[Film Review] X (2022)

Where X usually marks the spot, this X marks the long-awaited return of horror fan favourite Ti West. Best known for House of the Devil, The Innkeepers, Sacrament and his segment in found footage anthology V/H/S, West is renowned for providing us with slow-burn, creeping horrors filled with enough dread to make your skin crawl.

After 6 long years, West’s latest offering X follows a group of young, undeniably hot, twenty-somethings as they head out into rural Texas to a farm they’ve hired in order to secretly film an adult movie. Starring aspiring actors Maxine Minx (Mia Goth), Bobby Lynne (Brittany Snow) and Jackson (Kid Cudi), filmed by aspiring director RJ (Owen Campbell) with help from his girlfriend Lorraine (Jenny Ortega), and produced by the charismatic Wayne (Martin Henderson) – ‘The Farmers Daughter’ is the pornographic feature they believe will be their big break, and their one-way ticket to fame and fortune.

It’s 1979, the home video market is booming, and the small cast and crew have their sights set on becoming the next Debbie does Dallas. Unfortunately, though, that may not be on the cards once the elderly couple who own the farm find out what is going on under their roof. 

You’ll be hard pressed to find a review for this film that doesn’t mention the obvious references to the most famous 70’s horror film of all time - The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and the comparisons are most certainly easy to point out, but for me the vibe was much more Tarantino-esque. The classic cars on long desert roads, the warm colour palette of yellows and browns – like sunshine and leather, the slow pacing and introductions throughout the first two thirds of the film – followed by an explosive shift in the tone for the action-packed finale, all screamed a delectable blend of From Dusk til Dawn and Once upon a time in Hollywood (not to mention Mia Goth’s bare feet being front and centre for one of the shots).

There’s something to be said about the film’s commentary on how porn and horror were both somewhat taboo subjects back in the 70s – and the similarities don’t begin and end with the audience's distaste. People have always watched porn in the same way that people watch horror - they want to connect with the characters, they want to be

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excited and to experience a physical reaction - whether that be aroused or scared – and, in the end, they want to see all of the build-up pay off and for things to really come to a head (excuse the pun!).

X may be unintentionally meta, but there’s no denying that its contents certainly won’t be for everyone. There is no shortage of nudity, bad language and strong bloody violence, as well as some truly uncomfortable scenes that had the audience in my screening laughing nervously and shuffling around in their seats.

Something that is not uncomfortable in the slightest is the stunning performance from Brittany Snow who, despite not being the lead star, shines the most brightly as Bobby Lynne. She nails every single line she has, giving us a character who is so funny and charming that we have no choice but to root for her to become the Hollywood superstar she aspires to be. She is unapologetically herself – a strong woman with desires, ambition and the voice of an angel (seriously, her rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s Landslide will have you swooning).

X plays out in what feels like two completely different parts – the first half which is a glorious retro romp so beautifully shot that you can feel the heat of Texas, as well as the heat between the characters, through the screen. The second half, when the sun goes down, is where things turn cold and bloody. That familiar, comfortable feeling we get as horror fans when the killing starts though, is short-lived as it dawns on you who the antagonist is and why they’re doing what they’re doing. 

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