Pearl (2022) is a psychological horror film directed by Ti West and co-written by West and Mia Goth, who also stars in the title role. It serves as a prequel to X (2022) and explores the tragic and terrifying origins of Pearl, the elderly antagonist from X. Set in 1918, the film presents a deeply unsettling portrait of a woman whose dreams of stardom are crushed by repression, isolation, and an ever-growing darkness within her.
With its unique Technicolor-inspired aesthetic, Pearl is a love letter to Golden Age Hollywood while simultaneously subverting the eraβs idealized optimism by blending it with themes of violence, madness, and desperation.
The story follows Pearl, a young woman living on a Texas farm with her strict German mother and her ailing father, while her husband, Howard, is away fighting in World War I. Pearl dreams of escaping her mundane life to become a glamorous movie star but struggles with dark urges, isolation, and repression. As her frustrations grow, her descent into violence and madness begins.
Set against the backdrop of World War I and the 1918 influenza pandemic, the story follows Pearl, a young woman trapped on a rural Texas farm with her strict German mother, Ruth, and her paralyzed, mute father. With her husband, Howard, away at war, Pearl finds herself suffocating under her motherβs oppressive rule, longing for an escape into the glamorous world of motion pictures.
Pearlβs daydreams of stardom are juxtaposed with her violent impulses, which slowly begin to surface as her mental state deteriorates. As she secretly ventures into town for film screenings, she meets The Projectionist, a charming young man who encourages her dreams but unknowingly awakens something darker within her.
When an opportunity arises to audition for a traveling dance troupe, Pearl becomes desperate to prove herselfβbut her increasing paranoia, resentment, and murderous urges take control. One by one, those who stand in her way meet gruesome fates, culminating in an intense emotional breakdown that leads her to fully embrace her monstrous side.
Pearl is not just a horror filmβit is a deeply unsettling character study, a tragic drama, and a cinematic homage to Hollywoodβs golden age. Ti West and Mia Goth have crafted a unique horror villain, one whose story is both heartbreaking and terrifying.
With its gorgeous visuals, haunting score, and unforgettable performance, Pearl stands as one of the most unique and compelling horror films of the 21st century.