Answering “why” is a very important question when it comes to a story. It’s easier with some genres than others. For instance, romance is about the characters finding love while war stories are about struggle and pain while trying to vaniquish the enemy. Horror stories are a bit trickier to pin down. Some of the scariest stories take place when the “why” is hidden behind the killer’s motivations and how they entertain the audience. Sometimes it’s obvious, such as in the Saw or Nightmare On Elm Street films. Other times, it’s purely physical — especially when it comes to mindless slashers like Jason Voorhees. Then there are films that occupy a weird space where the “why” is so detached that it’s almost undecipherable. This is exactly the space that the recent cult horror film X occupies.
The film takes place in the 1970s and follows a small group as they set out to make a pornographic film. In order to accomplish this, they rent out a cabin on an isolated rural farm. The people who own the cabin are very strict and would never allow them to shoot explicit content there. But they kept the nature of their visit hidden. After eventually discovering their motivations, an elderly lady on the farm named Pearl (Mia Goth) goes on a killing spree, systematically murdering nearly all of them.
The homicidal nature of Pearl’s character isn’t all that clouded. There’s a theme of aging sexuality woven through the story that drives her killing spree. But from a horror standpoint, it’s hard to decipher the “why” behind it all. With Jigsaw, it’s to employ elaborate traps as punishment. With Freddy, it’s to explore the fantastical nature of dreams. Even Jason Voorhees represents an unstoppable juggernaut that tears apart everything in his path. Pearl is old, decrepit, and weak. Yet she is driven by sexual desire that turns into murderous rage. From an audience standpoint, it’s hard to get into the reason “why” this film was made, and that’s what makes it a scary standout in the genre.
X is now streaming on Paramount+.
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