The doomed film crew includes Lorraine (Jenna Ortega), who worked as a boom-mic operator before the massacre began. Photo courtesy of Polygon.com.
*Content Warning:* This article discusses violence and murder.
Any horror and slasher movie enthusiast would likely be familiar with Hitchcock’s
Psycho
, Carpenter’s
Halloween
or Hooper’s
Texas Chainsaw Massacre,
and the tropes that made them classics of their respective genres. Contemporary moviegoers might also recognize the studio A24 and their lineup of films these past few years, particularly their more popular horror films
Hereditary
(2018) and
Midsommar
(2019). From the studio that brought
Hereditary
to the big screen,
X
(2022) presents an erotic slasher film filled with 70s slasher movie tropes and modern-day suspenseful twists.
Director Ti West ushers the audience into 1979, the year of disco and home movies, just outside of Houston, Texas. The movie follows a cast of characters: Maxine, the junkie and aspiring star; Wayne, the cowboy and seductive movie executive producer; Bobby-Lynne, the pretty and snarky blonde; Jackson Hole, the handsome ex-marine porn star; Lorraine, the sweet and pure sound technician; and RJ, the avant-garde filmmaker boyfriend of Lorraine. With the goal of shooting an adult film that might break them into the mainstage industry, the group decides to spend a night at a reclusive farm outside of Houston to shoot “The Farmer’s Daughter.” As one of the characters asserts, this new direction of pornography is “avant-garde, art!” The owners of the farm, an elderly couple, do not take the graphic material that these young filmmakers set out to make too kindly. When night falls, the viewers can expect the true horror show to begin.
In the 70s, despite how slashers like Carpenter’s
Halloween
grew more widely accepted, the thrill of making and enjoying an adult film still had to be secretive. However, West does not hold back on the gruesome kills nor does he hold back the sexuality. As a result,
X
feels reminiscent of movies iconic of the 70s, avant-garde pornography and horror.
Without giving away too much of the plot,
X
is perfectly staged with various props that bring the 1970s slasher ambiance to life. In addition to the wheat bread and old cigarette brands in a gas station where the characters stop, all of them fulfill some slasher archetype, including splitting up despite how the sinister hunters chasing them can easily pick up pitchforks, shotguns and axes in this environment. The casting choice is excellent, as every character is likable and enjoyable to watch, especially Mia Goth, whose performance as Maxine (and someone else) is impeccable. Living up to the legacy of the golden age slasher films, the kills in
X
are definitely gruesome and predictable. However, they did not feel cheap at all, and West’s brilliant use of shots will have viewers on the edge of their seats.
West relies on new and unique jump cuts that still have that A24 charm but with a nostalgic spin. These various cuts and transitions play a role in emphasizing
X
’s theme of doubles and reflections. In one scene, the old woman drinks some lemonade, which West wipes to transition to the next scene, something the movie makers would also perform elsewhere. If the suspense is not enough, West’s use of familiar slasher edits still makes the movie a fun watch.