Pearl
★★★★
I'm starting to not like director Ti West because he's making me find delight in very dark and depraved material. I'm kidding of course, but somehow you leave this movie with a smile on your face despite witnessing gruesome murders and maggot-infested pigs.
I can't help but wonder how well this movie would play on its own because it has so much of X to thank for setting up its world, but Pearl does have its own feel and tone, which makes it that much more remarkable. It was a brilliant move by West to blend this horrific tale of a mental breakdown with bright technicolor that will undoubtedly make you think of The Wizard of Oz. You may not look at a scarecrow in the same way, but I love how this is just as much of a homage to classic films and filmmaking as it is a splatter fest.
It's a shame that award shows overlook daunting performances in horror, but Mia Goth deserves recognition for this movie. She is beyond terrific and somehow balances insanity with teenage lust in fascinating ways. The final shot of her in this movie is mesmerizing and will forever be sketched in your mind.
I can't wait to see what West does with the third installment, MaXXXine. Individually, X and Pearl have been very strong, but if he is able to pull off this tone and feel again, the trilogy may rival that of other famous franchises.
