With X, Ti West did something most directors could not. With his blend of an erotic theme and a horrifying plot, he captured the undivided attention of a massive audience. It was so brazenly tantalizing that fans were on pins and needles as they awaited West's follow-up feature, Pearl.
There is something cloaked and obscure about the title alone. If one thinks of X, one typically thinks of a letter of substitution. So, from the title alone, one could not fathom what X would encompass. However, within the first few minutes, the context of the film was apparent. The story follows some aspirational adults in the adult industry who come up with an exciting idea for their next feature, but what awaits them is a terrifying experience they will never forget. X was tawdry, but that was not unexpected, given the elements of soft porn. The approach was, as one might say, bold. In some ways, X took audiences back to classic slasher films like Friday the 13th. This was to be expected. As The Hollywood Reporter notes:
"West’s “inspiration for X, his meta slasher film starring Mia Goth, was the independent cinema of the 1970s."
Aside from the aesthetic, X's unsuspectingly monstrous antagonist Pearl was horrifying in every single way. It was an hour and 45 minutes of unadulterated adrenaline-pumping madness. So when it was announced that a follow-up feature, Pearl, would detail the development of the monster, anticipation skyrocketed.
TI West's Pearl
A24 Universal Pictures released Pearl in 2022, only six months after X, which was also unprecedented. And much like its predecessor, it was something to behold. It took fans down a rabbit hole of insanity that is unrivaled. Mia Goth killed it in her portrayal of the young antagonist. There was much to be said about the aesthetic, almost whimsical, and its intermarriage to such a disturbing storyline. Again, this was an artistic direction that fed beautifully into the storyline. As Salon notes,
“the aesthetic of the movie, which is this obvious theatricality, the Golden Age of Hollywood, and an odd childlike, almost Disney-esque wholesome world that is used to tell a demented story.”
And it was a formula that worked. The technical elements were one point of elevation. But Mia Goth was a force all her own. One couldn't help but be taken in by Pearl's dance into macabre musings. She was the penultimate psycho. In Screen Rant's description of Pearl's first trailer, a particular frame stands out:
"Pearl is frolicking in the field before dumping a man into the lake to be eaten by alligators."
Truly both merry and scary.
By the end of the film, not much was left to be said. Ti West and his creative team were geniuses. Even more surprising was the announcement of another film in the series, MaXXXine. While the first film left much to imagine by the looks of the title alone. This one leaves little to the imagination. However, given X and Pearl, one must wonder what Ti West's secret recipe is. What is the ultimate driver of the success of this franchise? While there is much to digest in the first two films. A proper analysis reveals three primary factors that drive the success of this franchise. There is no doubt that West is capable of going full throttle without disrupting the balance of tastefulness. Another thing that has to be said about this franchise is that it benefits from the allure of naughtiness. And third, storytelling is second to none.
Ti West Employs a No Holds Approach
West does not hold back. His imagery is vivid, and the darker points are sharp and brutal. Over the years, there has been a certain tameness in horror. Of course, there are deviations with films such as Terrifier 2, an unequivocal gore fest. But few can balance a solid plot and no-hold-bars terror. A balance is struck in X and Pearl as neither film overly exploits the killer's (monster) depravity. Both films flesh out a deeper story underneath. West’s monster has a motive. Although that motive is not understood by everyone, it's there. Amazingly West also elevates the basic horror trope. It is a typical movement in a horror piece to dangle elements that leave audiences expecting the revelation of something as the film builds. And West does a phenomenal job at teasing the possibilities. But regarding the delivery of the revelation, it is most unexpected and indeed mind-blowing. This type of storytelling is so bold that it magnetizes.
Ti West's Plot Point: The Allure of Naughtiness
There is a mantra that is well known in media, and that is sex sells. The adult industry is one of the most profitable industries in the world. As far as the entertainment industry is concerned, one need only look at the success of films like Magic Mike, Hustlers, or the popular series P-Valley, to understand the draw. All these offerings combine the elements of the adult industry with drama. They have been a great success. Thus, it’s a no-brainer that X has the magnetizing element to draw a fan base.
Historically, horror has often included promiscuity and terror. One of the most recognizable tropes is the virgin as the first victim. However, X and Pearl take on the themes of sex and horror in a new way. As soft-porn industry aspirations are a core storyline, sex is also nuanced to the point that it becomes a companion to larger themes such as dashed hopes, unrequited passions, and grandiose ambitions. But even given the greater contextual elements, one cannot deny that the adult-themed plot point is a significant reason for the success of this franchise.
Ti West Employs Great Storytelling
The most essential factor in the success of this franchise is storytelling. It's the adult theme that draws fans and the rawness that causes them to stick around, but it's the story that keeps them coming back for more. Pearl is the story of a girl who had dreams. However, life didn't pan out the way she had hoped. Of course, she is deeply flawed and has a deep inner darkness. That inability to realize those grand fantasies feeds the dark places in her. As Pearl meets Maxine in the feature X, she sees herself. She unloads all her ugliness, and it opens Maxine's eyes. By the end of the feature, the viewers can see a similar darkness bubble beneath Maxine’s exterior. Mia Goth brings it home in a manner that West believes is Oscar-worthy.
X and Pearl are solid works of horror that underscore the overwhelming support West's franchise has received. All these factors denote West's ability to use imagery, effects, and mechanics to tell a salacious story without compromising its deeper meaning. Both films may be divergent and risque but have an incomparable depth. And now fans look forward to seeing how MaXXXine fits into the story, tying it all together. And all clues point to a 2023 release. A small visual teaser for the film posted by A24 on April 5, 2023, included a "Coming Soon" tag; that means it will not be long before fans see how West plans to end this ultra-successful trilogy.