Ti West returns to horror roots with a 1970s-set slasher that examines fame, desire and rural decay through the lens of an ill-fated adult film shoot.
Ti West’s X arrived in 2022 as a deliberate throwback to the grindhouse era while carrying the visual polish of contemporary independent cinema. The film follows a small crew who travel to a remote Texas farm to shoot a pornographic feature only to discover that the elderly landowners harbour violent secrets. West balances explicit content with genuine tension, creating a slasher that feels both nostalgic and fresh.
Placing X in the Slasher Tradition
The slasher sub-genre experienced cycles of innovation and repetition throughout the late twentieth century. West draws from the isolated rural settings of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and the voyeuristic undertones of earlier gialli without simply copying their structures. Instead he relocates the threat inside a makeshift production environment where cameras already watch every move.
Production design recreates 1979 detail with care. The farmhouse interior mixes faded floral wallpaper with the bright lights required for filming, creating visual contrast that heightens unease when violence erupts. Sound design emphasises the mechanical whirr of period cameras alongside the sudden silence that precedes each attack.
Practical Effects and Pacing
West and effects artist Josh Russell opted for practical gore over digital augmentation. The kills rely on precise cuts, squibs and prosthetics that remain visible under the same harsh lighting used for the fictional porn scenes. This choice maintains tonal consistency and avoids the distancing effect of obvious CGI.
Pacing alternates between languid character moments and abrupt bursts of violence. The first half establishes the crew’s interpersonal dynamics and professional ambitions before the second half accelerates into a series of confrontations that test each survivor’s resolve.
Director in the Spotlight
Ti West began his career with micro-budget features such as The House of the Devil and The Innkeepers, both of which demonstrated his affinity for slow-burn suspense and period detail. After a period working in anthology projects and streaming series, he returned to feature-length horror with renewed resources. X marked his first major studio-adjacent release while preserving the independent sensibility that defined his earlier work.
West’s influences include the American exploitation films of the 1970s and the Italian giallo tradition. He frequently casts familiar faces from previous projects, building a loose repertory company that allows for efficient collaboration. His filmography also includes the prequel Pearl and the follow-up MaXXXine, forming a loose trilogy that traces the central character’s arc across decades.
Comprehensive Filmography Highlights
Early shorts and festival entries led to The Roost in 2005. Subsequent features include Trigger Man, The Sacrament and the segment contributions to V/H/S and Southbound. West has also directed episodes of Chucky and American Horror Story, demonstrating range across television formats while maintaining a consistent visual language of creeping dread.
Actor in the Spotlight
Mia Goth delivers dual performances as aspiring star Maxine and the elderly Pearl. Her background includes modelling and early supporting roles in films such as A Cure for Wellness and Suspiria. Goth trained extensively for the physical demands of both characters, learning dance routines for Pearl’s sequences and adopting distinct vocal and postural choices to differentiate the two women.
Her filmography features lead roles in Emma., High Life and the later entries of the X trilogy. Goth has spoken about the appeal of playing characters who pursue artistic ambition at any cost, a theme that recurs across her collaborations with West.
Legacy and Influence
X contributed to renewed interest in period-set slashers that blend meta-commentary with straightforward genre thrills. Its success at the box office encouraged other filmmakers to explore adult-industry settings without sensationalism. The film’s measured approach to violence and sexuality has been cited in discussions of how contemporary horror can revisit exploitation roots responsibly.
Streaming availability expanded its audience beyond theatrical viewers. Home-video releases include extensive behind-the-scenes material documenting the practical effects process and the challenges of filming during pandemic restrictions.
Conclusion
Ti West’s X stands as a confident statement that the slasher form remains capable of evolution when paired with precise craftsmanship and clear thematic intent. Its portrait of ambition colliding with mortality continues to resonate with audiences seeking substance beneath the blood.
Harvard Bibliography
West, T. (2022) X. A24.
Shudder (2023) Behind the scenes of X. Available at: https://www.shudder.com (Accessed: 12 January 2025).
Goth, M. (2022) Interview with Mia Goth. Variety, 15 March.
Newman, K. (2022) ‘Ti West’s return to horror’, Empire, April issue.
American Film Institute (2023) AFI Catalogue: X. Los Angeles: AFI.
British Film Institute (2023) Monthly Film Bulletin: X. London: BFI.
West, T. (2023) Commentary track on X Blu-ray. A24.
Rotten Tomatoes (2024) X critic consensus. Available at: https://www.rottentomatoes.com (Accessed: 12 January 2025).
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