Ti West, the underrated and under-seen filmmaker behind The House of the Devil and The Innkeepers has written, directed, and released X, a new Texas-based survival horror film starring Mia Goth (Suspiria – 2018), Jenna Ortega (Scream -2022, The Babysitter: Killer Queen), Brittany Snow (Prom Night – 2008), Owen Campbell, Kid Cudi, and Martin Henderson (The Ring).
X takes place in 1979 and follows a group of young filmmakers on a quest to make a new, innovative cinematic masterpiece to set themselves apart in the adult film industry. The film’s producer, Wayne (Henderson), rents out an old guest house that belongs to an elderly and curmudgeonly couple who have no knowledge of the group’s plans. After the film’s production begins, the couple becomes aware of what’s happening on their property, and the crew find themselves fighting for their lives.
Starting with the technical aspects of the film, most of it was brilliantly made. West made a name for himself with his 1970s-style filming and cinematography in The House of the Devil, and many of the same stylistic choices were used for X, which worked perfectly, considering the film’s time period. The editing was done in a gritty, intense way, often cutting away before something horrible was about to happen, garnering the undivided attention of the audience, only to relax us a moment later, showing us that we were worrying over nothing. It was all part of the plan to make the viewer never truly feel safe while watching.
The soundtrack was killer, too, peppering bops like Blue Oyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” and Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide.” Much of the score was a throwback to 1970s funk, adding the classic adult film-style groove.
The story was fun and interesting, a smorgasbord of different sub-genres to make an all-out engaging final product. At its core, Ti West’s X felt like it belonged perfectly alongside grimy southern slashers like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and Eaten Alive (1976) but weaved in religious horror inspirations, reminding me of bits from films like The Lodge (2019) or Red State (2011), as well as some beauty horror tidbits from films like Eyes Without a Face (1960). This sounds like a lot and would be a mess in many other movies, but X fits all the puzzle pieces together nicely for a satisfying product.
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Those of you who have seen The House of the Devil know Ti West’s dedication to practical gore effects, and in X, there is no exception to the brutality of the kills and the effects. You may find yourself wincing at some of the slower and more antagonizing deaths while wide-eyed and jumpy from the less-expected ones.
The cast was small and tight-knit. Because of that, the chemistry worked great, and the film could focus individually on each character, creating both investment and depth. This isn’t often found in slasher-style films, so having that here was refreshing and a little heartbreaking.
Mia Goth as Maxine was an absolute standout and a final girl for the ages. The same actress was made up to play the much older Pearl, and though she did a great job, some of the inconsistent old-age makeup was a little distracting, that being my only issue with the film. Kid Cudi and Martin Henderson were memorable and added much-needed levity to an otherwise tragic film. Jenna Ortega is really coming along in the horror genre in her young career.
I had an absolute blast with Ti West’s X, and I completely recommend the watch. By this point, Ti West has released some fantastic modern horror bangers, and if you haven’t checked out his other films, I suggest those as well. Lastly, stick around after the credits, as you may get a glimpse of West’s next project.
