![]() But it also might haveīenefitted from a bit less trickiness. X has a lot going for it, indeed more than your "typical slasher", to kind of semi-quote West's interview comments. Prey in a very scary and isolated setting. Suffice it to say that Howard and Pearl are not exactly Ma and Pa Kettle, and soon enough the would be pornographers find themselves (also Mia Goth in an amazing example of make-up, but in a "dual portrayal" that may seem to be hinting at a revelation that this film frankly neverĭelivers). Wayne has arranged for the shoot to utilize a rural farm out in the sticks, where the decrepit owners are Howard (Stephen Ure) and his wife Pearl Would be director RJ Nichols (Owen Campbell) seems to be a willing acolyte of Wayne's, but AJ's girlfriend Lorraine (Jenna Ortega) isĬoncerned that they're dealing in "smut". Two others are on the sidelines of all this, and they, too, are in a (as seen in those aforementioned narrower aspect ratio screenshots). The porno, to be called The Farmer's Daughters, and the spectacularly well endowed Hole is the male lead, bedding bothīobby-Lynne and Maxine at various points in scenes that X both shows being shot and offers in kind of quasi-16mm interstitials (Brittany Snow) is definitely in a relationship with the wonderfully named Jackson Hole (Scott Mescudi). Maxine Minx (Mia Goth) seems to be in a relationship with Wayne Gilroy (Martin Henderson), and similarly Bobby-Lynne Screenwriting, it may in fact be that while certain aspects are at least obvious based on how people are acting with each other, there may be a lack X commendably attempts to actually deliver some character development before the carnage breaks out, but if there's a deficit to the The way things are presented are not strictly chronological. To their location via a van, pass another extremely bloody scene that involves a cow and a truck. But then once the film segues to a bunch of apparently connected folks who all had something to do with a nude dance bar and who haveĭecided to set out in search of fame and fortune by shooting their own low budget porno, Dentler turns up again in passing when the group, en Moment (something the film will intentionally return to, at least more or less, in some "film within a film" moments later, as documented inĪnyway). But notice how Westįrames the very opening shot, shooting through what is ultimately revealed to be a barn door, which gives things an Academy Ratio ambience for a The film opens with a Sherriff namedĭentler (James Gaylyn) investigating what appears to be a very bloody crime scene in some kind of rural location. West engages in some subtle presentational and structural subterfuge almost from the get go in X. Suffice it to say, X has a number ofĮxtremely graphic kill scenes, not to mention a couple of other bodily immolations that may not immediately lead to a character'sĭemise, but which will still most likely cause more squeamish types to hide their eyes and hope that things move along quickly. ![]() Intended), which is the adjective West overtly uses to describe many recent horror movies. West may frankly not have Vidal's reputation for writing prowess, but thatĭoesn't necessarily mean he hasn't introduced a rather smart "meta" aspect to a film that, again in West's own words, wanted to not be "soft" (no Members, even if, for example, it has a supposed "literary" imprimatur of someone like Gore Vidal, a la the hugely lambasted Caligula. ![]() Pornography probably won't qualify as "highbrow" for many audience Take on what is often a "lowbrow" genre, namely horror and/or slasher films, which might beg the question as to why West decided to make the filmĪbout some nascent entrepreneurs out to shoot a porn movie. Writer, director and co-producer Ti West is on hand on one of the supplements included on this disc mentioning how he wanted to offer a "highbrow" Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman, May 25, 2022
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