X

X is a 2022 film that dives into the grit and unpolished underbelly of the horror genre. Directed by Ti West, renowned for his contributions to New Horror with features like The House of The Devil and The Innkeepers, X sees him return to his comfort zone, yet pushing bounds farther than ever before. Showcasing an ensemble cast including Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, and Brittany Snow, X uncovers a uniquely chilling narrative that builds upon a sense of uncanny dread with an edgy allure.

The plot of X is deliberately simple, lending to a story that is not centred on twists and turns, but rather, a slow burn of escalating tension and scares. In this narrative labyrinth, a group of young aspiring filmmakers in the 1970s, played by Brittany Snow, Jenna Ortega, Mia Goth, Scott Mescudi, and Martin Henderson, find themselves venturing into rural Texas with the goal of creating their first major adult film. They seek a reclusive couple's farmhouse as a production location, a decision that triggers a domino effect of rising dread and gruesome horrors. The elderly couple, portrayed by Stephen Ure and a near-unrecognizable Kid Cudi don an eerie presence. Their eccentricities and unsettling quirks inject an atmosphere of dread that permeates the film.

Mia Goth's outstanding performance in dual roles exposes her acting prowess, as her characters are completely different from each other. One is the ambitious youth brimming with dreams and idealism, while the other is a personality that haunts and terrorizes, spectrally underlining the macabre undertone of the storyline. Jenna Ortega infuses a refreshing vibe, becoming the moral compass amidst the sinister happenings surrounding her, while Brittany Snow delivers a dramatic punch with her layered portrayal.

Notably, X is not just a straightforward horror feature. It explores themes of ambition, morality, the passing of time, and the increasingly blurred lines between right and wrong in the pursuit of dreams. More so, the film delves into a discourse about the cycles of exploitation especially in the film industry itself, putting up a mirror to its historical misdemeanors.

Setting a footing on the richly textured decade of the 70s, the movie is a visual delight, aesthetically fabricating the selection of sets, costumes, props, and the ambiance to brilliantly portray the era. Cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski, whose prolific work on Hereditary and Midsommar much celebrated, beautifully captures the unglamorous Texan landscape with all its raw eeriness, the 16mm grain giving an authentic 70's feel. The film has made commendable efforts to dovetail the old-school spook apparatus with its narrative, rendering an unending intense dread.

The film also pays homage to horror classics of the genre. You can identify traces of genre nostalgia, mixed with West's characteristic narrative style that carefully builds a minefield of tension, at times with a slow, deliberate pace, and at others, with jarring moments of utter panic. Cleverly crafted allusions to staples of the genre are detected, presenting X in a way that is deeply embedded in horror traditions, yet asserts its unique voice.

The score of the movie intertwines seamlessly with the narrative arc. Composers Tyler Bates and Chelsea Wolfe ensure that the audio landscape of the film is as haunting, invigorating, and immersive as the visual one. From ambient grooves to spine-chilling crescendos, the music of X adds depth to its eerie atmosphere.

Packed with scenes of suspense and terror, X introduces a balance of character development and tension in its pacing, ensuring to give the audience a thorough understanding of the characters, identifying with their ambitions, passions, and fears before plunging headfirst into the frightening chaos.

X is rated R for its violence, nudity, and dark themes - making it a film designed for an adult audience that appreciates a taste of adrenaline laced with horror undertones. Thus, it becomes an ambitious horror project that evokes fear in the most traditional sense while avoiding cliches. It is a must-watch for anyone seeking a movie that provides a fresh, vibrant, and visceral take on the genre.