Dir. Ti West | Now Streaming On: Paramount+ | Rating: 3/5

I had every intention of seeing this in theaters, but was so unimpressed by X (2022) that I never followed through. Though Pearl did deliver more for me than X, it still didn’t quite meet the mark. 

It’s clear from the first shot that this is deeply inspired by older styles of film like The Wizard of Oz (1939). It stands in stark contrast to its sister film (even though this is technically a prequel) X in its color palette and exposition. This film features bright colors in the daylight  while X focuses on night events and a murkier color scheme. This is an origin story, exposition is a big part of this film, which I didn’t really mind. 

Mia Goth has truly become one of the most versatile scream queens of new age horror. Her ability to portray not only complex characters, but raw feminine emotions is stunning. Goth was made for the role of Pearl and in many ways, the faults of this movie can’t be attributed to her acting but the storytelling. 

The exposition and momentum falter heavily in the last act, which is a shame because I was considering rating this higher until this point. Pearl’s monologue lost me beyond belief. It went on for far too long and is the exact definition of telling instead of showing. If you compare this scene to the scene in the barn with the projectionist, I feel Pearl’s emotion is conveyed so much more successfully in the latter. 

On Pearl’s raw femme rage – a few other reviewers whose names I will not divulge (yeah right, it’s Jay and Watson) gave me grief about defending another A24 character, Dani Ardor from Midsommar, and her decisions. I’m here to say that Pearl’s pain and loneliness is relatable and palatable, and in some ways, a viewer could find themselves taking her side. You can’t help but both root for and be disgusted by Pearl’s decisions. I wish this ending wasn’t so rushed, because on all other accounts, this made for a solid film. 

Know Before You Watch: Features sex, nudity, animal death, blood, death, gore.