Pearl unleashes her dark side when she realises that her dream to become a star is crushed by the reality that she’ll get stuck on a farm.
Pearl starts off with antithetical notions. The extremely colourful scenery, the joyful orchestra on the soundtrack, the dream of becoming a movie star one day, and everything a classic Hollywood comedy/drama/romance represented in the early 20th century, such as The Wizard of Oz (1939), are offered to you in a slasher horror of today, a prequel to a bloodbath that only takes place in that era. So, what do you think is going to happen?
I have already spoken about X. The film seems to have been ridiculously edited on purpose (to resemble the 70s?) and still made, arguably, last year’s best horror film. While such editing was not spotted in Pearl, what couldn’t be missed was the prolonged build-up, the reason why Pearl became the psychopathic murderer she is in X. While it is considerably less eventful than X, Mia Goth (also producer) steals the show. She absolutely nails her part. Not only with her brilliant 8-minute monologue but throughout all three acts. She’s absolutely magnificent, and producer, writer, and director Ti West sees it and pictures her as the star her character always dreamt of being.
Now, bear in mind that Pearl‘s script had already been written before the filming of X started, and A24 produced both films. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times: The people in charge of A24 know what they are doing. They are ahead of the game, and their vision is the new breath Hollywood needs. Think of them as the new HBO. They filmed two related horrors simultaneously, knowing they would be successful beforehand. Again… vision!
In a twisted and deranged manner, Pearl manipulates the early “Hollywoodland” dreamworld, visually sodomises it, and turns it into a nightmare! This is an absolute joy for every horror fan out there. And none of it would be possible if, other than Goth, David Corenswet, Tandi Wright, Matthew Sunderland, and Emma Jenkins-Purro didn’t give their 100% with their remarkable performances.
P.S. according to IMDb, Tandi Wright learned how to speak German only for her role – she even fooled two German crew members.
P.P.S. To the specific online fan clubs: Before I found out about you, I thought of the same thing myself! You have my vote! To whoever studio mogul explores the idea of making a female version of Joker or a similarly twisted character, look no further! Mia Goth is here!
P.P.P.S. Look out! MaXXXine is coming out soon!
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Solidarity for all the innocent lives who suffer the atrocities of war!
Stay safe!
Really can’t wait for this one. A proper horror film that’s right up my street. Thanks mate.
You’ll adore it!
[…] like slowly and gradually Hollywood reinvents itself, producing films like this one, Pearl (2022): https://kaygazpro.com/2023/01/06/pearl-2022-horror/ and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015): […]
[…] of disturbing 8-minute monologues, a similarly unsettling one is Mia Goth’s in Pearl (2022): https://kaygazpro.com/2023/01/06/pearl-2022-horror/ Remember… a good director […]