X Movie Review

In a time of remakes, sequels and retread horror tropes, X stands out as a breath of fresh air. Writer and director Ti West plays with familiar themes but brings his own slant to them, creating characters with their own motivations and flaws instead of simply chopping up faces to satisfy a bloodlust.

Unlike the dumb, helpless twentysomethings often found in the genre, X’s victims are capable and intelligent. This fact makes their downfall all the more devastating. They underestimate the threats they face and don’t realize it until it’s too late, a fate that could have been avoided had they only known better.

X isn’t a film about the pornography industry, but it does draw a line between sex and violence in the American psyche. Whether the film is drawing out this connection through dialogue -- RJ’s meltdown in particular is a perfect example of this -- or through the actions of its cleverly conceived villains, it makes the point that these two things are intertwined in our culture.

This theme of repression and desperation to discover one’s sexuality runs throughout the movie, as well. In a way, X is a feminist horror film. It’s a warning to young women that they shouldn’t pursue their desires, that the world will punish them for it. Moreover, it’s a caution that repression doesn’t just affect young people; it can afflict people of any age.

It’s a smart, dark and fun movie that’s not afraid to push its audience. Its climax is unrestrained and satirical, but it also has the power to frighten and shock. Its most impressive aspect, though, is its cast. Brittany Snow, Mia Goth and Jenna Ortega deliver excellent performances, bringing life to their flawed characters and propelling the story in unexpected directions.

West isn’t shy about delivering the gore, either, boasting some of the most jarring and original onscreen deaths in recent memory. But these moments are just a bonus, and the film’s real horror lies elsewhere. ซีรี่ย์จีน พากย์ไทย ’s in the characterization of its villains and the gloomy, existential dread that comes with the knowledge that you’re getting older.

X is an entertaining, old-school horror flick that manages to make the genre feel new again. Its gnarly payoffs are certainly satisfying, but it’s the movie’s ability to slow down and humanize its villains that sets it apart from modern slashers. The film is a banger that’s worthy of its name and deserves to be recognized alongside the classics it references, including You’re Next and Strangers: Prey at Night. X will leave you with your heart racing and your stomach flipping, and it’s the best horror film to come out in years.