Pearl (2022)

Review contains spoilers for it's self and 'X'.

'Pearl' is a prequel to the horror film 'X' which came out earler this year. It is the origin store for the titular Pearl, the psychotic and horny old lady killer both introduced and dispatched in the earler film. We travel back from the 1979 of 'X' to 1918, the farm from the first movie is in much better shape, and so is Pearl, at least physically. This story recounts the psychotic break which tunred Pearl, never well adjusted to begin with, into a real, but not totally unsympathetic monster.

'X' was a loving pastche of 70's and 80's horror tropes, well executed but something that doubtless could have been done by any number of directors. 'Pearl' on the other hand is a very idocentric piece of film making, a distinct vision, horror auteurism. The script is a collaboration between director Ti West and star Mia Goth, both quite willing to go to unusual places.

The film has been likened, and I think correctly, to 'The Wizard of Oz'. In contrast to the muted grime of 'X', 'Pearl' is shot in bright exaggerated colors, there's a scarecrow and musical numbers. Like Dorothy wanting to leave an oppreive life on her Kansas farm, Pearl longs to be liberated from her Texas one. She is sure she can be a star, and if others won't liberate her, like the local film protectionist and her own mother, she'll create her own tornado. But like Dorothy she'll just end up back home again.

The West/Goth collaboration is an intriguing one, and to my surprise the end of this movie teases another film in the franchises, this one to focus on Maxine, the final girl from the first movie who was also played by Goth, now part of the California porn scene of the mid 1980's. Pornography is a through line of these films, the first about a film crew who picks the wrong place to do some shooting, while in 'Pearl' our lead character is shown a silent sex flick by the local film protectionist, who thinks he might be able to entice her to making one of their own.

'Pearl' has a lot of little intriguing touches, that her parents are dour German immigrants trying to keep a low profile while their adoptive nation is at war with their homeland. Most people wearing masks when Pearl goes into town, on account of the then current pandemic, though this element is dropped from the later Church scene. But it is Ms. Goth performance which is the center of the piece, if there was a horror acting Oscar she'd get one. For all the violent buisness she is called upon to perform she must still anchor it to an innerlife. Ungrateful and put upon, a simple girl torn by complicated feelings, deep loves and deep hates. The long monologue she performs near the end of the film is an unbroken, Bergmanesque piece of reflection. Only here it is followed by an ax murder. ***