Dark R-Rated Horror Thriller On Paramount+ Is The Best Entry In Fan-Favorite Trilogy
When the excellent Ti West horror film X first came out, most fans didn’t realize that he was launching a killer new trilogy. The third film in that trilogy, MaXXXine, was recently released, leaving fans of this franchise divided about its quality. However, nobody is divided over Pearl, the captivatingly creepy follow-up to X that you can now stream on Paramount+.
The Rare Prequel Fans Love
Within the context of this franchise, what is notable about Pearl is that it’s a prequel, showing us a slice of life (and death) for the titular character who is destined to become one of the elderly antagonists of X. In that prior film, Mia Goth played both the villain and Maxine Minx, the daughter of a televangelist who rebels against her daddy by deciding to star in an adult film.
One Of Horror’s Greatest Characters
What is Pearl really about, though? Pearl is a secret psychopath who has an overbearing mother and a sick father whom she has to take care of, and she feels empty and isolated because her husband is currently far away, fighting in World War I. She thinks her one way out of this lonely life is to audition for a part in a film, but her inability to fully separate fantasy and reality threatens to turn her life into a waking horror movie.
A Minimal Production
The cast of Pearl is quite minimal, which helps to emphasize what an acting tour-de-force this is for Goth: she gives her title character a pathos tinged with desperation, someone who puts up with one setback after another until it takes merely the slightest push to send her even further over the edge. Tandi Wright and Matthew Sunderland do a capable job of playing, respectively, Pearl’s mother and father.
Aside from Goth, though, the most interesting performance comes from David Corenswet, a handsome film projectionist who will headline James Gunn’s all-new DCU next year as Superman.
Better Than Maxxxine
When Pearl was first released, it wasn’t exactly a box office darling, and the movie earned $10.1 million against a budget of $8 million. Still, it highly impressed critics: on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie currently has a critical rating of 92 percent, with critics praising both the creative expansion of Ti West’s franchise and the dazzling performance of Mia Goth. All of this positive buzz helped buoy high hopes for the third film, but after MaXXXine came out, most fans agreed that Pearl was the best entry in the franchise.
Not A Movie For Everyone
REVIEW SCORE
As for me, I think Pearl is one of the best horror films in recent memory. It’s not for everyone and may turn away those who are looking for something more like a modern gorefest or a traditional slasher. However, Pearl succeeds in large part thanks to its intimate setting, one that emphasizes that evil can be just as bloody as it is banal.
Are you going to agree with us that Pearl is “a star” of a film, or will this be the kind of horror film you’d rather feed to a pet gator? The only way to find out is to stream it today on Paramount+. Just be warned: love it or hate it, Goth’s unhinged and unwavering smile will continue haunting you long after you turn off the TV to make it go away.
