The first hour or so of X answers the age-old question, “What would it look like if Tobe Hooper directed Boogie Nights?” A bunch of young and horny pornographers rent a farmhouse from an elderly couple and proceed to make a porno (called “The Farmer’s Daughter”) on the down low. Along the way, writer/director Ti (The House of the Devil) West gives us many homages to Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (it could’ve almost been called The TeXXXas Chainsaw Massacre), as well as Eaten Alive.
Then, West makes an interesting pivot and shifts the focus to from the young horndogs to the old couple who own the farm where the smut movie makers are staying. The way he contrasts their desires is startlingly effective. If you don’t want to know the more, then maybe tap out here and just go see the flick. (Spoilers Ahead.)
X is the third movie I’ve seen in three days about old people who are crazed killers. (Old People and Dashcam were the other two.) This was quite accidental, but it was fascinating to see how filmmakers handled the idea differently. This one is the best of the lot because it actually manages to say something about the subject of growing old and the disdain the elderly must feel towards the young as they are in the twilight of their lives. We’ve all heard the saying, “Age before beauty”. Well, in X, age comes after beauty… with a vengeance.
It also has a lot to say about sexuality and age. Just because the old couple are wrinkled and gray doesn’t mean they can’t get it on. If you’re shocked and/or appalled by the frank scenes of old people fucking, it’s because society’s beauty standards have instilled in us a kneejerk reaction to the sight elderly people screwing.
The performances are strong all around. Martin Henderson takes the acting honors as the adult film’s executive producer who basically acts like an Asylum version of Matthew McConaughey. Jenna Ortega is winning as the quiet, reserved boom operator who secretly wants to become a movie star. Brittany Snow is quite good too as the blonde bombshell smut movie queen. Mia Goth also has some nice moments as the coke-snorting, fame-obsessed porn starlet wannabe. Rapper Kid Cudi does a fine job as well as the porno’s leading man.
Goth returned six months later for the prequel, Pearl, also written and directed by West.
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