Content warning: blood, gore, foul language, smoking, violence against women, violence against animals, medical footage, elder abuse, war footage, gunfire, mental wellness

I believe it’s safe to say that Ti West has secured his position as a modern master of horror in 2022. Back in March, he released the beautiful, terrifying, satirical, and experimental slasher film X, introducing us to star Mia Goth’s dual-starring roles as wannabe starlet Maxine and sinister senior Pearl. Now, six months later, West and Goth unleash the next chapter in the soon-to-be trilogy.

Pearl is the backstory of serial killer Pearl. The year is 1918, the Spanish Flu is starting to pick up in its deadlier second phase, and family life in the small town has forever changed from the one-two punch of pandemic and war. Pearl lives with her parents on the farm, taking on all the farmhand work as her husband and his fellow farmhands all left to fight in the World War. Her father is paralyzed from his bout with Spanish Flu and her mother is tasked with running business, home, and family as a less-than-trusted German immigrant. Pearl wants nothing more than to be a star, and she’s tired of taking no as an answer.

Pearl is a psychological character study in the vein of brutal horror films like May, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, and American Psycho. We are seeing the world through Pearl’s eyes, and she’s as observant as she is violent. She can tell when people are lying to her and she is not afraid to address their deception directly. She treats everyone and every creature with respect until they betray her trust. Then she has one solution to every problem and it’s not a happy one for her victims.

I’m still not sure if everything about Pearl actually comes together as a film. I also don’t care if it all works. This is a brilliant piece of art, exploring layers of narrative and the relationship between artist and muse. Mia Goth acts as star and screenwriter to Ti West’s typical role of director and screenwriter. The film is designed to show off what they both do well.

For Goth, she gets to perform these absolutely unhinged one-take monologues and action sequences that show of her skill as an actor. Her unyielding eye contact, her shifting stakes, her physicality, even the pitch and speed of her voice are unpredictable in the best ways possible. The entire concept of her character here is a young woman on the verge of doing something she can never come back from. She is capable of molding herself into normal society, but she will never really fit into her quiet hometown. Pearl, in her hands, becomes the stuff of Ancient Greek Tragedy.

For West, the film is as beautiful as it is destructive. There’s a clear visual reference to The Wizard of Oz in the style of filmmaking, character presentation, and use of music and graphics. It’s such a twisted device, which is the kind of conceptual horror filmmaking West excels at. Pearl is on her journey to find herself outside of the farm, only she doesn’t get to ride a tornado into a magical land that truly understands her.

Pearl is horror spectacle. This film is designed to be seen on the big screen and experienced in a crowd. It will haunt your waking hours and energize your dreams. Pearl is a star, and anyone who sees the film will know.

Pearl is currently playing in theaters.