PLOT: The twisted prequel to Ti West’s X explores the early years of Pearl, a young woman obsessed with fame. So much so that she’d commit any act of violence to get what she desired.
REVIEW: In March this year, filmmaker Ti West brought us the wildly entertaining slice of genre goodness, X (read our review HERE). The film featured Mia Goth as a young woman named Maxine looking to be a porn star. And it also featured Ms. Goth as the older woman living in the location where the horrors occur. Recently, however, fans of the film discovered that a sequel/prequel was coming to theatres. That film is about Mia’s character, Pearl. Once again, Mia takes on the role of Pearl, but this time in her younger years. Not only did we, as audience members, collectively discover that X had a prequel shot directly after, but we can look for MaXXXine – a third film in the brand new franchise – coming soon. All three films surround the characters played by Goth.
Pearl (Goth) is a young girl with a strict mother (Tandi Wright) and a sickly father (Matthew Sunderland). She longs to free herself from their confined farm. What Pearl wants is to be a star. She wants everyone to love her. And when her sister-in-law Misty (Emma Jenkins-Purro) – Pearl’s husband Howard (Alistair Sewell) went off to war – tells her about an upcoming audition for dancers for a traveling show, she decides to go. And while escaping her troubled home life at the movies, she meets a handsome projectionist (David Corenswet) to whom she finds herself falling for his charms. Meanwhile, she begins to discover her love for killing. Animals, then she moves on to the people she thinks may be standing in her way.
Pearl is a miracle of a movie. It’s scarce for sequels to go into production back to back. Yet, that’s what took place for this prequel. And it’s a marvelous success as Mia Goth gives a showstopping performance. She is a mix of viciousness, naivete, charm, innocence, and desperation. In many ways, the character reminds me of Anthony Perkins’ iconic Norman Bates. As frightening as she can be, the new film explores her fascinating past and somehow finds a bit of sympathy for her. Yes, the woman is a vicious murderer, but this smartly crafted feature understands the complexity of madness. Mia Goth is brilliant here. It’s a performance that balances unhinged craziness with pure innocence.
While the show’s star is Mia Goth, all the performances here are terrific. In particular, David Corenswet and Emma Jenkins-Purro add a few intriguing obstacles for Pearl. David is excellent as a charming man that may not have the best intentions. And as for Emma, the actress brings life to the vibrant and caring Misty. Two of the best sequences in the film involve her and Pearl together. As well, Matthew Sunderland is sympathetic as a very sick dad. And Tandi Wright is satisfyingly cruel as the strict mother with questionably good intentions. Considering the script was written directly after the production of X and shot right after, it’s shocking how brilliant this latest from West is and how good the talent involved is.
While Pearl certainly pays enough homage to what came before, it still feels like its own movie. If anything, it makes you appreciate X even more. The script and the way he sets up the scares are very impressive. One especially impressive scene involves one victim dispatched by Pearl. We don’t see the outcome of the violence immediately. Then, without delay, we witness the atrocity in a wonderfully clever way. The use of split-screen and the way West presents this prequel as a tribute to old Hollywood pictures is immediately alluring. The final frame in the film is so disarming that you likely won’t be able to look away.
Pearl is a shining jewel in horror. The film continues to present us with a new horror villain, one that is unforgettable. While the slow burn aspect may not work for some, it brought me into the story and kept me invested. Mia Goth is stunning in the title role. The actress has given plenty of terrific performances in her career, but her exceptional working relationship with Ti West is clear. Having created two small-budget horror treats, with a third coming, the filmmaker may pull off a modern genre miracle. While we won’t know how successful until the arrival of MaXXXine, X and Pearl have given the horror world something to celebrate. See Pearl this Friday in theatres, and you’ll be in for a vicious little treat.