PEARL (2022) *** 1/2 Mia Goth, David Corenswet, Tandi Wright, Matthew Sunderland, Emma Jenkins-Purro, Alistair Sewell. Filmmaker Ti West's prequel to his X is an origin store of the titular farm girl (Goth in an exceptional, Oscar-worthy turn).
Set in pandemic stricken 1918 with WWI at its heights the film offers her background strife with the burden of her family and the stars-in-her-eyes promise of a better life only she can see. Echoes of THE WIZARD OF OZ, PSYCHO & CARRIE intermingle yet the screenplay collaborated by West & Goth proves to be cemented in something more than its horror underpinnings. But don't despair - there's enough violence and troubling images to fuel any nightmare. And the gator's back too.
Set in pandemic stricken 1918 with WWI at its heights the film offers her background strife with the burden of her family and the stars-in-her-eyes promise of a better life only she can see. Echoes of THE WIZARD OF OZ, PSYCHO & CARRIE intermingle yet the screenplay collaborated by West & Goth proves to be cemented in something more than its horror underpinnings. But don't despair - there's enough violence and troubling images to fuel any nightmare. And the gator's back too.