X (2022)

The state of horror cinema is such that it really doesn't take much to be praised as amongst the best. The wave of love for X, Ti West's first film in 6 years is a rather entertaining if disappointingly average slasher film that feels like it doesn't offer much new to cannon. It achieves not being insultingly bad and remains generally entertaining. Still from the buzz around it I expected it to be breathtaking and it never quite achieved that. 

X is homage to all sorts of things. The references abound, most notably to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, a film that is imitated more than almost any other, but the film indulges us in allusions to The Shining, Psycho and other films. It does a great job of recreating the look and feel of a 70s exploitation film. Its porn hook, which isn't just there for titillation but actually moves the plot forward, adds to the "underground" feel. I put that word in quotations because it's all pastiche, it's not actually under anything, just evoking a feeling. So as the well worn plot moves on the film rises above its predictability to be entertaining throughout. It judiciously uses humour and perhaps less judiciously uses jump scares, to keep us engaged as the characters are slaughtered one by one, pretty much as we would expect. 

But here is the thing. The film is just going through the typical motions of the tropes. Does the film use its sex-positive characters to undermine or question the sexist morality of the slasher genre and the legacy of Chainsaw? Not really. Does the film lean a little too heavily into the ew-gross-old-people-being-sexual heebie-jeebies? Yes, far too heavily. Does the film ever surprise us? No, not at all. 

Perhaps the most interesting wrinkle is the way Goth plays two characters and the way the film explores this duality, juxtaposing their experiences, their eras, their pursuits. I felt the film wasn't always brave enough to truly go there, often flirting with certain ideas but not quite following through and then leaning into a giggle moment instead of what could have been more powerful and upsetting. 

So while X remains run of the mill, it is, at least, a good time. The film doesn't overdo the sex or violence and capitalizes on its humour in effective ways. I'm just not sure it offers much to ruminate on after the credits roll. 

X

Starring: Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, Kid Cudi, Martin Henderson, Brittany Snow, Owen Campbell, Stephen Ure

Writer/Director: Ti West