The Best Slasher Movie In Years Shows Where Horror Franchises Have Failed
Ti West’s X is one of the best slashers in recent years, and the movie’s strengths show precisely where other horror franchises have failed. Released to widely positive reviews, the slasher successfully honors the genre’s roots while viewing the characters through a modern lens. At a time when most slashers are sequels, remakes, or requels, X is refreshingly simple and small in scope.
X follows a small group of adult filmmakers who attempt to make a pornographic movie at a secluded Texas farm. They hide their intentions from their hosts, a mysterious elderly couple who attack their young guests come nightfall. The slasher stars Mia Goth in the dual roles of adult film actor Maxine and the villainous Pearl, alongside Scream 2022’s Jenna Ortega as the group’s naïve outsider.
Related: X Movie Cast & Character Guide
Arguably the best slasher in many years, X pays homage to several horror classics while putting its own spin on a well-worn genre. However, its best trick is keeping everything small-scale, with a deceptively simple plot that’s rich in thematic content. Conversely, many recent horror movies have struggled to deliver a truly satisfying story due to their ties to a larger narrative. Unburdened by any franchise lore, X delivers on a slasher movie’s promise of being a whole lot of gory fun.
Opening with the ragtag film crew driving a van through rural Texas, X takes a clear nod from Tobe Hooper’s original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Finding bloodcurdling horror amid an otherwise idyllic setting, X’s back-to-basics approach is sorely missing among major horror franchises. There are no iconic villains, legacy characters or cumbersome continuity to preserve. It’s just a wildly entertaining story with engaging
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