Director: Ti West
Written by: Ti West
Starring: Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, Martin Henderson, Brittany Snow, Scott Mescudi (Kid Cudi), and Owen Campbell
Cinematographer: Eliot Rockett
The new A24 film is out in theaters this weekend, and it’s unlike anything you’ve seen before. X follows a young film crew as they venture off to a rural Texas farmhouse to shoot a porn movie. The elderly couple they rented it from begins to take interest in the crew’s adult filmmaking. But when the reclusive couple’s leering interest takes a violent turn, the young film crew is forced to fight for their lives.
How a horror film about making a porn movie ended up being as spectacular as it is will always make me scratch my head. But Ti West’s skill as a filmmaker made me a believer. Here are 4 reasons to watch the uncompromising and witty A24 flick, X .
4) A round of applause, please
The cast of X is quite possibly the most perfect aspect of the film. These people have some serious chemistry with each other… I suppose you have to with the subject matter of shooting a porno flick together. But the performances are exceptional. Brittany Snow is quite the scene-stealer. Her comedic timing is on point, as usual, and it was nice to see her grace my screen with her confidence again. Martin Hendersen is also a standout. He has such a great awareness of himself as an actor and what he brings to the table physically. I’d honestly nominate this cast as best ensemble; but we all know how voters feel about horror…
3) Ain’t it funny?
My favorite part about X is its unsuspecting humor. Don’t let the talk about the abrupt tonal shifts in the film fool you. It works perfectly. It’s special because these humorous moments are placed intently–further validating Ti West’s ability to incorporate intelligent comedy where one might least expect it. Luckily for me, I had an audience who agreed. And it was a joy to hear the from-the-gut laughter from my fellow horror-fan lovers!
2) Groovy, baby!
Ti West’s direction paired with Eliot Rockett’s cinematography is a damn delight. They capture the late 1970’s with style and excellence. Particularly, West’s decisions behind the camera are outstanding. He highlights the 70s vibe with grace and intelligence, while providing some incredibly cool sequences for audiences to gawk at. Now that’s groovy, baby!
1) There will be blood…
With all my talk about how humorous this film is, it is imperative that I remind you that this is indeed a horror flick. The atmosphere of X is anxiety-inducing to say the least. And viewers can expect unsettling feelings throughout thanks to nerve-wracking sequences with a stressful score to match. All of these elements build up to a final showdown that never lets up, and it’s perfectly paced too. And without spoiling it all, let me just say this: yes—there will be blood!
Final Thoughts:
If there’s one final thing viewers should know about A24’s latest film, it’s that X is a feature worth seeing in theaters. With a cast this spectacular and a director’s vision that oozes passion and wit, there’s nothing to lose. The surprises are great, and the fun is endless. Get ready for an exciting ride! X is in theaters today, March 18, 2022. Check out my full review here.
Check out the trailer for Director Ti West’s A24 film X – in theaters March 18th
