X

Sometimes a movie ticks all the right boxes for you to enjoy, but it somehow leaves you cold. That was my experience with X. Yes, the subject matter is great. It features good directing and visual effects and has some superb acting performances. It has also got some cool subplots even though it played out predictably and unexcitingly. It simply elicited no better response in me than an appreciation of solid filmmaking, which is a bit of a shame in this case because I expected a bit more from it. (05/07/2022)

So, I've had another "horror" experience that certainly didn't enrich me in any way. Ti West directed his own script, and the outcome was just as peculiar as his first name. The script didn't hold much weight; aside from the two seniors, all the characters felt dreadfully onedimensional (and therefore boring). The only scene that genuinely horrified me was one where I found myself grateful for no longer being young and that life had already dealt me enough blows, sparing me from deeper psychosexual trauma. While I understand that love knows no age, and I wholeheartedly support that, I simply didn't need to witness it here. I reckon Mia Goth enjoyed her dual role far more than I enjoyed the entire film because my two stars go to those responsible for the masks and the killings. The story itself struck me as rather laughable; the characters acted idiotically enough to fit the current "horror" trend, and I found myself fast-forwarding through the slower parts. Let me be frank; I've seen much worse. Nevertheless, I can't say I'm eagerly anticipating the second part (which is actually supposed to be the first part). / Lesson learned: Yes, there can be circumstances in human life when death seems like a better option. (10/24/2023)

An attempt at ambitious horror that doesn’t quite work. For the first hour or so, up until the first murder, it's a great directorial ride with an imaginative composition of shots, a witty timing of scenes (the crocodile from a bird's eye view!) and a top notch casting, all original characters and I loved it all; that long wait for the peak was a five-star job. But then, as the spiral of violence begins, the story winds clichédly along predictable paths, the murders are anything but interesting, though in one West recalls Fulci, and it all culminates in scenes you really don't want to see (gerontophilic sex). It's a film of two halves, and the first one, where it escalates, paradoxically outweighs the second one by a head; sometimes less is more. (04/16/2022)

If you're looking for a classic slasher, you've come to the right place. You've got a group of young idiots on one side and a couple of elderly folks with unfulfilled dreams on the other. Add in sex, blood, rock and roll, and surprisingly good filmmaking. The director and cinematographer have a keen eye for great shots, and the period atmosphere is spot-on. (02/07/2023)

High-quality gore doesn’t guarantee a good film. That’s a lesson I took away from X. The rural American setting was pleasant, but the characters offered nothing compelling, and I didn’t root for anyone. I was also negatively surprised by a few depraved scenes (such as the intimate games of the older couple). The creators could have left those out, so don’t be mad at me for saying that. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy it; the new Texas Chainsaw Massacre is definitely a better work in my view. For me, it’s 4/10. (05/05/2022)