” …lest this sound like a seminar on American mores, one should note the main ingredients of the film’s second half: pitchforks and firearms, gators and locked cellars. Bodies both alluring and repulsive. Old-school preachers, cowboy-hat policemen, and runaway teens. Blood, entrails and old pickup trucks. The end.” The Hollywood Reporter
” …X goes further than just paying homage to the slasher. Halfway through, the production takes a different direction (there’s even mention of Psycho), in particular by humanizing its villains. This is a double-edged axe. If on the one hand, we salute the audacity of having wanted to try “something else” in the genre, the phenomenon greatly defuses the tension for the rest of the plot.” Horror Québec [translated from French]
“The mystery behind the elderly couple is a tad too cute, too knowingly brisk. Still, the melding of two seemingly different but closely related energies […] is a fascinating angle from which to interrogate the horror of aging in relation to sexual status. The maxim “you can never be too old,” applies nearly everywhere, except in West’s X.” IndieWire
“X is a sensational crowd pleaser with the energy of a wild bull rampaging through a slaughterhouse. The depravity of it all won’t be for everyone and I’m sure some won’t realize sillier moments are meant to be funny, but for those willing to give it a chance, prepare yourselves…” Killer Horror Critic
“West’s direction is exceptional throughout. He has an eye for a great image and he can craft the hell out of a suspense sequence, generating several memorable scares in the process. His sense of timing is extremely impressive too – he knows exactly how long to hold a particular shot to achieve the desired effect, ratcheting up the tension to nail-biting levels. He’s also not above inserting notes of black comedy…” 4/5 Nerdly
“Everything feels true to the time period. The kills are epic and brutal. The creeping sense of dread never dissipates until the final blow. It’s a film that is uncomfortable and violent but one that also shines a light on the scariness of getting old and how easily sex is shunned. Whether you have a deep appreciation for exploitation cinema or love for slashers, X will equally turn you on and have your heart pounding at every turn.” Nightmarish Conjurings
“Of course, the grainy, middle-of-nowhere aesthetic is the stuff of hundreds of early ‘80s slashers, but as per usual with this patient filmmaker, the blood doesn’t really flow until the third act. Until then, he slowly builds to a steady boil; as mysterious figures peek through windows and hide in hallways, West takes his time framing artful compositions, filling the soundtrack with buzzing flies, and building an atmosphere of unnerving dread.” The Playlist
“X is all about having a good time and relishing the hard work, dedication, and satisfaction of independent filmmaking […] but West’s ode to technical and artistic ingenuity undervalues the context that played a significant role in the success of the movies he so lovingly references. X is plenty of fun; it also feels like a trifle that could easily have been much more.” 3/5 RogerEbert.com
“While incorporating touches of cheeky and sneaky humor […] West builds a sense of grotty mood into X that really creeps under your skin. Right from the start, we know that no good can come from this situation, and the writer/director surehandedly cranks up the suspense before paying it off in genuinely shivery and gruesomely bloody ways.” Rue Morgue
“I was not expecting to laugh as much as I did nor was I anticipating that the film would have incredibly thoughtful insights on age and sexuality. It is also absolutely fantastic to watch with breathtaking long, sweeping shots mixed with up-close scares. West has always excelled at steeping the viewer in the timeframe of the film…” 5/5 The Scariest Things
” …X understands and captures the spirit of those early [slasher] classics beautifully, building on the greats that have gone before while adding the kind of intricate character work that places this film firmly among contemporary filmmaking traditions. X is a barn burner of a movie; sexy, bloody, funny, poignant in a way, and non-stop fun.” Screen Anarchy
“A fun ‘70s-set pseudo-slasher done the Ti West way. Plenty of modern flairs, but this also (unsurprisingly) feels like it could have come out in 1979. I do wish there were a bit more to it (the narrative is very simple and straightforward…..like an ’80s slasher), but as it stands it’s a fun ride. Some really nifty editing, too.” Trace Thurman
“ …X is a wily and entertaining slow-motion ride of terror that earns its shocks, along with its singular quease factor, which relates to the fact that the demons here are ancient specimens of humanity who actually have a touch of…humanity. West, as a filmmaker, reverses tropes in a way that speaks to the era that was coming.” Variety
Release date:
In the United States, A24 (Lamb; The Green Knight; Midsommar; Hereditary; The Witch) will release X on March 18th 2022.
Technical details:
1 hour 45 minutes
Aspect ratio: 1.90: 1
Notes:
Not to be confused with the 2011 film X directed by Jon Hewitt and starring Viva Bianca.
Trailer:
Ending explained:
All images are courtesy of A24
