Ti West’s “Pearl”
Pearl (2022)
An outstanding prequel to “X” which is fresh and stands on its own paying homage to Hitchcock in his prime as well as the movies of the period
So good is this prequel to West’s “X” that it almost feels a shame to refer to it as a prequel. This film can quite confidently stand on its own. From an original screenplay by Ti West and Mia Goth, this takes us back to 1918 during the last devastating global flu pandemic and the closing days of World War One adopting the cinematic style of the first colour films of the 1940s. Unlike other films which have attempted this, it doesn’t feel like a gimmick here at all; it feels wholly appropriate. As “X” paid homage to the cinema of the seventies, this does so for the early days of film. Much of the inspiration comes from Alfred Hitchcock(not just “Psycho”) but there are also elements of “The Wizard of Oz” and “Imitation of Life”.
The combination of cinematography from Eliot Rockett, music by Tyler Bates and Tim Williams and a lightly melodramatic script from West and Goth is so immersive in the era. It’s an absolute joy to watch. Compared to its predecessor, the gore and nudity is reduced but it manages a lot of discomfort in what’s implied and I think it’s better for it.
As the film opens, Pearl(Mia Goth) is living on her parents’ farm with her mother of German descent, Ruth (Tandi Wright) and her infirmed, non-verbal father struck down by the flu(Matthew Sunderland) while her husband, Howard is serving overseas in the war. Aspiring to leave the farm, she dreams of becoming a famous dancer in the pictures and resents Howard for leaving her trapped on the farm with her domineering mother, caring for her father and livestock.
Performances across the board are fantastic. Interestingly, Tandi Wright was intimacy advisor on “X” before getting the role as Pearl’s mother, a role which required she learn German. Her performance here is fantastic and it was an inspired decision to cast her. Mia Goth is once again terrific with a strange air of innocence that can turn sour on a dime.
It’s refreshing to see a trilogy written as a whole with the third installment next being “MaXXXine”, but as I said before, the first two films can stand on their own and each have a unique character.
“Pearl” is an incredibly well-crafted film and is superior to the already impressive “X”.
