I've noticed it has become quite common for art produced in the 21st century to play it safe. Be it by being PC or by settling for the same old formula of the genre it's trying to replicate, but being self-conscious about it. X does both, but with the confidence of a superior art form.
The result is a contradictory movie: it attempts to comment on social issues (but achieves nothing more than a couple nods at certain general themes) whilst following in the steps of its exploitative predecessors. Due to that, when Ti West (writer and director) presents us with the themes he is supposed to tackle, it's not clear what he wants to say about them (except in regards to sexual liberation, which is undeniably essential to human happiness and even makes us better people, according to X).
Basically, the script of X can be summed up to a couple nods at social commentary and a couple more nods at slashers from the 70's and 80's. Meanwhile, when it attempts originality, it accomplishes nothing more than relishing in unapologetic sexual exploitation, posing self-involved catchphrases as virtue statements, intended only to criticize "prudish" people and the religious alike.
While the camerawork, direction and editing are quite clever, it feels heavily self involved, because the contents of the film do not justify such convoluted technicalities. The soundtrack makes up for a pretty good playlist, but that is nothing more than a cheap trick to make the viewer feel some unearned affection for the movie. All in all, form does not elevate the content. If there is nothing to be said, it doesn't matter how beautifully you say it, it is still nothing. X is basically the cinematic equivalent of a rebellious teen using empty pretentious discourse to criticize that which doesn't please them.
The result is a contradictory movie: it attempts to comment on social issues (but achieves nothing more than a couple nods at certain general themes) whilst following in the steps of its exploitative predecessors. Due to that, when Ti West (writer and director) presents us with the themes he is supposed to tackle, it's not clear what he wants to say about them (except in regards to sexual liberation, which is undeniably essential to human happiness and even makes us better people, according to X).
Basically, the script of X can be summed up to a couple nods at social commentary and a couple more nods at slashers from the 70's and 80's. Meanwhile, when it attempts originality, it accomplishes nothing more than relishing in unapologetic sexual exploitation, posing self-involved catchphrases as virtue statements, intended only to criticize "prudish" people and the religious alike.
While the camerawork, direction and editing are quite clever, it feels heavily self involved, because the contents of the film do not justify such convoluted technicalities. The soundtrack makes up for a pretty good playlist, but that is nothing more than a cheap trick to make the viewer feel some unearned affection for the movie. All in all, form does not elevate the content. If there is nothing to be said, it doesn't matter how beautifully you say it, it is still nothing. X is basically the cinematic equivalent of a rebellious teen using empty pretentious discourse to criticize that which doesn't please them.