Manic Pixie Dream “Pearl”
By Taylor Witt (Staff Writer)
Ti West’s “Pearl'', released Sept. 16 is a villainous prequel to “X” which was released earlier this March. Pearl (Mia Goth) takes on the classic trope of a deep descent into madness. We watch her go from dancing with a pitchfork to doing unspeakable things with said pitchfork to an unknowing goose. For a majority of the film, gore happens to be the least of disturbing images shown; nudity and explicit scenes, (watch out for that scarecrow!) run rampant.
West’s “Pearl” is claimed to be a female version of the 2000’s “American Psycho”. While some of the plot may align, “Pearl” is a character deep dive into the psyche of a lonesome farm girl. West sets the scene in Texas, 1918. During the influenza pandemic and a war on another land, Pearl’s husband is sent away to fight, leaving Pearl with her strict mother and incapacitated father. Pearl’s only dream is to be a dancer in the movies she sees in theaters when sneaking away from home. When she finds out there is an audition, she informs her mother who reacts poorly to the news which consequently starts her unhinged rampage.
“Female rage” is something that the media today has been discussing more and more frequently. Anger has been something women are commonly taught to suppress, especially in the entertainment industry, women are portrayed as submissive and rarely play the antagonist. West explores this idea by making a female man-hunting, psychotic killer. Before the most climactic part of the film happens, Pearl unravels her entire psyche in a six-minute rant to her sister-in-law. While the movie isn’t very suspenseful and the killer isn’t putting on a facade the entire time, this movie offers a different take on the typical slasher horror. The popularity of this movie comes down to the romanticization of the ‘farmer’s daughter’ aesthetic and technicolor “Wizard of Oz” look. Director West claims the movie critiques how the entertainment industry sells sex under the guise of something more family-friendly. However, West gives into this narrative leaving the viewer awkwardly shuffling in their seat during a scene where Pearl has pretend fornication with a scarecrow.
If this movie is at the top of your watch list, I’d reconsider seeing it with your family. Many loose ends are left with this film which is admissible since the movie was released six months after “X”. Though, the set design and poignant acting makes up for the small mishaps. Goth’s portrayal of the female rage and emotion is both remarkable and frightening. If you loved “Pearl” and “X” you’ll be pleased to know that Ti West is hard at work on another addition to the series.