#XMovie
X, Ti West’s slasher film, premiered at SXSW on March 13, 2022, and launched a surprise horror trilogy.
The Film
In 1979 Texas, a group of young filmmakers (led by Mia Goth as Maxine Minx) rent a rural farm to shoot a pornographic film. The elderly couple who own the property—Pearl and Howard (both played by Mia Goth and Stephen Ure)—turn violently homicidal.
The film blended ’70s exploitation aesthetics with modern horror sensibilities, exploring aging, sexuality, and the American dream’s dark side. West’s love for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was evident in every frame.
Mia Goth delivered dual performances: Maxine, a confident aspiring porn star, and Pearl, a grotesque elderly woman consumed by jealousy and rage.
Pearl Surprise
During X’s production, West secretly filmed a prequel, Pearl (set in 1918), explaining Pearl’s origin story. The film premiered at Venice in September 2022—shocking audiences who didn’t know it existed.
Pearl, a technicolor horror homage to The Wizard of Oz and Golden Age Hollywood, showcased Mia Goth’s unhinged performance. Her 8-minute monologue in the finale became legendary.
MaXXXine & Trilogy
X earned $15 million (strong for A24 horror on a $1 million budget). Pearl earned $9 million. Both became cult hits.
The trilogy concluded with MaXXXine (2024), set in 1985 Hollywood. Mia Goth’s commitment to the character across three films earned her horror icon status.
Cultural Impact
The X trilogy proved Ti West’s auteur vision could thrive in genre filmmaking. Mia Goth’s transformations (Maxine’s ambition, Pearl’s madness) showcased range rarely seen in horror.
Fans debated which film was best—X’s grindhouse grit or Pearl’s operatic tragedy.