Pearl (2022)

While I found X to be a solid horror film that had some things to say about sex-positivity, I wasn't wowed by it as many were. Yet it intrigued me enough to have interest in the simultaneously shot prequel, Pearl. But in the end I feel similarly about Pearl in that it is interesting enough but feels like it never quite crosses the finish line for me. 

Here's what I liked. Similarly to how X utilized a film making style that harkened back to both 70s porn and 70s horror, Pearl harkens back to an earlier time with its style of film making. Everything from the title cards to the styles of performances feels like it comes from another era (despite some jarring anachronistic phrases/dialogue in the script). I expect we'll see a film that looks like it was shot in the 80s when we get to the third film in the trilogy, Maxxxine. West has a lot of fun with, without exploiting the idea too much, of paying tribute to eras of film making. 

I also really appreciated Goth's embracing of the character. The film asks her to play the role in a rather 2-dimensional manner but she brings more to it than that especially in an elongated, uncomfortable monologue near the end, which really is fascinating to watch. She takes the character by the horns and really runs with it in a way that is truly impressive. 

But this does tie into something that didn't work for me. The film, like X, often feels inconsistent, being silly at times, higher camp at others, serious occasionally, and gruesome in moments but never in a way that feels integrated. And her character works that way too. There are times we're seeing interesting development of her character and other times we're watching her chew scenery, and the transitions don't support the back and forth as much as I needed to really buy into it. 

But Pearl remains utterly watchable and the whole narrative with its legacy elements has become somewhat fascinating. While there are too many weaknesses for this to be some second coming of a horror classic, it is still worth a watch and could spark a lot of discussion. 

Pearl

Starring: Mia Goth, David Corenswet, Tandi Wright, Matthew Sunderland, Emma Jenkins-Purro

Director: Ti West

Writers: Mia Goth, Ti West