Desire and age: horror movie X is as terrifying as it is sensitive

This week in First degreewe dive into what the high horror crossed with the genus of cutter can do better with the new A24 stamped film.

A small point of vocabulary for our dear readers who are less familiar with the genre: the Elevated horrible designate these horror movies with a strong artistic, political or social message. As for shreddersdepict a killer who eliminates members of a group.

Enlarge Xa small nugget capable of to get your hair on your head all in you shocking of emotion. The film is currently in theaters.

X, what is it? (without spoiler)

The southern United States, the 1970s, the road. Sex and blood. A tribute to the largest classics from horror cinemaway Massacre with the chainsaw Where is it The hills Have Eyes.

It was what X we promised. This is what he gave us.

But things don’t stop there, because Ti West’s film did a lot more: it surprised us a lot, moved us and made us reflect. Days after seeing itthe film continues to haunt us, to question us and to Does this make sense.

But before, XWhat is it about?

In the late 1970s, a film crew was hired an isolated house at the end of Texas to make a porn movie there. As night falls, the owners of the clubs – a couple of people so old that one wonders how they are still standing – surprise the amateur filmmakers in action … nightmare.

X will surprise you (review and analysis with spoiler)

X meets all expectations that we put into it. From the very first minutes, the soundtrack, costumes, sets and aesthetics Vintage ▾ of the image immerse us in a delightfully atmosphere seventies.

After traversing the main roads of Texas, the characters arrive at their destination and begin shooting various shots of their X movie. We are witnessing the creation of a film within a film : from the work of the technicians to the discussions during the breaks, passing through the moments of filming.

So where X it’s a very special horror movie, that’s right almost nothing else happens for the first hour. The film takes its time: we know we are here to be afraid, to see the characters gutted one by one, but we wonder why the butcher shop takes so long to get started.

However, this particular pace is not neither accidental nor a weakness of the script. On the contrary. If the director frustrate our expectations and let a certain rise frustration in us, is to make it clear that beyond a simple crossroad flashy and salesman between sexy and blood, X gate a profound reflection on the links between horror cinema and porn cinema.

One would expect to see a particularly explicit film when it comes to sex and violence. However, it is inside increased voltage and mise en abyme that the director excels. He prefers suggestion to demonstration… Up to the second part, where desire and violence explode togetherand where the movie suddenly it takes on all its meaning and depth thanks to its character nymphomaniac killer.

A movie of horror and desire (still with spoilers!)

All this work of rhythm and storytelling based on expectation and frustration of the viewer it is intrinsically linked to the character of Pearl.

eaten away unfulfilled sexual appetite because of a body no one wants anymore and the state of health of her husband on the verge of death, in this elderly lady is transformed killer beast. In the absence of power express desire in sex, Pearl kills those who still have the right e shows disgust towards him.

We have rarely seen a cutter of who is also the killer interesting, ambivalent and poetic. The character is as tragic as it is disturbing. We guarantee it will make you cringe (too scream) more than once. The film is also rich in directorial finds disturbing and disturbing than touching.

Rather than leaving it in dark corners or off the screen, the director lingers on the monster. Let’s think about the moment when Pearl put on makeup before killingin a desperate gesture to look at, please, share tenderness and sensuality despite its ugliness…

In vainbecause the only way out in an obsessed society skill, youth and beauty standards, is death. Pearl makes the violence she experiences as marginal, outside these norms.

If so is the character horrifyingand this’you can’t help but feel empathy for him. Among the reasons strange and disturbing empathythere is one in particular of strokes of genius of the film. In fact, the Pearl actress is also the one who plays Maxine, this character from young woman with hypnotic beauty.

Desire icon turn on a pornographic film, embodiment of beauty Today, Maxine will be Pearl tomorrow. Youth and beauty are not eternal. monstrosity lurks. Wait patiently for old age.

Featured image credit: © A24