X

## More information

**X** is a 2022 American slasher film directed, written, produced, and edited by Ti West. The film stars Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, Martin Henderson, Brittany Snow, Owen Campbell, Stephen Ure, and Scott Mescudi.

## Synopsis

A group of actors sets out to make an adult film in rural Texas under the noses of their reclusive hosts, but when the elderly couple catches their young guests in the act, the cast finds themselves in a desperate fight for their lives.

### Plot

In 1979, police officers arrive on a desolate farm in rural Texas and find numerous dead bodies wrapped in bags. They enter the farmhouse and find something shocking in the basement.

24 hours earlier, aspiring adult film star Maxine embarks on a road trip with her producer boyfriend Wayne, fellow actors Bobby-Lynne and Jackson, amateur director RJ, and RJ's girlfriend Lorraine, to shoot a pornographic film. Bobby-Lynne and Jackson strike up a romance, while RJ attempts to make the film seem like a serious cinematic work of art, and Lorraine, who assists with equipment and lighting, is unimpressed.

The group arrive at a farm owned by Howard and Pearl, an elderly couple who have a guest house where they intend to shoot the movie. Howard is temperamental towards the group, but Wayne excuses this, as he did not inform Howard of the group’s intentions. While the crew film a sex scene between Bobby-Lynne and Jackson, Maxine wanders around the property and discovers a large pond; she goes for a relaxing swim while nude, unknowingly watched by Pearl from a distance, and also a large alligator. Upon returning to the guest house, Maxine is invited in by Pearl, where she expresses envy for Maxine's youth and makes a sexual advance towards her. Howard comes home and Maxine sneaks out.

Maxine returns to the guest house where she and Jackson shoot a sex scene in the barn; unseen by the group, Pearl watches from outside and is highly aroused, imagining herself in Maxine's position. She then returns home and pleads with Howard to have sex but he refuses, claiming his heart is too weak. Night falls and the group unwind in the guesthouse. Lorraine, keen to shed her reputation as a prude, asks to participate in a scene; RJ initially refuses but, after being persuaded by Wayne, films Lorraine and Jackson having sex. Later, devastated, RJ sets out to leave the group stranded at the farm while they are asleep, but is stopped by Pearl who attempts to seduce him. When he rebuffs her, she stabs him repeatedly in the neck until he is decapitated.

Noticing RJ is missing, Lorraine enlists Wayne’s help in finding him. Wayne searches the barn and steps on a large nail. He then sees something moving outside and, when he peeps through a hole in the door, Pearl shoves a pitchfork through and into his eyes, killing him instantly. Meanwhile, Howard invites Lorraine into their house, claiming Pearl has gone missing. He asks Lorraine to retrieve a flashlight from the basement; she goes down and discovers a naked male corpse hanging from the ceiling.

Howard goes to the guest house and asks Jackson to help him find Pearl. When they split up to scout the lake's perimeter, Jackson finds a submerged car in the water. Howard throws his flashlight into the lake, tricking Jackson to go in to retrieve it, hoping he will be attacked by the alligator lurking nearby. Jackson makes it out but is confronted by Howard who shoots him in the chest, blowing his body back into the lake. Meanwhile, Pearl sneaks into the guest house, undresses, and climbs into bed with Maxine, caressing her body. Maxine awakens in horror to find Pearl lying next to her, waking Bobby-Lynne.

Back in the house, Lorraine breaks through the basement door with a hatchet but Howard attacks, breaking her fingers with the butt of his shotgun. Bobby-Lynne finds Pearl standing on the edge of the lake. Thinking she has dementia, Bobby-Lynne tries to help her, only for Pearl to slap her, insult her, and push her into the water. The alligator bites down on her head and then kills her with a death roll. Pearl and Howard return to the guest house and have sex, while Maxine hides under the bed. Maxine manages to escape to the van where she finds RJ's decapitated corpse and the vehicle's tires slashed. She arms herself with a pistol from the glovebox and enters the house to free a traumatized Lorraine from the basement. Lorraine blames Maxine for the violent proceedings of the night, and attempts to flee from the house, but is shot in the head by Howard. As the couple begin moving her body, the dying Lorraine twitches, startling Howard and causing him to suffer a heart attack and die.

Maxine retrieves the keys to Howard's truck and attempts to shoot Pearl, but finds that the pistol is not loaded. Pearl then tries to shoot Maxine with Howard's shotgun; Maxine dodges the bullet, and the recoil sends Pearl out the front door onto the porch, breaking her hip. As Pearl lies in pain, she begs Maxine for help. As Maxine gets into Howard's truck, Pearl starts to berate and insult her. Maxine then reverses the truck and runs over Pearl, crushing her head before driving away.

The following morning, the police arrive at the house and find the bodies. It is revealed on Pearl and Howard's television set that Maxine is the daughter of a fanatical Christian preacher whose speeches frequently played throughout the film. The police discover RJ's camera and speculate about what it contains, with the sheriff speculating that it contains footage of "one goddamn fucked up horror picture."

## Cast

* Mia Goth as Maxine Minx / Pearl
* Jenna Ortega as Lorraine Day
* Brittany Snow as Bobby-Lynne Parker
* Scott Mescudi as Jackson Hole
* Martin Henderson as Wayne Gilroy
* Owen Campbell as RJ Nichols
* Stephen Ure as Howard
* Simon Prast as the televangelist
* James Gaylyn as Sheriff Dentler