Writer-director Ti West’s X is a horror movie that draws on the influences of 1970s slasher flicks while simultaneously exploring sex at different ages and perspectives. The result is a well-paced, slow-burn horror film that is confident in driving forward its momentum before going all out in its finale. There are elements of the narrative that could have been deepened, but X works on so many levels that it’s easy to dismiss them. Smart, well-paced, intentional, and fraught with fascinating themes and character arcs, X is a worthwhile slasher film that is aided by a great cast.

Set in 1979, the film opens with a couple of police officers arriving on the scene of an old farm in Texas. They are disgusted by what they see and it’s clear that viewers are in for quite a ride before the film backtracks to 24 hours earlier to reveal exactly what happened. Burlesque owner Wayne (Martin Henderson) has his sights on making adult films and recruits girlfriend Maxine (Mia Goth), an aspiring actress who wants to make it big in Hollywood, to star in the porn film The Farmer’s Daughter. Joining them on this filmmaking journey are Maxine's co-stars Bobby-Lynne (Brittany Snow), Jackson (Kid Cudi), the director RJ (Owen Campbell) — who doesn’t want to make a porno, but a great film — and Lorraine (Jenna Ortega), RJ’s girlfriend who is quiet and seemingly disapproving. They start filming not long after arriving at a farm home Wayne rented from Howard (Stephen Ure) and his wife Pearl, a creepy couple living in the farm's main home who lurk in the shadows.

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Maxine turning around and looking intently in X.

X is perhaps most interesting when exploring Pearl, her reactions to porn and sex in general, and the deep yearning she still has for it. Much of her frustration stems from her wanting to be touched and her husband being hesitant to have sex with her because he could have a heart attack and die from the exertion. This creates a distance between them, but something awakens in Pearl at the arrival of the youthful bunch. Her fascination with Maxine, in particular, reawakens her lust; at the same time, Pearl’s judgement of Maxine, despite the fact she reminds her of herself, is steeped in her disdain of the younger’s youth and appearance. This dynamic makes for quite a few juicy interactions that are laden with unbridled desire, a desperate need, and an understanding on the part of the audience for Pearl’s actions, as well as Maxine's.

What makes X stand out is in the way it subverts expectations. The old couple's motives aren't exactly cut and dry, and the film delves into women's sex lives and desires without shaming them for it. Sex is a motivator throughout, as is the curiosity to explore it. In many horror movies, having sex — be it for the first time or in general — leaves one open to becoming a victim of the killer on the prowl. But X flips that on its head in unexpected ways that work for the story being told and winds up being fairly sex-positive in doing so. Besides the unexpected takes on sex, the horror film also thoughtfully touches upon age, as well as who gets to be desired and feel desirable in the eyes of society as a result.

X movie review

The gore itself is plentiful and cinematographer Eliot Rockett films death scenes from different angles that amplify each moment without lingering too long on anything that is deemed unnecessary. A scene that sees one of the characters discovering another’s dead body has the right amount of shock and terror before the camera pans away to focus on the former’s attempted escape. The first kill is accompanied by "(Don't Fear) the Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult and it seems especially fitting for the scene, making it all the more creepy and intense.

X isn't afraid to lean into the patient, yet suspenseful energy that makes slasher films so intriguing to watch and it doesn't completely sacrifice its plot to do so. While X could have dug a bit deeper into certain aspects of the story, the film’s twists, layered themes, and intriguing character dynamics blend together to make it one of the best horror films of the year so far.

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X is playing in theaters as of Friday, March 18. The film is 105 minutes long and is rated R for strong bloody violence and gore, strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use, and language.

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