X
Movie, 2022, The 2020s, Set in A Texas farm, 1979
X is #24 of 37 in release order and #24 of 37 in chronological order in the A24.
The story
In 1979, a group of young filmmakers set out to make an adult film in rural Texas, but when their reclusive, elderly hosts catch them in the act, the cast find themselves fighting for their lives.
X recap
X (2022) follows a crew shooting a porn film at a rented guest house on a Texas farm in 1979, where the elderly owners start killing them. Ti West writes, directs and edits. Maxine Minx (Mia Goth) is the ambitious star; her boyfriend and producer Wayne Gilroy (Martin Henderson) brings along fellow performers Bobby-Lynne Parker (Brittany Snow) and Jackson Hole (Scott Mescudi), the would be art house director RJ Nichols (Owen Campbell) and his shy girlfriend Lorraine Day (Jenna Ortega), who holds the boom mic. The landlords are Howard (Stephen Ure), a gruff old man with a weak heart, and Pearl, his wife, also played by Goth under heavy makeup. Pearl is fixated on Maxine, who reminds her of her younger self, and is jealous of the youth and sex around her. When RJ rejects her advances, she stabs him to death, and the night turns into a massacre. It opens a trilogy, followed by the prequel Pearl and the sequel MaXXXine.
X ending explained
X ends with Maxine as the only survivor. Wayne is stabbed with a pitchfork, Howard shoots Jackson, an alligator kills Bobby-Lynne, and Howard shoots Lorraine before dying of a heart attack. Pearl fires his gun at Maxine, the recoil breaks her hip, and Maxine runs her over with Howard's truck, crushing her head. A televangelist heard on TV throughout turns out to be Maxine's father. Police arrive the next morning and find RJ's camera, joking that it holds a horror picture. Pearl, a prequel shot back to back, followed months later.
Post-credits scenes
Yes. In theatrical release, a teaser for the prequel Pearl plays after the credits.
Where to watch X
X is streaming on Prime Video, Hulu, Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, and HBO Max in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.5/10, Rotten Tomatoes 94%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Everything Everywhere All at Once, before Pearl.
- Chronological order: after Everything Everywhere All at Once, before Pearl.
Cast
- Mia Goth as Maxine / Pearl
- Jenna Ortega as Lorraine
- Brittany Snow as Bobby-Lynne
- Kid Cudi as Jackson
- Martin Henderson as Wayne
- Owen Campbell as RJ
- Stephen Ure as Howard
- James Gaylyn as Sheriff Dentler
- Simon Prast as Televangelist
- Geoff Dolan as Deputy
- Matthew J. Saville as Officer Mitchell
- Bryony Skillington as Store Clerk
Directed by Ti West.