X (2022) by Ti West

Director: Ti West

Year: 2022

Country: USA

Alternate Titles: N/A

Genre: Slasher

Plot:

Arriving at an isolated farmhouse, the cast and crew of an adult film begin to go about their shoot which alerts the homeowners to their sleazy goings-on and begins to take to graphic means to stop the degenerate filmmakers from doing their film and forces them to try to get away from the farm.

Review:

There was quite a lot to like with this one. One of the better features here is the solid background of everyone which gets this going rather nicely. The fine work of the cast and crew of the film, humanizing them with their own dreams and desires that range from realistic to the full-on dreams that can be achieved at some point with work, sets them up to be a rather likable bunch. That becomes quite fun when added alongside the characterization of the older couple who are given just as much as the film crew which includes some deep touches on sexuality and passion among the elderly that borders on heartwrenching when initially broached yet turns decidedly sinister as time goes on in the company of the film shoot seeing the enhanced sexuality displayed.

This plays a major role in the film's central theme in its demented take on sexuality which proves to be quite fun. As we've already been given quite a lot of input into the wife's mindset by her constant peeping on their activities around the barn and the conversations with her husband, the idea here is firmly established regarding her long-repressed sexual desires needing to be released regardless of her age or physical composition. After seeing that living vicariously through them while they make the film doesn't work, those urges finding a release in the form of a graphic violent outburst is all the more plausible making for a vicious turn off this sexuality-filled premise.

The other positive feature here is the aforementioned turn towards the violent and vicious as the third act goes completely off the rails in the best way possible. Not only is the slashing quite enjoyable as it ranges from the graphic surprise encounters that work due to no one expecting them to become confrontational to the inclusion of a crocodile living in the nearby lake that has a solid sequence, and finally working around into a full-on display of sensuality that is just as squirm-inducing as the rest of the material involving the slashing. Filled with some great gore effects and an overall slick sense of style matching the chaos of the situation rather well which makes this one of the finer genre entries overall.

There isn't much to dislike here but it does have some minor flaws. One of the biggest issues is the rather bizarre turn this takes introducing the concept of the couple holding previous victims hostage. This is brought up incredibly late in the film and seems to come about without any build-up and just dropped into the film which tends to highlight the issue of how it would've gone down without being noticed by now. As well, there's also a strange bit involving the strange decision to feature the characters so blatantly unaware of what’s happening that they just ignore everything without leaving the location which is entirely unrealistic and keeps them in danger for no reason, which are the issues keeping this one down.

Overview: ****.5/5

A highly enjoyable genre effort, this one manages to remain highly effective at what it sets out to do while only managing a few slight flaws that aren’t even that big of a deal to hold it down. Give this one a look if you’re a fan of the style attempted here, a general fan of mainstream genre fare, or are fans of the creative crew, while those that don’t appreciate those factors should heed caution.