If you are chronically online like me, you have definitely heard of this infamous quote and plenty about the new A24 film ‘Pearl’. Despite being released in September last year in the US, it did not hit UK screens and cinemas until late March this year. In fact, ‘X’, the sequel to the horror film also directed by Ti West, was released first in the UK. Both films center around female protagonists who believe they are stars, willing to do anything to achieve their dreams, even if this means committing murder. What is there not to love?
Mia Goth plays the eponymous protagonist Pearl, who lives on a small farm in Texas during the 20th century Spanish Flu pandemic with her German immigrant parents: a strict mother and an infirm father. She is desperate for a luxurious life as a famous chorus girl, much to her mother’s dismay. However, Pearl has her heart set on escaping her frugal farm life and goes to extreme lengths to leave when an opportunity is presented to her. Goth’s performance in the film has been critically acclaimed, and one must agree with all the praise she has received. She is truly amazing on screen, and despite her disturbing role as a psychotic and obsessive woman, I could only be spellbound by her performance. Moreover, not only did she act as the principal character in Pearl, but she also co-wrote the script with director Ti-West – could she be any more talented?
As an enjoyer of most A24 films (which include Midsommar, Aftersun, and the Academy Award-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once), I knew not to expect anything remotely stereotypical or basic within the horror genre. In fact, director West openly mocks these tropes at multiple points in the film. One that really stuck out to me was toward the end of the film when Pearl is chasing a character (who will remain unnamed for the sake of spoiling the plot) and they trip and fall, making them an easy catch for her. However, directly after this, there is a scene depicting Pearl brutally chopping this character’s bodily remains and feeding them to a crocodile. Through this, West creates a jarring juxtaposition that highlights the difference between an average horror film and an A24 horror film. This definitely stood out to me, giving me that horrible feeling in my stomach as an audience member.
I am not usually a fan of horror films, but I have high hopes for MaXXXine, the third instalment that is currently in the making, as well as for the trilogy as a whole. If you do decide to go and watch Pearl, my only advice is to be prepared to be disturbed.