X (2022)

Ti West’s X is a slasher with a wickedly smart pulse: it feels like a lost 1979 grindhouse shocker, but it’s made with modern craft and a sharp eye for what makes the genre tick. The filmmaking is confident and stylish—sun-baked Texas menace, patient tension, and bursts of violence that land because the movie knows exactly when to tease and when to pounce. Mia Goth is magnetic in a performance that’s equal parts fearless and unsettling, while Jenna Ortega and Brittany Snow help ground the mayhem with real, human presence. It’s exuberant, nasty fun for horror fans who love throwback vibes and clever twists on familiar beats—though if you’re squeamish about explicit sexuality or want a purely “serious” horror tone, this one may not be your ride.

Ti West’s X is clearly aiming for a sweaty, grindhouse-flavored slasher that doubles as a cheeky commentary on sex, aging, and exploitation, and on a craft level it often nails the look and mood. The problem is that once the setup is in place, the story can feel thinner than it wants to be—there’s a slow burn that some viewers will read as “atmosphere,” and others will read as “waiting for it to get going.” When it does ramp up, it’s more straightforward and occasionally predictable than the film’s stylish presentation suggests, and the themes can feel a bit spelled out rather than discovered. If you want a lean, nasty throwback with strong performances (Mia Goth in particular) and solid tension, it’s worth a watch; if you’re hoping for a truly deep or surprising horror statement, you may find it more trifle than transcendent.