Directed by: Ti West
Starring: Mia Goth, Martin Henderson, Kid Cudi, Stephen Ure, Owen Campbell, Brittany Snow, Jenna Ortega
A group of amateurs set out to make a porno in 1979 Texas. They have dreams of becoming stars but most will find themselves victims of gruesome murders. They rented a cabin from a suspicious old man (Ure) who, once he and his sexually frustrated wife discover what they're doing in the cabin, start offing the group one at a time. When religious programs on television denounce lust, we see this isn't the most welcoming climate to make a porno movie.
X captures its time and place well, but we find ourselves not caring much about the people whose lives are about to be snuffed out. This is a late 70's-early 80's slasher film made forty years too late and without the camp sensibilities. There is an interesting contrast in the performances of young Maxine and elderly, lonely Pearl, both played by Mia Goth, and X is more artfully made than some of the lesser slasher films of the era.
However, aside from those positives, X doesn't distinguish itself from the movies it's either trying to emulate or pay homage to. The subtext of sexual repression meeting sexual liberty is given as backdrop, but does a slasher film meets social commentary really gel? If X is any indication, then no.
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