X
With cult hits like THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL and THE INNKEEPERS, Ti West has built up a devoted horror fanbase (two members being fellow PS assistant Neal Mulani and myself). So the anticipation was high for X (trailer here), West’s new slasher about amateur pornographers in the 1970s starring Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, Martin Henderson, Brittany Snow, Scott Mescudi, and Owen Campbell. When the cast and crew of “The Farmer’s Daughter” arrive at the rural guest house of an elderly couple to begin shooting, things expectedly go south. At first, I was a bit wary of the film’s subject matter; in film and TV, it’s difficult to say anything particularly new or interesting about the porn industry, and easy to fall into the trap of sensationalizing or coldly satirizing the industry with a flashy or tongue-in-cheek style. The religious moral panic of the 20th century has also been played out too many times over. And while X does indulge in all of these familiarities—and not to mention, has some well-intentioned but heavy-handed lines about skewed perceptions of the adult film world—it takes an intriguing turn with its story. And while the film is undoubtedly horror, it balances a comedic and tragic tone in its treatment of the antagonist, leaving you cackling with discomfort. This one is definitely the most fun in a theater with your fellow scary movie enthusiasts!
—Alicia Devereaux, Development Assistant
