I can remember it like it was yesterday. The A24 film X was released in theaters in March 2022, and I was quick to buy a ticket to go see it. I was already a fan of most of the cast, and the movie's plot had piqued my interest. Honestly, I'm the type of person to go see a movie just because it's a horror. It doesn't matter if it's good or bad. Fortunately, I didn't have to worry about X being entertaining to watch because it definitely was. I mean, my eyes were glued to the screen the entire time, and I was at the edge of my seat eager to know what character would fall victim to the murderous elderly couple next and which characters (if any) would make it to the end.
Set in 1979, X follows a cast and crew who head out to an isolated rural Texas farm owned by an elderly couple to shoot a pornographic film. But their stay soon takes a gruesome turn when they find themselves fighting for their lives as the homicidal elderly couple begins picking them off one by one.
Mia Goth stars in the leading roles of Maxine Minx and Pearl. Maxine is an aspiring actress who is part of the filmmakers wanting to shoot a porno, while Pearl is the wife in the elderly couple. Joining Goth in the cast are Jenna Ortega, Martin Henderson, Brittany Snow, Owen Campbell, Stephen Ure, and Scott Mescudi.
What made X such an entertaining watch, in my opinion, was how well it paid homage to '70s slasher classics like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It had the perfect blend of horror, dark humor, and fresh twists that I wasn't expecting at all. While I wouldn't say it's a scary movie, it is still very unsettling. I have to give it to the amazing performances by the cast, too, especially from Goth and Ortega. They were absolute scene-stealers!
Look, X might be a slow burn, but don't worry. It all pays off in the end. Once you're finished watching this slasher, you'll be left wondering about a follow-up. Luckily, a sequel titled MaXXXine is set to hit theaters on July 5, 2024, and we'll get to see what aspiring actress Maxine Minx has been up to since surviving the farmhouse massacre.
As of right now, I'd argue that X is A24's best slasher to date, but after watching the gripping official trailer for MaXXXine, I'm not too sure anymore. I'm already hooked off the trailer alone! My opinion on what A24 slasher is the best might change after actually seeing the sequel in theaters. I mean, I'm a huge fan of horror movies set in the '80s, and seeing as though MaXXXine is set in this time period, it's already coming for X's crown.
Here's what MaXXXine is about via the A24 official website:
"In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally gets her big break. But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past."A24
This slasher also has a pretty good cast of well-known actors such as Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Lily Collins, Halsey, Giancarlo Esposito, and Kevin Bacon. Since MaXXXine is the final installment in the X film series, I'm expecting this film to go out with a bang. We'll just have to wait and see, though.
What movie do you think is A24's best slasher?
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