TIFF 2022 | MOVIE REVIEW: "Pearl"; A Technicolor Horror Dream
11/12 ForReel Score | 4.5/5 Stars
Back in February of 2021, while much of the world was still shut down, Ti West, Mia Goth, and many others arrived in New Zealand to film the ‘70s style horror movie X. In accordance with the country's strict covid safety protocols, the crew isolated themselves for two weeks. During this time West and Goth delved deep into what birthed the insatiable older woman’s bloodlust. This examination of Pearl’s backstory snowballed into a prequel script. Having put all this effort into going to another country, building all the sets, putting a talented crew together, it felt wasteful to not make a second film. Blessed by the faithful production company, A24, West was granted the ability to shoot both stories back to back. Just three weeks after principal filming for X finished, they hit the ground running on Pearl.
From the opening credit sequence, you know exactly what kind of movie you’re in for. While X was an ode to auteur independent cinema, Pearl is able to recreate the essence of 1930’s golden age of Hollywood with its screen wipes, shot design, and overall aesthetic. The two films are so stylistically different, but they feel like companion pieces. Pearl twists inspiration from lighter Technicolor films like The Wizard of Oz and Mary Poppins into a demented kind of Disney movie. Director, co-writer, and editor, Ti West has such care and admiration for filmmaking, even going out of his way to unearth what is rumored to be the first ever recorded dirty movie, known as A Free Ride or Grass Sandwich - depending what circles you run in. He is able to put the audience in the eyes of Pearl, giving us a taste of how cinema affected her.
The film is less of a horror movie and more of a character study elevated by horror elements. The gore, suspense, and elicit sexual nature is toned down in comparison to X, with Pearl having heavier focus on the emotional turmoil of life in 1918 Texas. Many viewers can relate to the pain Pearl feels, living in fear of a deadly plague, the threat of war, stuck in a life she didn’t ask for. Then trapped under the iron fist of her mother, forced to take care of her ill father, and unable to find any sense of enjoyment. Pearl is in dire need of affection. When she is unable to find that from the people closest to her, she turns to others, dreaming of being a dancer on the silver screen with adorning fans who will love her unconditionally. This fantasy is all she has to keep her going and as that becomes threatened she fights back the only way she knows how.
Goth offers her most show stopping performance to date. Having embodied both older and younger versions of Pearl in such a short time, she has a masterfully intimate level of care and understanding of the character. Goth holds so much talent, ensuring the audience sees the many dimensions of Pearl. It feels as if the world stops spinning during her six minute monologue, never cutting away, holding tight on Goth’s tearful face, we are forced to watch as Pearl processes her trauma and confusion. There is a dichotomy between her evil actions from her virtuous emotions. Do her heinous actions make her a bad person? Her tenderness helps the viewer feel a sense of empathy for her struggles. I truly am enamored by the way she just lights up the screen. Mia Goth is about to be the most in-demand horror It Girl.
Ti West is a genius in his ability to explore how Hollywood filmmaking influences people in a brutal and honest way. He expresses such care and understanding for the origins of this beloved art, which is evident throughout 102 runtime. It’s an undeniable feat to master the different styles and successfully match it with a grisly think piece, while enhancing the viewing experience of your previous work. Pearl is a blood soaked nightmare I didn’t want to wake up from.
In exciting news for fans, West was announced at TIFF that X story will go on with MaXXXine. Taking place six years after the final events of X in 1985 Los Angeles, with Mia Goth set to reprise her role. MaXXXine will hit theaters sometime next year.
Acting and Casting - 2 | Visual Effects and Editing - 2 | Story and Message - 2 | Entertainment Value - 2 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 1| Reviewer's Preference - 2 | What does this mean?