). Though there are no weak links to be found within the entire ensemble cast, special recognition must be given to the unstoppable Jenna Ortega, whose much-deserved rise to prominence over the last three months has been nothing short of extraordinary.
X sets itself apart from the rest of A24’s horror catalog with its direct, no-nonsense mentality. Unlike The Witch or Hereditary, excellent films though they may be, West delivers exactly the sort of straightforward scares one hopes to receive when watching a throwback horror film. This is not to say that the film lacks artistic merit. On the contrary, what makes West’s vision so fulfilling is his undeniable skill behind the camera along with his obvious reverence for slasher films of old. Much like the attempts by RJ (Owen Campbell) — the director of the pornographic film within the film — to make a “good dirty movie” with artful cinematography and a cohesive narrative throughline, West elevates the often underappreciated slasher genre with his inspired shot compositions and deliberately uncomfortable editing choices. The film’s increasing sense of dread, thrilling climax, and engaging cast of characters were made possible by West’s genuine love for the genre.
All this talk of the film’s exceptional presentation does little to convey the fact that X is both wildly entertaining and shockingly hilarious. The unrelenting final act of the film features grisly moments of violence along with scares that will make you jolt in your seat. Moments of juicy horror goodness abound in which you will find yourself conflicted on whether the appropriate response is to laugh or scream. As the decapitated cherry on top of the world’s bloodiest ice cream sundae, when you are not squirming in your seat, X somehow finds the time to utilize its wacky premise as a means of tackling such deeper themes as repression and the unrealized potential that comes with the loss of youth.
X is a nearly impossible movie to recommend to casual moviegoers given quite literally everything about its premise, but for audience members intrigued by the promise of the film, X is a fantastically watchable time. Paying homage to horror classics like Psycho, The Shining, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre with its artful presentation and sickeningly cool practical make-up effects, West has crafted the best true slasher film in years.
Score: 8/10
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