X (2022) #506

"X" is the first released film in a new trilogy by writer/director Ti West and starring Mia Goth in all three films. Chronologically, "X" is the middle film in the narrative and takes places in 1978, preceded by "Pearl" which takes place in 1918, and then the series wraps up with "Maxxine" in 1985. "X" and "Pearl" were filmed back-to-back during the height of Covid, allowing Ti West to make the most of the location that was used in both films. 

Maxine is girl who knows what she wants and quotes "I will not accept a life I do not deserve". She also declares "you're a fucking sex symbol" to her reflection in the mirror, right before leaving for a X-rated film shoot out at a remote farm. Coming along is her boyfriend Wayne, fellow exotic dancer Bobby-Lynne and her primary scene partner Jackson, and director RJ and his shy girlfriend Lorraine. After a misunderstanding with the property owner Howard, the crew quickly gets to work. With her scene coming up later in the day, Maxine walks around the property and runs into Pearl, Howard's wife. Invited into the house, Pearl becomes almost obsessive over Maxine, showing her an old picture from her youth where the two look nearly identical. Maxine is able to get out of the house right before Howard returns.

Pearl secretly watches Maxine film her sex scene in the barn, which entices her to seduce Howard. He says he can't, and this triggers Pearl's unhealthy murderous tendencies. Her first victim is RJ, who she finds after he decides to leave the project after Lorraine requests to be in the film with the others. Then one by one the group is separated. Waye is killed by Pearl in the barn, while Howard locks Lorraine in the basement and then takes Jackson out to the river under the pretense that they are looking for his confused wife. Pearl sneaks into bed while Maxine is sleeping and molests her. Pearl quickly leaves when Maxine wakes up screaming. Bobby-Lynne tries to help Pearl, who is standing on a dock naked, but Pearl pusher her into the river where a large alligator quickly kills the young woman.

Lorraine escapes the basement only to be killed by Howard using a shotgun. Howard dies as he and Pearl tries to move the body. Maxine narrowly misses being shot Pearl, how is thrown back by the kickback of the gun. Pearl is finally killed when Maxine drives the van over her head. It's only at the end that we learn that Maxine is the daughter of a popular tv preacher, who constantly shown on the tv throughout the film. 

"X" is comprised of some great talent such as Brittany Snow (Would You Rather) as Bobby-Lynne, Martin Henderson (The Ring) as Wayne, Jenna Ortega as Lorraine, and of course Mia Goth as Maxine. This film is Ti West's return to horror, having been nine years since he had made "The Sacrament".

Fun detail - Plowing Service is painted on the side of the van the group drives to the farm in, a humorous innuendo that add levity to a dark film.

In a Violent Nature (2024) #485

 

Watch the trailer here!

"In a Violent Nature" is gem in the horror genre, offering the audience a unique viewing experience that doesn't follow typical slasher film sensibilities. From the very beginning, the audience literary follows Johnny, the unstoppable juggernaut who is revied from his slumber after a golden locket is removed from his resting place within a worn-down fire tower. Most people seem to love or disklike this film for its long continuous scenes, I personally enjoyed the slow pace, I love the title, and I appreciate this unusual storytelling technique.

Johnny's reign of terror begins almost at once after a golden locket it found and taken from the fire tower, crawling his way up from the ground like the reanimated corpse that he is. The thieves are gone but he overhears an argument nearby. He follows the voices and finds a local that is setting illegal hunting traps around the nearby forest. Johnny enters the home and faces a mirror, where he looks into a mirror and has a slight hallucination of his father taking to him about his mother's locket. The spell is soon fades and Johhny finds a locket that looks similar to his, but before he can take it, he comes face to face with the trapper and chases him into the woods. The trapper becomes caught in one of his traps and Johnny kills him. He returns to the house only to discover that the locket is not his, so his search continues.

Now night, Johnny comes across a group of campers huddled around a campfire. One proceeds to share a local legend, which happens to be about Johnny's death. Johnny waits patiently until the next day to slowly kill each camper one by one, deliberate and effectively, one of which is extremely unusual and graphic.

Overall the movie is great for one viewing, enough to appreciate the unique storytelling technique that was used. The audience is given a simple, standard story that stays on course, a few kills, and some interesting traits for the villain that helps flesh out his character. It could have used some more violence to live up to the title and some additional character development, although that may have felt like padding to an otherwise straight forward film.

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006) #458

 

There is no reason I can come up with to guess or explain why it took me so long before finally watching “Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon”. I loved the concept and execution of this film from beginning to end. It’s look at a typical slasher movie from the inside out; a very meta experience from the perspective of the villain. It’s a well made movie with surprise cameos of some of the biggest names in horror. 

The movie follows journalist Taylor and her two cameramen Doug and Todd as they work on their newest documentary; the origin of new local “slasher” styled killer, Leslie Vernon. Leslie seems like a charismatic, intelligent young man who just happens to be ready to join the ranks of famous slasher killers like Jason, Michael, and Freddy. Leslie explains to Taylor that he is the young boy from local legend that had killed his own family before being presumably killed by his neighbors. With his origin in place, he goes on to explain all the ends and outs of becoming a great slasher killer which includes how to pick a final girl, how to orchestrate his first kill, and how to create a climatic showdown. For Leslie, it’s all a test for the final girl to see if she can survive his assault; if she does, then they both win.

Nathan Baesel plays Leslie Vernon, the charismatic killer. He plays the role full of vest and energy, someone who is fully invested in his project. Even after he makes his first kill, he still comes across as friendly, although the film crew is clearly on edge. It’s a shame that he hasn’t appeared in anything else related since this film. Angela Goethals is Taylor Gentry, the host of the documentary crew. She was a delight to watch as she interacted with Leslie, trying to get all that she could out of him and then coming to her senses and her desire to help save the final girl after he begins his killing spree. Robert Englund has a small but important role as Doc Halloran, a Dr. Loomis type character who knows about Leslie’s past and his plan, attempting to stop him before it’s too late. Zelda Rubinstein even shows up in a cameo as a librarian.

What I loved about this film is the balance it finds between being a very dark comedy in the first half before turning into a full on slasher flick. Both halves are so good at being what they are and the transition is very smooth. During the first half, Leslie explains what he plans to do during the Big Night, and the second half of the film has him doing just that. It’s such a joy to see the different aspects explored and explained from the killer’s point of view. It’s absurd and it works. I highly recommend this film, even more so to those who enjoyed “The Cabin in the Woods”.