Really enjoyed this one, just the right balance of horror and comedy. Baffled and not a little annoyed that A24 chose to cut the post-credit scene from the UK release, though.
The new version of "Oui, Oui, Marie" he mentions at the end is by goth/folk/metal singer Chelsea Wolfe. It really is an excellent tune worth checking out.
I'm still hoping that when Zack Snyder gets to continue his Justice League trilogy, he replaces Jared with Richard Brake, who would make probably the best live action Joker we've seen.
@@sgtraytango I kept thinking Richard Brake was Jack Napier in the 1989 Batman but it was 100% not. But years later he actually WAS Joe Chill in Batman Returns. That kinda blew my mind.
Yeah Mia Goth sure has a knack for picking oddball roles and I love that about her. Cure for Wellness, High Life, Nymphomaniac, Suspiria, Devil all the Time. I can't say I love all of those movies, but I love seeing her take those swings. A very similar career path to post-Twilight Pattinson, even sharing the screen in High Life.
I really liked this! I didn't even pick up on the fact that Jenna Ortega's "Mousey Church Girl who gets seduced by a bad boy" is very much Ti West doing a pastiche of porn tropes in and of itself. I also like that even though this is a throwback to old school, grindhouse, exploitation slashers, it has a modern sensibility to it. The characters talk about love and sex in a surprisingly modern and mature way. There's no jealousy as to who has sex with who for stupid relationship drama. The porn actresses are given a lot of agency and the men aren't creepy sleaze balls. And the plot punishes both "moral" and "immoral" characters alike in a genre that usually punishes the promiscuous and druggies more severely.
I don't know. Wayne seemed like the textbook sleezebag but still not to an overtly obnoxious way. Plus RJ was definitely had a problem with his girlfriend performing sexual acts with another man right in front of him.
Such a beautifully shot film. The connection between RJ wanting to shoot an artistic adult movie and how Ti West has shot all of his films with his frequent director of photography. Stunning. The three dimensional layer of scare that West so perfectly crafts in all of his films. The nod to giallo. What an amazing film.
I enjoyed the film, it's well made, and that tense alligator swamp scene is arguably my favourite part of it. However, I felt like the constant homage and referencing held the film back. Some weak moments that just completely undercut much of the tension and intrigue that came before it, left me frustrated. Curious to see how well it holds up a second time round.
I didn’t have high expectations for this movie, but I ended up liking it a lot. Be sure to stick around until after the end credits and try not to read about it beforehand.
I put Ti West up there with John Peele, Eli Roth, Lars Von Trier, James Wan and Rob Zombie as the truly talented and reliable, post-millennium horror directors. Stephen King said good horror is like trying to find a diamond in the rough, and these guys nearly always produce diamonds
I found it very refreshing but admired the attempt at something innovative and fresh. I understand it has influence from Texas chainsaw but found it very enjoyable and best horror I’ve seen for a few years.
I really couldn't get behind this film at all. Sure the 70s aesthetic was great but the clangingly-obvious theme of ageing was hammered into you until it suddenly wasn't, and didn't matter. I was shocked to discover afterwards that Mia Goth played the old lady - it was jarring to me that it was so obviously played by a younger person (greater flexibility and control of her movements than would be realistic) and there just seemed to be no point to that decision at all. Yes, we get that people age and still experience lust etc - the film outright tells you that - but so what? We get more conservative as we age but really we're all the same horny kids? Maybe I'm thick, or maybe the elderly characters were just totally undeveloped - isn't the film ultimately about them? Isn't that the point of casting one actor in both those roles? If it had even just been an exploitation throwback with great visuals and creative death scenes, that would have been enough for me. But the characters just disappear with very little build up and no real tension at all. The only scene I thought was interesting really was the one where Mia Goth is in the lake with the alligator. That was nicely done visually but totally undone by the laughable death scene which that previous encounter was setting up. You could argue that there are other themes touched on by the film but I just don't feel like it has anything to say about them beyond that which is totally obvious to anyone. For example, when the subject of the TV preacher is revealed at the end it's an absolute eye-roller - so lazy and on the nose, and it just makes me want to watch Taxi Driver again to see it done properly. On a positive note, the acting was above-par and the film looked great in the most part (elderly make-up aside). Mia Goth was compelling in this type of role (well, one of them).
Right. The fact all the violence seemed to stem from not being desired anymore wasn't enough. They should have gone deeper with the old couple. Not necessarily a TCM situation but something else sinister.
I liked first half second half found rather boring and slow. Would have enjoyed it to explore Jenna was dating the boy a bit more as I didn’t realise they were dating until she started looking for him, as left for minutes a little bit into start
"I thought it was entertainingly repugnant...it was a lot of fun" ... my thoughts exactly. It might not be a classic or a masterpiece, but I enjoyed the ride from start to finish. Fun characters, brilliant score, great gore.
Personally don't think Mark is giving it enough credit cause I found a lot of it very poignant and almost touching. It's a fun movie but I think it has a lot more purpose than to just be a splatter fest.
There's a few scenes with the older couple where they're grappling with the decay of their bodies and therefore the decay of the sex life that I found really emotional.
I enjoyed it, but found it more creepy than scary. It was a pastiche, but it was also neither reverential nor felt the need to resort to parody. Of course, one aspect of the subject-matter, i.e. porn, lends itself to the inevitable double entendres and phallic symbols. For the most part, however, the humor was a natural dynamic of the character interaction. In keeping with a key theme of the film, the only passionate sex scene did not involve any of the "pornographic" sequences. While the motivation behind the obligatory bloodshed is decidedly psychosexual in nature, what truly lied behind such outburst of extreme violence is made less clear. Despite the fact I found the gore scenes to be executed far too predictably, overall I found the movie strangely compelling. I'd give it a "B+."
I thought it was okay. My decades are 70's, 80's, and 90's. And I love 70's exploitation and 70's and 80's giallo. This year, I've watched far more 70's movies then any other decade this year and X[2022]...didn't feel that 70's to be honest. Clearly inspired by Texas chainsaw massacre...but my point is "I rather watch Texas chainsaw massacre then." with a little Eaten alive thrown in. To me it felt like a modern film trying to be 70's. The soundtrack I found pretty boring. Wasn't as sleazy and 70's as films from the actual 70's...I mean come on, this film is going back to "70's exploitation" REALLY?! Watch any of the 70's cannibal films. Watch Schoolgirls in chains, Don't go in the house. Watch the Emmanuelle [Laura Gemser] movies. Watch Thriller: A cruel picture. I can name multiple sleazy 70's exploitation films. And the directing....didn't really stand out to me at all. "ya, you like Texas chainsaw massacre" That's it. You know, I watch all of these 70's and 80's movie and you got shots from leaves, shots from flowers, etc and I am like "You never see that in a modern film." The only time this film did that was literally just ripping off Texas chainsaw massacre. That's it. Often times you got those awesome 70's and 80's soundtracks and montages. With the camera shooting from the trees as an awesome soundtrack plays, and the characters are walking, maybe even playing, running in the field. Multiple shots from different angles. Sun flare in the camera, etc. a film like Sunset cove; awesome soundtrack plays and we see multiple shots of people partying. Multiple close up shots just random people. I NEVER EVER SEE THAT IN A MODERN FILM. NEVER. Same with close up of eyes and faces. Where the camera shows multiple people reacting, or multiple back and forth shots, and from different angles. Films like Eyeball and Sleepaway camp come to mind. Or shots like, I'll use Tenebrae for example. Just watched it for the 10th time two nights ago. John Saxon is murdered and there is a shot of a character in red high heels walking and it's JUST the shot of her walking and just showing the shoes. I never see shots like that. The over all structure and vibe of the film X didn't feel like old school film making. Hellbender felt more authentic then X and that didn't even take place in the 70's. I've seen several 2020's films where I said "this is old school film making" Sick from Kevin WIlliamson, I said to my self "This feels like a 90's movie." and further evidence that the Scream franchise has lost it without Kevin WIlliamson and Wes Craven. Sick blows Scream 5 and 6 out of the water. Sick felt more like a Scream movie then Scream 5 and 6!!!!! Then "crimes of the future" 100% felt like it could of easily come out in the 70's or 80's. This movie X....100% felt like a modern film. Other then the 70's style; clothing, music, makeup, etc. Other then some scenes ripping off Texas chainsaw massacre it's a modern film. Same with the film Prey. Prey 100% didn't feel authentic to me. One of the reasons why I was let down by Prey was because 1.Too modern. 2.It's suppose to take place in the 1800's, but the dialog, characters, etc all feel 100% modern. As for the whole evangelical aspect. Couldn't help but notice how they spliced in film footage from the 70's documentary Marjoe. Marjoe Gortner was a evangelical preacher, who was an admitted atheist who literally mocks all the people he's scamming and admits his preacher parents taught him from the age of like 4 how to scam people for jesus. And of course in the 70's especially in rural america it was "tent revivals" which Marjoe was a part of. And yes, to me the preacher felt way too modern. I just found it to be "it's alright." i rather just watch actual 70's movies. 70's slashers/gialli/thrillers.
Was really disappointed with this. Am a big fan of Ti West, but found this a trope filled slasher - no more no less. Was relatively entertained but was expecting a more genre bending production.
"PEARL", biblically, means your "treasure" : 📖 *Matthew 7:6* _“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."_ The term _"pearl"_ has often been used as a synonym for vagina and loose women _"casting their pearl"_ , i.e., giving or selling the best of themselves (their _"treasure"_ ) to opportunist and vultures. 🤔 Curious thing that the character who most desperately wants to have sexual relations in the film, as well as the character who identifies with "Maxine" and says she "knows" Maxine, happens to be named *PEARL* _(in a movie where every female is casting her pearl)._
Wanted so much to like this film. Ty West knows how to frame a scene and Mia Goth is really good, but ultimately it turned into just another slasher film. I was bored by the third act.
I heard the BBC can't afford them, but I don't know if that means the BBC wanted to negotiate a lower fee, or if KermodeAndMayo wanted to negotiate a higher fee... I guess they will pop up on Scala Radio.
I think it's very strange that Mark said this about 2 of the characters called Bobby-Lynne and Jackson: "They have a very open attitude to sex on screen, that's acting rather than actual sex, and can't understand why people get hung up about it." It's like Mark missed the fact that they had "actual sex" on camera for the film-within-a-film, but they did, right?
Mia Goth has a really interesting presence in almost all her movies. But X was such a generic bore. I was expecting something different, but instead I got a hilariously ridiculous Mike Meyers movie. lol.
I can’t underestimate how much I hated this yesterday, lacks any genuine fear, lacklustre violence/gore, and has a weird treatment of women. It’s not for me
This movie is a well deserved vehicle for Mia Goth. She was "adorable"😊 in *_'Emma'_* ... ruclips.net/video/IRReULdHavM/видео.html ...but "Goth" name aside, I wouldn't have guessed that she'd attain more popularity from a campy "Horror" series _(apparently more than her appearances in 'Suspiria' and 'High Life' did for her)._ Interesting to see her in the dual roles of both "Maxine" (the porn vixen) and the geriatric "Pearl". And now for the prequel..... ruclips.net/video/IaDtXXviU8k/видео.html 📽 🎬
When Mark says "a certain section of mad America at the moment", what do think he means? (As in, hasn't there always been a fire and brimstone element to some of Americas conservative Christianity, has it suddenly got worse recently? Or does he just mean Trump?)
Yes, they've always been there. He just means the film is pointing at the modern aspects of those groups, the stuff that's relevant today, even though it's a period piece. I haven't seen the film so I can only go off what he says here. It's not that it's got suddenly worse, it's more than it's very much to the forefront these days. In the past, pre-social media and so on, it was likely to be more in the background, unless you were directly involved. He obviously has his connection to it but I don't see it being about Trumpy in any way.
You're right it's always been there but they seem more vocal these days thanks to social media. That group has also mixed with some high profile gritfers who try to hide their misogyny and racism behind the veil of religion and others that peddle wild conspiracy theories. I'd imagine he is referring to that when he says 'mad America'.
This film was straight up average. If it wasn’t associated with A24 people wouldn’t be praising it so much. It’s not bad, it’s just not… anything. Forgettable.
The only things this movie did well were the photography, and the pacing. Every other category was incommensurate to these 2. I completely disagree that The “jab towards the Christian Right” was in any way shape or form effectively delivered, on the contrary I think there simply was no critique like this at all. The evangelist on the TV was the mcguffin, and it does not say much of anything interesting in regards to a critique of morality. House of the Devil was much better, this film wasn’t scary and every single one of its scenes which aimed at homage felt too on the nose.
The dreadful aging make up seemed like a bizarre creative choice that took me out of the movie whenever they were on screen. I heard they are doing a trilogy, hence the aging make up, but NEVER make decision in-movie that lessen that movie for a future movie. Cast for each age sperately. GREAT first act and set up, but hamstrung by the annoying meta-position to the narrative that the aging make up gave me. I spent the whole time wondering why. A bizarre choice in an otherwise decent movie, but one that kinda ruined it for me.
Effective and so close to Classic status but very sadly it's frustrating while viewing. So many missed opportunities. SUBTLE SPOILER: How do they not choose the "member" of the cast for the sexual assault scene? What an American commentary that would've made. So many lost opportunities to really say something or be more inventive w/ suspense. Great visually, beautiful in its own way, but so predictable, w/ illogical sound & dialogue, and sadly they betrayed such great acting performances w/ distractingly stupid character decisions.
It is amazing to me that people of all ages now are so invested in talking and being seen. this reviewer talks so much but says so little. what a horrible job they do. a useless site unless you like watching old guys go on and on about nothing
Prior to *_'Hereditary'_* , I remember *_'The House of The Devil'_* being the first 21st century Horror genre film to come across to me (personally) as a return to the feel of 20th century Horror genre classics. Years ago, I met _Tom Noonan_ here in NYC. He is in _'The House of..'_ , but our brief convo was focused on his appearance in the Michael Mann classic *_'Heat'_* _(Dinero, Pacino, Kilmer, Trejo, Sizemore, etc.)._
The movie was OK at best 2.4 out of 5 stars. Let's disassemble the components of the movie. First the easy part, remove the sex scenes. The sex was just lame soft porn filler to justify part of the plot and the movie title. Now we're left with 5 murders scenes: #1) is a stabbing in the neck (somewhat graphic and brutal) #2) is a pitch fork in the eyes through barn wall (typical, nothing special) #3) A guy killed with a shotgun by a pond (off camera and uneventful) #4) A girl getting her head eaten by a gator (cool at best) #5) A girl gets blasted in the head by a shot gun out of focus (uneventful, although her face was gnarly when they showed it). 5a.) A dead dude chained to the ceiling with his pants down promoting Hebrew National hotdogs. Shock factor to make the otherwise boring basement more diabolical. Oh my God! They didn't clean the lint catch in the dryer!!!!! #6) An old woman gets her head run over by a van at the end. One girl gets away (lucky her) and none of the deaths were anything spectacular or anything you haven't already seen from another horror movie like Friday the 13th, Lake Placid, etc. Let's look at the plot. An X-rated film crew rents a remote cabin to film an X-rated film and they get murdered, that's it. The cabin owner (an elderly farmer) has a wife who appears to have slight dementia and cannot accept her aged body or the fact her husband will not have sexual relations with her anymore due to his heart condition. This bothers her because she considered herself to be a young beautiful "someone" (dancer) once. She has appears to envy the long lost youthfulness of the X-rated film crew and develops a strong disdain towards them. In combination with her husbands constant rejection of her advances equests she goes on a deranged killing spree. This macabre obsession with youthfulness appears to have occurred before prior to the film crew arriving by the evidence of the guy chained in the basement and abandoned cars in the swamp. The ONLY thing I found myself cringing at in this movie, and it takes a lot for me to cringe, was averting my eyes to avoid watching two human raisins attempt the horizontal mambo, which was preceded by murmuring to myself, "Please God no, stop. Don't do that, No, don't do that. ah fuk they're doing it." So, basically this is a rip off of outstanding 2003 remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre . Just swap out Thomas Hewett with an elderly deranged woman (the killer) and Sheriff Hoyt for the old lady's husband (draws in the victims). Introduce a remote farm. Invite some young fresh meat. Deceive, divide and destroy the flock. I will admit there were some cool scene transitions. But, the movie story could have been so much better. It's like Hollywood just keeps regurgitating revisions of plots and scenarios that we've all seen before. It gets a 2.4 out of 5. Would I see it again? No, because it just doesn't have that re-watch quality.
Yeah I DID. NOT. GET why there was a sex scene between the old couple, yes I get both actors are actually younger for real which makes it all the more pointless. Human raisins?!! 💀☠💀☠💀☠💀☠
Just watched it..and switched off after half way when the kills started as it was just nonsense. Its an awful film, that doesnt do much..and its a total waste of some good actors. Really aint worth watching and definitely dont pay to watch this!
Wow... overrated dross. One of a24's worst films which is such a shame. The story is weak, it offers nothing, and is by far the worst horror in decades.
Really enjoyed this one, just the right balance of horror and comedy. Baffled and not a little annoyed that A24 chose to cut the post-credit scene from the UK release, though.
The new version of "Oui, Oui, Marie" he mentions at the end is by goth/folk/metal singer Chelsea Wolfe. It really is an excellent tune worth checking out.
I love Chelsea Wolf I’ve seen her live three times and her life performances are truly breathtaking
Chelsea Wolfe is absolutely super
Clicked on this review specifically in the hope of seeing some chelsea wolfe love! it is a beautiful cover
I’ve seen her live once. One of the greatest experiences of my life. Truly magical
@@brianmurphy9532 oo9 no ooh ooh
"She can actually act" great cut at Leto, lol
I'm still hoping that when Zack Snyder gets to continue his Justice League trilogy, he replaces Jared with Richard Brake, who would make probably the best live action Joker we've seen.
I know I laughed so hard when he said that
@@sgtraytango I kept thinking Richard Brake was Jack Napier in the 1989 Batman but it was 100% not. But years later he actually WAS Joe Chill in Batman Returns. That kinda blew my mind.
Kermode didn’t miss a beat there, lol.
If Leto is in something, I have to automatically detract a star.
I absolutely loved this film. There were several character deaths that actually choked me up because I really cared about the characters
Yeah Mia Goth sure has a knack for picking oddball roles and I love that about her. Cure for Wellness, High Life, Nymphomaniac, Suspiria, Devil all the Time.
I can't say I love all of those movies, but I love seeing her take those swings. A very similar career path to post-Twilight Pattinson, even sharing the screen in High Life.
Mia Goth is not in Devil All The Time, are you thinking of Mia Wasikowski?
"...somebody who appears quite fearless on screen."
"Jared Leto?"
"No, no, no no - no -no nooo no... no, no, no noo no."
I really liked this! I didn't even pick up on the fact that Jenna Ortega's "Mousey Church Girl who gets seduced by a bad boy" is very much Ti West doing a pastiche of porn tropes in and of itself.
I also like that even though this is a throwback to old school, grindhouse, exploitation slashers, it has a modern sensibility to it. The characters talk about love and sex in a surprisingly modern and mature way. There's no jealousy as to who has sex with who for stupid relationship drama. The porn actresses are given a lot of agency and the men aren't creepy sleaze balls. And the plot punishes both "moral" and "immoral" characters alike in a genre that usually punishes the promiscuous and druggies more severely.
I don't know. Wayne seemed like the textbook sleezebag but still not to an overtly obnoxious way.
Plus RJ was definitely had a problem with his girlfriend performing sexual acts with another man right in front of him.
I just dont get how she was seduced? I felt her lust and selfishness was the downfall of the entire group
Such a beautifully shot film. The connection between RJ wanting to shoot an artistic adult movie and how Ti West has shot all of his films with his frequent director of photography. Stunning. The three dimensional layer of scare that West so perfectly crafts in all of his films. The nod to giallo. What an amazing film.
That crusade against Leto continues, and I wholly approve. That aside, I might check this out.
I enjoyed the film, it's well made, and that tense alligator swamp scene is arguably my favourite part of it. However, I felt like the constant homage and referencing held the film back. Some weak moments that just completely undercut much of the tension and intrigue that came before it, left me frustrated. Curious to see how well it holds up a second time round.
This film was Xcellent and Xceeded my expectations!
Ayyyyyy
FiXed: This film was Xcellent and Xceeded my Xpectations!
This movie has reviewed well across the board, which is rare for horror. Can't wait to see it!
This is the best horror I've seen for a long time. Such an unsettling atmosphere and a fantastic build up of tension.
Couldn't agree more. When you've been watching horror for years it's very hard to take a viewer by surprise, but I was more than once.
I’m glad someone else found the opening gag funny.
I didn’t have high expectations for this movie, but I ended up liking it a lot. Be sure to stick around until after the end credits and try not to read about it beforehand.
I put Ti West up there with John Peele, Eli Roth, Lars Von Trier, James Wan and Rob Zombie as the truly talented and reliable, post-millennium horror directors. Stephen King said good horror is like trying to find a diamond in the rough, and these guys nearly always produce diamonds
Wut?
Lmaoooo at the Jared Leto bit
While it might have been pointed at modern issues, I also think it shows how little things changed in many ways.
I found it very refreshing but admired the attempt at something innovative and fresh. I understand it has influence from Texas chainsaw but found it very enjoyable and best horror I’ve seen for a few years.
Did you mean to write "and" where you've written "but"?
Hell, this was a more satisfying Texas Chainsaw film than the recent take that came on Netflix.
I love you for dissing Jared Leto 😍😍
same
I really couldn't get behind this film at all. Sure the 70s aesthetic was great but the clangingly-obvious theme of ageing was hammered into you until it suddenly wasn't, and didn't matter. I was shocked to discover afterwards that Mia Goth played the old lady - it was jarring to me that it was so obviously played by a younger person (greater flexibility and control of her movements than would be realistic) and there just seemed to be no point to that decision at all. Yes, we get that people age and still experience lust etc - the film outright tells you that - but so what? We get more conservative as we age but really we're all the same horny kids? Maybe I'm thick, or maybe the elderly characters were just totally undeveloped - isn't the film ultimately about them? Isn't that the point of casting one actor in both those roles?
If it had even just been an exploitation throwback with great visuals and creative death scenes, that would have been enough for me. But the characters just disappear with very little build up and no real tension at all. The only scene I thought was interesting really was the one where Mia Goth is in the lake with the alligator. That was nicely done visually but totally undone by the laughable death scene which that previous encounter was setting up.
You could argue that there are other themes touched on by the film but I just don't feel like it has anything to say about them beyond that which is totally obvious to anyone. For example, when the subject of the TV preacher is revealed at the end it's an absolute eye-roller - so lazy and on the nose, and it just makes me want to watch Taxi Driver again to see it done properly.
On a positive note, the acting was above-par and the film looked great in the most part (elderly make-up aside). Mia Goth was compelling in this type of role (well, one of them).
Right. The fact all the violence seemed to stem from not being desired anymore wasn't enough. They should have gone deeper with the old couple. Not necessarily a TCM situation but something else sinister.
Completely agreep
Ok? The fact that the film had anything to say at all besides just being a mediocre run-of-the-mill slasher is big props in itself 💯
I agree totally. A lot of the creative decisions didnt actually work, especially the aging make up rather than just cast amazing old actors.
@@davidcauley9400 I thought it worked great and it was a total shock to find out the same person played 2 characters
I liked first half second half found rather boring and slow. Would have enjoyed it to explore Jenna was dating the boy a bit more as I didn’t realise they were dating until she started looking for him, as left for minutes a little bit into start
She looks all of 12 in this pick and he's fugly they made such a weird, creepy couple
"I thought it was entertainingly repugnant...it was a lot of fun" ... my thoughts exactly. It might not be a classic or a masterpiece, but I enjoyed the ride from start to finish. Fun characters, brilliant score, great gore.
Personally don't think Mark is giving it enough credit cause I found a lot of it very poignant and almost touching. It's a fun movie but I think it has a lot more purpose than to just be a splatter fest.
Could you tell me a little more? I really like your comment. I like the idea that it’s genuinely touching
It has a very raw, sad undertone of the depression of being elderly and incapacitated by old age, the longing for youth that has long since passed.
There's a few scenes with the older couple where they're grappling with the decay of their bodies and therefore the decay of the sex life that I found really emotional.
There was one moment when they looked similar and wondered if they were meant to but didn’t realise same actress playing both
Quality movie but it’s not unique enough to be classed as a masterpiece. Very refreshing to not see trash from Hollywood though
It’s now on Amazon prime
Was that a Leto burn? 😆
Not at all. Mark's a BIG fan of Leto.
Good luck googling the film.
I mean, “X 2022 film” isn’t hard to come by.
@@BareBandSubscription unless someone misspells come 🙄
@@BareBandSubscriptiongood luck at parties
I enjoyed it, but found it more creepy than scary. It was a pastiche, but it was also neither reverential nor felt the need to resort to parody. Of course, one aspect of the subject-matter, i.e. porn, lends itself to the inevitable double entendres and phallic symbols. For the most part, however, the humor was a natural dynamic of the character interaction. In keeping with a key theme of the film, the only passionate sex scene did not involve any of the "pornographic" sequences. While the motivation behind the obligatory bloodshed is decidedly psychosexual in nature, what truly lied behind such outburst of extreme violence is made less clear. Despite the fact I found the gore scenes to be executed far too predictably, overall I found the movie strangely compelling. I'd give it a "B+."
I thought it was okay. My decades are 70's, 80's, and 90's. And I love 70's exploitation and 70's and 80's giallo.
This year, I've watched far more 70's movies then any other decade this year and X[2022]...didn't feel that 70's to be honest. Clearly inspired by Texas chainsaw massacre...but my point is "I rather watch Texas chainsaw massacre then." with a little Eaten alive thrown in. To me it felt like a modern film trying to be 70's. The soundtrack I found pretty boring. Wasn't as sleazy and 70's as films from the actual 70's...I mean come on, this film is going back to "70's exploitation" REALLY?! Watch any of the 70's cannibal films. Watch Schoolgirls in chains, Don't go in the house. Watch the Emmanuelle [Laura Gemser] movies. Watch Thriller: A cruel picture. I can name multiple sleazy 70's exploitation films.
And the directing....didn't really stand out to me at all.
"ya, you like Texas chainsaw massacre" That's it. You know, I watch all of these 70's and 80's movie and you got shots from leaves, shots from flowers, etc and I am like "You never see that in a modern film." The only time this film did that was literally just ripping off Texas chainsaw massacre. That's it. Often times you got those awesome 70's and 80's soundtracks and montages. With the camera shooting from the trees as an awesome soundtrack plays, and the characters are walking, maybe even playing, running in the field. Multiple shots from different angles. Sun flare in the camera, etc. a film like Sunset cove; awesome soundtrack plays and we see multiple shots of people partying. Multiple close up shots just random people. I NEVER EVER SEE THAT IN A MODERN FILM. NEVER. Same with close up of eyes and faces. Where the camera shows multiple people reacting, or multiple back and forth shots, and from different angles. Films like Eyeball and Sleepaway camp come to mind. Or shots like, I'll use Tenebrae for example. Just watched it for the 10th time two nights ago. John Saxon is murdered and there is a shot of a character in red high heels walking and it's JUST the shot of her walking and just showing the shoes. I never see shots like that. The over all structure and vibe of the film X didn't feel like old school film making. Hellbender felt more authentic then X and that didn't even take place in the 70's.
I've seen several 2020's films where I said "this is old school film making" Sick from Kevin WIlliamson, I said to my self "This feels like a 90's movie." and further evidence that the Scream franchise has lost it without Kevin WIlliamson and Wes Craven. Sick blows Scream 5 and 6 out of the water. Sick felt more like a Scream movie then Scream 5 and 6!!!!! Then "crimes of the future" 100% felt like it could of easily come out in the 70's or 80's. This movie X....100% felt like a modern film. Other then the 70's style; clothing, music, makeup, etc. Other then some scenes ripping off Texas chainsaw massacre it's a modern film.
Same with the film Prey. Prey 100% didn't feel authentic to me. One of the reasons why I was let down by Prey was because
1.Too modern.
2.It's suppose to take place in the 1800's, but the dialog, characters, etc all feel 100% modern.
As for the whole evangelical aspect. Couldn't help but notice how they spliced in film footage from the 70's documentary Marjoe. Marjoe Gortner was a evangelical preacher, who was an admitted atheist who literally mocks all the people he's scamming and admits his preacher parents taught him from the age of like 4 how to scam people for jesus.
And of course in the 70's especially in rural america it was "tent revivals" which Marjoe was a part of. And yes, to me the preacher felt way too modern.
I just found it to be "it's alright." i rather just watch actual 70's movies. 70's slashers/gialli/thrillers.
Was really disappointed with this. Am a big fan of Ti West, but found this a trope filled slasher - no more no less. Was relatively entertained but was expecting a more genre bending production.
"PEARL", biblically, means your "treasure" :
📖 *Matthew 7:6*
_“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."_
The term _"pearl"_ has often been used as a synonym for vagina and loose women _"casting their pearl"_ , i.e., giving or selling the best of themselves (their _"treasure"_ ) to opportunist and vultures.
🤔 Curious thing that the character who most desperately wants to have sexual relations in the film, as well as the character who identifies with "Maxine" and says she "knows" Maxine, happens to be named *PEARL* _(in a movie where every female is casting her pearl)._
I enjoyed the Jared Leto shade, lol
“Getting along famously” 😅
Rejected tagline: "X Gon' Give It To Ya!"
3:51 Shoots fired DOA 3:59
Mia Goth was awesome playing Pearl and Maxine
Wanted so much to like this film. Ty West knows how to frame a scene and Mia Goth is really good, but ultimately it turned into just another slasher film. I was bored by the third act.
Wheres Kermode going afte the Beeb? Any ideas?
I heard the BBC can't afford them, but I don't know if that means the BBC wanted to negotiate a lower fee, or if KermodeAndMayo wanted to negotiate a higher fee... I guess they will pop up on Scala Radio.
This sounds awesome and I need to go see it.
I'm with Simon Mayo...sorry, is this a horror film or a Boogie Nights redux?
I think it's very strange that Mark said this about 2 of the characters called Bobby-Lynne and Jackson:
"They have a very open attitude to sex on screen, that's acting rather than actual sex, and can't understand why people get hung up about it."
It's like Mark missed the fact that they had "actual sex" on camera for the film-within-a-film, but they did, right?
No I think you missed the point. They did have actual sex but to them it wasn’t actual sex as they see it as acting.
@@joshhunt4146 yes I think you're right
Enjoyed it and had no idea Mia Goth also played Pearl, bonkers!!
Good, booked it, was unsure what it was before this so this sold it for me.
It would have been better if they’d just had old people playing old people. Would have been way more horrifying.
Definitely enjoyed the movie
Mia Goth has a really interesting presence in almost all her movies. But X was such a generic bore. I was expecting something different, but instead I got a hilariously ridiculous Mike Meyers movie. lol.
It was amazing and I know nothing about the horror genre.
loved this film so much
Love your reviews but the camera is often out of focus.
Its radio, it barely matters 😹
@@MsZeeZed But slightly annoying
@@jasoncraig606 only if you watch it!
I can’t underestimate how much I hated this yesterday, lacks any genuine fear, lacklustre violence/gore, and has a weird treatment of women. It’s not for me
Straight up agree, I really hated this too.
Glad I’m not the only one who hated this movie 👍
The alligator eats Brittany scene[talk about innuendo]was so damn predictable. Ray Charles could see that one coming
This movie is a well deserved vehicle for Mia Goth. She was "adorable"😊 in *_'Emma'_* ...
ruclips.net/video/IRReULdHavM/видео.html
...but "Goth" name aside, I wouldn't have guessed that she'd attain more popularity from a campy "Horror" series _(apparently more than her appearances in 'Suspiria' and 'High Life' did for her)._
Interesting to see her in the dual roles of both "Maxine" (the porn vixen) and the geriatric "Pearl". And now for the prequel.....
ruclips.net/video/IaDtXXviU8k/видео.html 📽 🎬
Will give this a go.
When Mark says "a certain section of mad America at the moment", what do think he means? (As in, hasn't there always been a fire and brimstone element to some of Americas conservative Christianity, has it suddenly got worse recently? Or does he just mean Trump?)
Yes, they've always been there. He just means the film is pointing at the modern aspects of those groups, the stuff that's relevant today, even though it's a period piece. I haven't seen the film so I can only go off what he says here.
It's not that it's got suddenly worse, it's more than it's very much to the forefront these days. In the past, pre-social media and so on, it was likely to be more in the background, unless you were directly involved. He obviously has his connection to it but I don't see it being about Trumpy in any way.
You're right it's always been there but they seem more vocal these days thanks to social media. That group has also mixed with some high profile gritfers who try to hide their misogyny and racism behind the veil of religion and others that peddle wild conspiracy theories. I'd imagine he is referring to that when he says 'mad America'.
the jared leto part lmfaooo
This film was straight up average. If it wasn’t associated with A24 people wouldn’t be praising it so much. It’s not bad, it’s just not… anything. Forgettable.
What does ootrey mean?🤔
Outré: unusual and typically rather shocking.
@@ArnoldQMudskipper thank you🙂
The only things this movie did well were the photography, and the pacing. Every other category was incommensurate to these 2. I completely disagree that The “jab towards the Christian Right” was in any way shape or form effectively delivered, on the contrary I think there simply was no critique like this at all. The evangelist on the TV was the mcguffin, and it does not say much of anything interesting in regards to a critique of morality. House of the Devil was much better, this film wasn’t scary and every single one of its scenes which aimed at homage felt too on the nose.
The dreadful aging make up seemed like a bizarre creative choice that took me out of the movie whenever they were on screen. I heard they are doing a trilogy, hence the aging make up, but NEVER make decision in-movie that lessen that movie for a future movie. Cast for each age sperately. GREAT first act and set up, but hamstrung by the annoying meta-position to the narrative that the aging make up gave me. I spent the whole time wondering why. A bizarre choice in an otherwise decent movie, but one that kinda ruined it for me.
Mark and Simon need to chill with the Leto jokes, it's a weekly event now. Give the man a chance to redeem himself lmao
he's had plenty chances already & plenty dollars to dry his tears if he cared enough to try.
@@JJJackson777 Well he's got another chance with Morbius which is out soon (looks terrible) lol
I made the same comment about the opening barn door scene. Please check out my review
This movie is really good.
I saw it.. it's great!
Excellent film.
Simon Mayo is a great patient, enquiring, sarcastic, salty foil for Mark Kermode's verbal diarrhea rambling reviews
Asexual here.
Objection.
Jared Leto can act!!
Effective and so close to Classic status but very sadly it's frustrating while viewing. So many missed opportunities.
SUBTLE SPOILER: How do they not choose the "member" of the cast for the sexual assault scene? What an American commentary that would've made. So many lost opportunities to really say something or be more inventive w/ suspense. Great visually, beautiful in its own way, but so predictable, w/ illogical sound & dialogue, and sadly they betrayed such great acting performances w/ distractingly stupid character decisions.
This review is painfully bad
It is amazing to me that people of all ages now are so invested in talking and being seen. this reviewer talks so much but says so little. what a horrible job they do. a useless site unless you like watching old guys go on and on about nothing
"entertainingly repugnant"
Texas chainsaw massacre hasn’t got nothing on this movie… Ti West is so good I liked The House of the Devil he did…
I assume you mean the "requel" that just came out? Hard agree. This has more DNA with the original TCSM than any of its follow ups.
Prior to *_'Hereditary'_* , I remember *_'The House of The Devil'_* being the first 21st century Horror genre film to come across to me (personally) as a return to the feel of 20th century Horror genre classics.
Years ago, I met _Tom Noonan_ here in NYC. He is in _'The House of..'_ , but our brief convo was focused on his appearance in the Michael Mann classic *_'Heat'_* _(Dinero, Pacino, Kilmer, Trejo, Sizemore, etc.)._
Check your camera Mark. You're so out of focus man.
The movie was OK at best 2.4 out of 5 stars. Let's disassemble the components of the movie. First the easy part, remove the sex scenes. The sex was just lame soft porn filler to justify part of the plot and the movie title.
Now we're left with 5 murders scenes:
#1) is a stabbing in the neck (somewhat graphic and brutal)
#2) is a pitch fork in the eyes through barn wall (typical, nothing special)
#3) A guy killed with a shotgun by a pond (off camera and uneventful)
#4) A girl getting her head eaten by a gator (cool at best)
#5) A girl gets blasted in the head by a shot gun out of focus (uneventful, although her face was gnarly when they showed it).
5a.) A dead dude chained to the ceiling with his pants down promoting Hebrew National hotdogs. Shock factor to make the otherwise boring basement more diabolical. Oh my God! They didn't clean the lint catch in the dryer!!!!!
#6) An old woman gets her head run over by a van at the end.
One girl gets away (lucky her) and none of the deaths were anything spectacular or anything you haven't already seen from another horror movie like Friday the 13th, Lake Placid, etc.
Let's look at the plot. An X-rated film crew rents a remote cabin to film an X-rated film and they get murdered, that's it. The cabin owner (an elderly farmer) has a wife who appears to have slight dementia and cannot accept her aged body or the fact her husband will not have sexual relations with her anymore due to his heart condition. This bothers her because she considered herself to be a young beautiful "someone" (dancer) once. She has appears to envy the long lost youthfulness of the X-rated film crew and develops a strong disdain towards them. In combination with her husbands constant rejection of her advances
equests she goes on a deranged killing spree. This macabre obsession with youthfulness appears to have occurred before prior to the film crew arriving by the evidence of the guy chained in the basement and abandoned cars in the swamp. The ONLY thing I found myself cringing at in this movie, and it takes a lot for me to cringe, was averting my eyes to avoid watching two human raisins attempt the horizontal mambo, which was preceded by murmuring to myself, "Please God no, stop. Don't do that, No, don't do that. ah fuk they're doing it."
So, basically this is a rip off of outstanding 2003 remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre . Just swap out Thomas Hewett with an elderly deranged woman (the killer) and Sheriff Hoyt for the old lady's husband (draws in the victims). Introduce a remote farm. Invite some young fresh meat. Deceive, divide and destroy the flock. I will admit there were some cool scene transitions. But, the movie story could have been so much better. It's like Hollywood just keeps regurgitating revisions of plots and scenarios that we've all seen before. It gets a 2.4 out of 5. Would I see it again? No, because it just doesn't have that re-watch quality.
Yeah I DID. NOT. GET why there was a sex scene between the old couple, yes I get both actors are actually younger for real which makes it all the more pointless. Human raisins?!! 💀☠💀☠💀☠💀☠
@Lavern Merriweather I think it was for the gag factor 😂
I hated this movie.
Just watched it..and switched off after half way when the kills started as it was just nonsense.
Its an awful film, that doesnt do much..and its a total waste of some good actors. Really aint worth watching and definitely dont pay to watch this!
Just caught this. Flat and predictable.
Wow... overrated dross. One of a24's worst films which is such a shame. The story is weak, it offers nothing, and is by far the worst horror in decades.