X (Dead Meat Podcast Ep. 164)

[@jonathan_073]

For the window thing I was thinking, Maxine is looking through an open window which can be like she’s still young and is still open to a lot of opportunities in life, open too opportunities, but Pearl is looking through a closed window which can show the opposite, because her age has made her incapable to do a lot of stuff that Maxine can, her window of opportunities has closed

[@AverageYouTubaEnjoyer]

Shout out to you, James said this exact same thing in the X Kill Count! I guess you helped with the script 😅

[@renganime2151]

oh look your comment helped with the script in x kill count

[@DeadMeat]

Yeah for sure I worked this comment into the X script. It was too good not to!

[@JahmezFox]

@@renganime2151 damn, you got there before me 😅

[@08gameplaya]

Very deep insight you know your stuff.

[@berby2068]

One thing that I found so interesting was the audience reaction during the old people sex scenes; people were more horrified by disgust they felt at old people sex than they were by the kills. It perfectly drives home the messages around age and desirability that the movie was trying to get across.

[@tonyabrookes9931]

To be fair, we're not biologically wired to sexually desire people past reproductive age because it makes zero sense human evolution-wise to waste energy & "resources" on people who are unable to create offspring.

[@Overseer2579]

Oh totally

[@briansmith1652]

237 likes. I’m not changing that.

[@x0_2q54]

Personally for me I get uncomfortable for any sex scene and like- the old couple sexually assaulted people and murdered all of Maxine’s friends so yeah I’m gonna be disgusted when they randomly start having sex especially because Maxine is under the bed

[@Red-S-267]

I kind of assumed it would be the same if it was a couple of younger murderers. Like how embarrassing must that feel to know they are above you. Confusing thoughts from that can barely even register when you have to be terrified that they will find out you are there and murder you.

[@bgprobably]

"Get in that barn and start fuckin' we're losin' daylight" got me ROLLING

[@zdrastibepce3729]

tujno

[@thedisguise3538]

2 years from now when they possibly play the out of context game again, this quote should be included

[@OzzyBen07]

me too!

[@D0CT0RS133P]

I think this is the first horror movie that could’ve been solved by giving the villain a vibrator.

[@obara7366]

Grace and Frankie's market. In that show they develop vibrators for elder women who have arthritis and carpal issues.

[@justineharper3346]

😂😂😂

[@nicholasnicholson7942]

defeats the point of the movie though, but lmfao

[@Chris-ks4sw]

Idk if you give one to pinhead from hellraiser that has spikes it could also work

[@demonpaw11]

I wanted to like ur comment but also didn't want to change the number it's at lol (if that number changes, for future readers it's 666 as of writing this comment)

[@barbrichards7209]

Brittany Snow continues to be one of the best parts of the horror movies she's in, Would You Rather, Prom Night remake, and now X. this is such a good cap to her horror movie cinematic universe trilogy. we stan! more of her on the channel pls

[@balabanasireti]

Imagine still saying "we stan" unironically

[@ultrabigfella]

@@balabanasireti imagine caring about something like that...

[@carljewitt7349]

To be fair we do stan

[@RikerBiker]

Ive seen alot of people bring up prom night since this movie came out saying how good it was.... am i remembering wrong? Because i remember that movie being knock out boring. Haha

[@kaylachappell154]

@@RikerBiker no you’re not that wrong. I can only speak for myself but it was a movie I used to watch when I was younger because it was on the all the time and I have a special nostalgia place for it in my heart. I rewatched it and the best part was Brittany snow but it is still not the best lol but I can’t help but love it.

[@p4r1sasmr]

I also noticed in the scene where Jenna Ortega’s character says she wants to be in the movie, everyone other than Maxine looks shocked at her decision. It felt like such a real reaction and a good lead up to Maxine’s backstory with her dad

[@Austib_]

Especially because they called Lorraine a church mouse and Maxine, presumably having grown up in a church, could also have started as a church mouse

[@Overseer2579]

Cannot WAIT to see MaxXxine!

[@hi-co2pf]

@@Overseer2579 same! pearl was amazing!

[@Overseer2579]

@@hi-co2pf it was! My favorite film of the year so far

[@tayloranderson7547]

Like such a real reaction and a good lead up to Maxine's backstory with her dad

[@Matter-Dark]

I saw this comment about X that said something like “Ti West saw his Grandparents having sex and made a whole movie to exorcise that demon.” I think it was the perfect review.

[@gracehaven5459]

Dude, you resurrected a memory I was trying to forget 🤢🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

[@Matter-Dark]

@@gracehaven5459 Lol, sorry

[@denisematthews6215]

I responded the way Chelsea did the very first time I saw X . I connected immediately. My reasons may be different. I’m 65, and what hit me was the aging theme. There was a sadness to it in terms of how our bodies fail us with old age, how we are not what we were at one time in our life. I absolutely loved it, and can’t wait for Pearl to see what kind of messed stuff she’s into in her young age! Thank you James and Chelsea! I’ve been waiting for this one!

[@kita1377]

can't believe you guys skipped over the scene where Jenna's character goes down to the basement, and when she pulls the chain for the light it CUTS right to Wayne's eyes being pulled out of his head. THAT scene got me lol. just the sound of the chain and then seeing that was so good. and also the flickering of the scenes back and forth I really liked.

[@GuineaPigEveryday]

Honestly loved that scene. When Wayne got killed through the holes it felt kinda crappy, i mean predictable and a bit forced as in he had to walk up and lean looking into those holes and we all know how that goes, so i was like ‘okay i guess thats it’. But then that quick edit actually delivers the real jumpscare of that kill, its a really smart way to subvert expectations because you really dont expect it, and it still manages to make a somewhat boring kill into a good one

[@Lynsey17]

I know it's a tiny detail, but I weirdly love that Maxine and Bobby Lynn have visible tan lines. It's just such a realistic thing.

[@fandomcringebucket]

I didn't notice that! You think the makeup team was using spray tan to mimic realistic tan lines? Lololol

[@colleengaw3338]

I love when Wayne says to Lorraine “you don’t want to give the old man a heart attack do ya?” And she does💀

[@joeertman]

Never even noticed, everything in this movie is so well thought out

[@nightmeowonelmstreet215]

and wayne says people’s eyes are gonna pop out.. and boom, and also bobby was the first one to come out in the opening where it shows a pin-up girl getting attacked by a croc/alligator

[@mdrndyprpht9890]

Hell yeah I never noticed until you pointed this out!! Thanks for catching that 👏

[@MatthewJones-cl1sb]

Yoooo 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[@D0CT0RS133P]

And the old man says his wife could fall and break her hip...

[@cash7553]

Lorraine’s hint was the nail biting. It foreshadowed the finger crushing scene

[@ptboy18]

Lorraine's foreshadowed death to me was her role as sound operator holding the " boom" mic where she literally gets killed with the a shotgun aka " boomstick."

[@cinder7258]

People keep saying shes timid and doesn't say anything. Then she dies because she couldn't shut up.

[@BraydenBloxburg]

@@ptboy18 ur really smart for noticing that bro

[@patrickcharles6983]

"X" was a true callback/homage to Grindhouse cinema/late 70's and early 80's slasher genre. it genuinely felt like those films. Mia Goth nailed it playing duel roles as the protagonist/antagonist. love this movie.

[@Fercho_SP]

Speaking of foreshadowing, Howard and Pearl's deaths were both foreshadowed as well. Howard having a heart attack after saying his heart couldn't take it, and when Howard is looking for Pearl he tells Jackson he is worried about her falling and breaking her hip which both happened. Great episode of the podcast! Only movie I have watched twice in theaters!

[@memadrich]

also wayne says to lorraine "you don't want to give the poor old man a heart attack" such a good movie

[@jonathanstmartin]

That alligator stalking shot was masterfully suspensful. Also, nice Chucky socks James

[@robertparks7233]

What stands out in this movie,is not only the direction from Ty West,it's that the characters arnt assholes,they are all pretty likable

[@82Jaster]

That's something especially notable since slasher characters are typically paper thin in terms of personality or really abrasive, in both cases the point is to get you to not really be bothered by seeing them get offed. But these characters all come across as being nice, and actively try to help Pearl and Howard.

[@nekonebitan2912]

Ikr the writing of the characters was top notch. I don't think there's a single slasher that all characters have something for them like in this movie. In 99% of the slashers there is always a character who dies and I said ,,thank God he's dead" but that's not the case here. Great job

[@eminemfan50098]

Disagree. I was so happy Lorraine died. I wanted her dead the moment she cheated on her boyfriend.

[@loki1456]

I'm always so torn with slasher. Like I don't want the characters to be paper thin or unlikable, but then like in the case of X, I hate having these likeable characters because I don't want anyone to die and they're going to die by virtue of this being a slasher. Brittany Snow and Kid Cudi were, as James and Chelsea point out, were such warm and kind characters. I especially felt bad for Brittany Snow. She has such a good heart in this and she gets killed in the most *BRUTAL* fashion. (Which, by the way, my friend leaned over and he said, "Golden Chainsaw?")

[@Overseer2579]

Yeah, and more fleshed out than the characters in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), which I do like. That’s rare in horror movies nowadays, so props to Ti West (especially since the actors were so tickled by his love for the characters)

[@MikeMComedy]

*Spoilers* I actually really like Wayne’s death scene because you see the initial kill, which is the close-up of the pitchfork penetrating the eyes, and then we cut to a normal scene and then an abrupt cut to the pitch fork pulling out and the viscera and I’ve seen this film several times and it always gets me. So unsettling. Also, Wayne could easily be a sleazy porn producer but he supports Lorraine’s decision to be in the film based on who she is and what she wants which is pretty new compared to cookie cutter characters like him in past films.

[@alfalafelstine1536]

I'm pretty sure he says to RJ "none of them are nice girls." He also left his wife to be with a younger woman, who's also his employee, addicted to cocaine, fleeing a troubled home, and latching on to him in a desperate hope he'll bring her to fame. The movie plays it all on a pretty light tone. He seems oblivious to Maxine's problems, rather than actively exploiting them, etc. I would still characterize him as a sleezebag, but I think the movie's accepting this as a hedonistic response to aging and insecurity.

[@josephirizarry5195]

Death foreshadowing I noticed on 2nd viewing: Wayne says to Lorraine, "I don't want to give the old cadre a heart attack - would you?" When Howard is dragging Lorraine into the house her death rattle (post-death rattle?) triggers his heart attack.

[@hamish8283]

Chelsea "there's not as much sex in this as you'd think" James "yes there is" 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Litera_Trotter]

I am with Chelsea on that. 😂

[@nekonebitan2912]

@@Litera_Trotter would've like to see Jenna Ortega like Mia and Britanny lol but she's 2002 probably still not to comfortable to be naked on camera

[@nekonebitan2912]

Also I'm 2001 before anyone calls me creppy lol

[@jamesmonroeiii]

@@nekonebitan2912 I've never met the embodiment of a year before, nice to make your acquaintance, 2001

[@raynenickerson5084]

literally the first 40 minutes are porn

[@CharlieCabralos]

Chelsea put it perfectly saying, "this movie made me think of stuff I try not to think about" haha. This movie was so effective and scary to me. I don't want to waste my youth or time in general, and this movie exacerbated that tenfold

[@SaraBanartist]

It's not a waste if you're having a good time, buddy! 🥳

[@uncannyhumantorch3704]

Howard’s heart attack came after Jenna Ortega’s character twitched and coughed up blood . She was still some what alive after getting blasted in the face with a shotgun This also ties in with her being called church mouse because it was her “squeak” that killed Howard

[@thelandlockedselkie]

revisiting this after watching Pearl and was able to determine that the 60th anniversary announcement on the radio in X is for a state dancing audition to tour the state that Saturday.

[@cupofcait]

Ah I didn't catch that I assumed it was like the anniversary of the end of world War I

[@mikesmoviemadness24]

Mia Goth was an absolute standout in this film for being able to play both roles so convincingly! It was strange because you could feel the awkwardness in the theater with the sex scenes, especially the one at the end. But I kind of appreciated that it never felt like it was graphic, just to be graphic. There was a narrative reason for there to be sex and it never felt exploitative. Some might disagree, but that’s just my personal opinion.

[@fournierman]

I usually have trouble seeing the deeper meaning in movies. That is why I enjoy podcasts and reviews like this. It helps me to understand the movie beyond the surface level.

[@tbw_tsa7309]

I really enjoy hearing an opinion on films I love by people so different from me using a totally different life context to see the film by too.

[@kainebrooks472]

A24 is seriously on a roll this year already. Between X and Everything, Everywhere they've already got two of best 2022 releases imo

[@slaterism2762]

they were on a roll until Men came out... but Bodies Bodies Bodies seems promising. along with Pearl of course.

[@kainebrooks472]

@@slaterism2762 whilst Men wasn’t my favourite of theirs this year i still enjoyed it. but i get it’s definitely an acquired taste for sure! definitely keen for pearl & i’ve just bought tickets to a pre screening of bodies bodies bodies, hoping that one is good too!

[@dmitryboardman9762]

Just from the clips in this review, I kind of got the idea that the characters' kindness to the old folks was actually raising the tensions, since it seemed like their demeanor was unnecessarily delicate in such a way that would make Howard and Pearl feel deeply condescended to. Each time the clips played of the characters being "likable and nice" to the elders, it actually was really easy to imagine them getting really annoyed and hurt by those interactions because they were being reminded of how old the film crew saw them as. Not necessarily in a way to make the young folks unsympathetic, but it's really easy to see how their attempts to help could have sent a painful message.

[@artnieli]

agree to thissss, I know some old peeps who dw be 'assisted' a lot bc they say it makes them feel like their age 😢

[@willreese2459]

It's funny how in the beginning, Howard made a point to say that his shotgun wasn't loaded so I had the smallest belief that Jackson was going to survive.

[@destinyfaulkner3941]

something i noticed on a rewatch was when pearl was removing her makeup she was wearing blue eyeshadow like mia goth. it’s also all over her dolls and it shows the blue shadow hitting the pan

[@davidhill2020]

The fact that James and Chelsea didn't know that Pearl was Mia Goth says quite a bit about the quality of the makeup.

[@ZimMan2]

I do think that this film's kill structure is a deliberate inversion of the old slasher cliché about sex being a death sentence, given that the one character who does not have sex and has the least open attitude toward sex, RJ, is the first to die, whereas Maxine, arguably the most sexual character, is the one to survive. Also an interesting note is that despite Howard being worried that his heart condition won't let him have sex, he is able to, and what does trigger his heart attack is a direct result of one of his murders, an action born out of a resentment towards others' sexuality. Just more fuel for how this movie's framing is very sex-positive.

[@ptboy18]

Lorraine's foreshadowed death to me was her role as sound operator holding the " boom" mic where she literally gets killed with the a shotgun aka " boomstick." That's the only thing I can think of.

[@OliviaMcCaslin]

i was thinking the nail biting foreshadowed her hand getting smashed

[@loki1456]

X was so masterful with its characterizations of Pearl and Howard. I found myself moved to tears at the moment when Pearl is like, "I'm not as beautiful as I once was" and Howard's reply of "Always". Another moment was Pearl's cries of "He's having a heart attack". I know she's one of the villains, maybe I'm hyper empathetic, but I could just sit here and list all the ways I felt for her and Howard. I'm truly excited for "Pearl" and the further characterizations we will get with that, since they were so fleshed out here already. Maybe we only got sketches here and "Pearl" will be a Renaissance painting for them.

[@SwaggerMeister72]

This movie felt like a love note to slashers and like it was poking fun at "elevated horror" at the same time. So good.

[@taraharrison9354]

I’m so glad Mia Goth is getting more exposure, she’s such a great actress. She was a standout in Suspiria, where we’ve also seen an actress playing dual roles in heavy prosthetics.

[@mikec4931]

Coulda used some Tilda Swinton in X

[@GuineaPigEveryday]

I first saw her in Cure for Wellness, weird movie but she was definitely memorable in that.

[@Spider-ManHQ]

X is so damn good. I actually find the characters extremely fun to watch and even like pretty much all of them, at least for most of the movie. And the gore is brutal as hell. Very good movie.

[@staywoke2467]

I was devastated when Bobby Lynn bit the dust 😔

[@rayjones658]

It was a terrible movie

[@staywoke2467]

@@rayjones658 to you maybe 🤭

[@DanielLightspeedMcNair]

My boyfriend and I went to see this movie the day it came out, and we were on the edge of our seats the whole time. It’s so rare to see a modern horror movie mix story, suspense, foreshadowing, and character so well nowadays. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and I was confused when I heard some people didn’t.

[@SaraBanartist]

Old people back then looked EXTRA rough because they substituted a food group with cigaretts.

[@tonyabrookes9931]

Lol, truth

[@angiejilani]

Also, the lead, coal, and war 😂

[@amahmess]

Im pretty sure RJ’s hint was the mention of psycho being his favorite movie. Im not sure about Lorraine’s though

[@nekonebitan2912]

I saw a comment where someone said she's biting her fingers and her fingers get crushed although that's not her death but still. There's more foreshadowing for Howard when someone says Lorraine is gonna give him a heart attack and she does at the end lol

[@gik6062]

If you realize when they pass the death cow they make a close up to the bloody lights that killed the cow and they were literally the same as how they looked after RJ’s death

[@karldomogalla2058]

Jenna Ortega is really good at doing the ugly cry/scream. I have no trouble believing that she would make that face in a real terrifying scenario.

[@jeffreyventura6311]

(Spoilers) i guess a foreshadow for lorraine was her being so quiet in the beginning and when she began to scream and get loud towards the end got her killed.

[@ash10]

they called her church mouse, which is a nickname implying how quiet she is haha, so this foreshadow makes even more sense. nice catch!

[@tarynwyss1635]

“we’re doing a live cut!” *camera flashes between shots rapidly* lmao

[@meggletteprime]

Chelsea got that bomber jacket she wanted from PA: next of kin!! It looks amazing :D

[@hamcaked]

I was wondering why it looked so familiar!

[@GSnickerz]

I thought it was just me who noticed omg 😂

[@cheetos1231000]

it didn't recognize it. it looks pretty fire

[@cheetos1231000]

*i didn't recognize it

[@meggletteprime]

I was just watching the podcast episode where she talks about wanting one, so I recognized it immediately. She points it out right at the end as well though 🤗

[@BlueFoxDA]

This movie felt like a standout horror story dialing up the retro vibe, delivering up some top-notch gore. On top of that, there are a lot of uncomfortable scenes. There are some scenes that are so over the top with the elderly they’re comedic, but nonetheless I thought this movie was ok.

[@MarsMellow84]

I was left a little disappointed with this whole movie. Ending was very underwhelming. The Gore and suspense was great though

[@SossaČesko]

Tbh it was one of the worst horror movie i ever saw

[@mullaoslo]

It felt like what every single remake of classic slasher try to be but fail by carbon cobying the original.. I would not be mad if this was a Texas chainsaw remake (just throw a chainsaw in there somewhere)

[@mullaoslo]

@@SossaČesko then you haven't seen many horror movies

[@momsspaghetti697]

@@SossaČesko that’s a stretch 💀

[@andychiu860311]

Chelsea: Expectations were high James: Xpectations were high Chelsea: *completely ignored the pun* Also who else went into the video waiting for them to talk about Zoran's tweet?

[@timmychalamet5644]

also at the end "no you're not sweaty, you're chelsea" lmfaoo

[@eddiebranden1]

Chelsea is to enlightened to enjoy puns.

[@andychiu860311]

@@eddiebranden1 and yet she was babyface in they talk (or perhaps she overdosed on puns and is now in pun rehab?)

[@candlewickchronicles]

A contest I didn’t know I needed: Horniest Horror Villain…that has to be at least a special mention at the next Dead Meat Awards

[@vitgits239]

i thought the accident at the start of the movie foreshadowed RJ's death (i think that's the name of the film nerd), because the truck that crahsed the cow has it's light covered in blood which could reference how pearl covers the van's light when killing him. I don't know though ♡

[@binsoku6]

1:01:40 Chelsea talking about 'how aging affects women who were famous for their beauty' reminded me of the New Batman Adventures episode featuring Calendar Girl who targets a bunch of events, only to learn she was a model who aged out and despite having so much surgery to retain her youth, she felt like it was never enough.

[@9911Justine]

I’lljj Iuo

[@vividterror2293]

It’s funny that Howard died not because of the sex but just because when he was dragging jennas body she was still a little bit alive to Gasp her last breathe and he got scared of that and died

[@thoughtnotfound526]

Would Jenna Ortega being the boom pole operator foreshadow her death? Since she dies by a shotgun? She was using a shotgun microphone to record the scenes.

[@bondfall0072]

That's hilarious and brilliant

[@rolanslide8509]

holy shit imagine filming two movies starring you at the same time- and one of them even has you as two different protagonists! Mia Goth is a fucking legend

[@bondfall0072]

And the other has a 7 minute monologue that is the lynchpin for the film in an unbroken take.

[@juancarlosdealba4647]

Thought it was cool how Howard said earlier in the movie that he was looking for his wife because he was scared she'd fall and break a hip. She totally broke a hip when she fell down from the shotguns blowback.

[@joshlaclair2569]

Brittany Snow asking, "What's your American Dream?" Soooo perfect.

[@teksnotdead902]

My only concern with Pearl is I think her being a bit of a psycho at the age of 20 or whatever kind of takes away from age being such a big factor to their actions in X.

[@CrackedPropane]

I took it as how a psycho reacts to the same fears we deal with about age

[@teksnotdead902]

@@CrackedPropane Understandable. But that kind of lends to the idea that they just needed a reason, any reason, to kill people. If it wasn't age it'd be something else.

[@gaysingaming]

Why do you think that? If done right I think it can give us a good look as to how psychopaths turn out when they age. Yes, she was portrayed as some sad old lady, but at the end of the day she is a serial killer!

[@kjzero9160]

I think it might be her villain origin story. Maybe this is the last crack that breaks her psyche. I wouldn't mind that

[@Aisha_Luv]

I dont think you become a murderous raping psychopath just because you become old and bitter dude. Plus I think the greater theme is of old people being repressive to youth out of jealousy.

[@christianmcmahon1029]

Jenna Ortega scream is an arguable top 3 scream in a horror picture ever. Good lord it was AMAZING

[@prodexset]

it really is

[@MichaelMartinez-em2ug]

I like the foreshadowing when Britney Snow’s character comes out of the door with an alligator and woman on it.

[@bmoresfinest1982]

James with the grampa leg cross with the Chuckie socks is top tier 😂😂

[@susanahoria5823]

I just love jenna ortega in horror movies, she's my new scream queen

[@BernieG16]

Whats left of Jenna Ortegas face does a jump scare is what gives Howard the heart attack.

[@latrexa]

X was amazing! It’s honestly up there for me with Malignant and Last Night in Soho as one/some the best recent horror movies that have came out in recent years

[@rsfilmdiscussionchannel4168]

I think it’s better than both, and those are good

[@haleykeck7430]

Man I cried for RJ the first time I watched this movie, that shower scene really broke my heart straight up, I know he was supposed to be a comedic character but it was so tragic to me especially with his death man, that was the most brutal thing from the entire movie

[@donutlettuce4633]

You two talking about how existential this movie made you feel made me start to feel the same... Good stuff!

[@Clownmvtt]

“We’re cutting this live!” *every single camera angle*

[@matwetton]

Off the back of this and Mia goth being in it id love to see you guys do a podcast on "a cure for wellness" i think its one of the cleverest horror movies in long time proving that there are other ways apart from gore to be tense and scary. Autopsy of jane doe is another great example

[@ravine1299]

Somebody might have already mentioned this but this is the only point in the movie that hints at this movie taking place on a sunday. That's a call back to the minor theme of Christian traditional values because Maxine specifically says "Let's go to work" when she films her scene. Obviously Christians don't work on Sundays. 1:05:10

[@gamert28]

Chelsea’s Kill Count was fucking awesome!!

[@itssharktime6560]

Can't wait to see her Kill Count on American Psycho 2, I wanna see how she acts when covering a very bad movie.

[@norway3600]

The only problem is when she shouldve said lets get to the numbers in the end she said lets get to the kills instead

[@norway3600]

@Ciguaphyria X its absolutely OUTRAGEOUS

[@norway3600]

@Ciguaphyria X The to the numbers is SACRED

[@NateBeeman]

Found his dissertation: Smutty Little Movies: The Creation and Regulation of Adult Video, 1976-1986. Alilunas, Peter Kenneth 2013

[@pimp_floyd5024]

All the themes and underlying tones of X are really well implemented into the story without overshadowing the the simple nature of what the slasher is, you can sit back and enjoy a good horror movie or you can really ponder the concepts it subtlety introduces and almost find yourself sympathetic for the old couple despite their evil actions. Also Mia Goth as Maxine and Pearl nailed it, had no idea she played both roles and it plays into the story very intuitively.

[@bravestoffairies6710]

I read 3 overall themes in this movie. 1. The aging subtext that I think enough people here have pointed out. 2. Lack of consent on the part of the older probably more constricted character. Which that pearl prequel could go more in depth on most likely. 3. How even with the most progressive leaning people, if they have a past with Christian extremism it can still remain. Such as the case with Maxine’s rant with her words being paralleled with her father on the tv. She dehumanizes her fellow sex workers mostly because of the mindsets imprinted on her, as do a lot of people.

[@ariellakahan-harth8831]

I absolutely adored this movie. It might just be my favorite slasher behind my top three of 'Halloween', 'Scream', and 'Texas Chain Saw Massacre'.

[@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control]

One thing that stood out to me about this movie is people were saying that it wasn't what you'd expect it to be... I thought it was exactly what I expected it to be and there actually weren't any big twists or reveals. Just a pretty straightforward, gory slasher movie. And I dug that.

[@juliandiaz6414]

But did you expect the killers' motives??? That was singularly shocking on my end. My jaw hit the floor.

[@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control]

@@juliandiaz6414 No, the premise was really thought provoking. More than just about any other slasher movie I can think of.

[@ace-of-bats]

I'd be really interested in a comparative analysis of X and It Follows. They take very different approaches to the sex/death dichotomy. Plus X's daylight motif is an interesting foil for the water motif in It Follows.

[@timmychalamet5644]

alright i was definitely one of those people that didn't appreciate this movie the first time i watched. i really appreciate yall's analysis and pointing out themes and details i didn't notice. i think bc i'm only 21 the existential threat of getting older kind of went over my head, yall got me thinking about it now and i hate it. i also didn't really have sympathy for the older killers or their motivations at first bc i just didn't see the correlation between horniness and murder lmao. i watched it only in anticipation for this podcast and bc i loved Brittany Snow in Would you Rather and Prom Night but now i'll definitely have to rewatch, thanks chelsea and james

[@denzelcooper3153]

It’s not that deep. Being old sucks, everyone should know that. The couple minds are still intact and know their past, who they are and what they want, are able to move around and do things but just can’t have sex? 😅There is people that get old and are unable to move forget who they are and their family just because they’re old. That’s scarier

[@vegangurly]

@@denzelcooper3153 some times being aware is it’s own type of prison. Their end is near and they are cognizant enough to feel it impending on them.

[@happy99soup82]

@@denzelcooper3153 tbh I'd rather forget and just be absent when I'm about to die. being aware of the end and of my body breaking down and everything I've lost is an extremely scary thing to me

[@GuineaPigEveryday]

that's kind of funny, I'm also 21 but that theme of ageing hit really hard. It's something I've been thinking about a lot, because I've spent several years with no social life and struggling with that, so turning 21 made me realise how I'm not young forever and I might not have the chance to do certain things in the future, let alone be a reckless carpe diem youthful person. I keep wanting to live more freely and doing fun stuff but can't. It's just the days go by and youth is so fleeting and its always expected that you do certain stuff in your 20s. I don't know, I've thought a lot about being old and regretful and bitter, not that I would end up like them, but that fear definitely makes sense to me. Wish I could be like any of the main characters, even RJ, actually trying to enjoy themselves and enjoy youth.

[@cosa_oscura]

Chelsea’s Classic Rock Couture jacket is giving me LIFE. I love the Dolly jacket. Chef’s kiss. Also I’m so glad that you loved Brittany Snow and Kid Cudi in this. They stole this movie for me, I couldn’t take me eyes off them in every scene they were in, and I don’t think people mention that enough.

[@will49245]

After finishing this episode, I can definitely say I see something more in X than I originally did. James described it as thematically rich and that’s how I felt about malignant lol

[@reecesmith849]

the amount of stuff in this movie that link with pearl is astonishing and makes the movie so much better

[@TheCoomSlayer]

i went to see this while i was stoned out of my gourd, and when i tell you the "divine intervention" bout damn near took me out lmfao

[@duvall5jd]

This movie was just so much fun. The cast was phenomenal. Jenna Ortega is the IT girl of Horror right now. Her career is on such a meteoric rise. It’s skyrocketing. I adore her.

[@AFC9311]

I absolitely adored X, this was a fantastic theatre experience

[@Puckrocker]

1:08:46 Wayne sees movement behind the three holes in the barn, that’s why he looks out. It’s pretty subtle, and I had to rewind to figure out what he was seeing.

[@owenfelton]

i agree with james. i enjoyed it the first time but i still felt like i left the theatre a little disappointed and like there could've been more to it. but it significantly benefited from a second watch and this podcast only made me appreciate it even more. loved it. can't wait for pearl!

[@sithemper0r864]

two other foreshadowing moments i think were when the gang were driving past the cow in the road and 1) cuts to the blood on the headlights foreshadowing RJ’s death maybe and then 2) when it cuts to the gang driving over the guts looks exactly like the shot of Pearl getting her head smashed by the tire. i could be wrong and sorry if they already mentioned it, i watched it 2 days ago.

[@Nexils]

The alligator scene is one of my favorite scenes of... probably not all-time... but it's the best thing I've seen in a long while. It was insanely intense and I absolutely loved it.

[@wearethebomb42]

When I watched X for the first time, I assumed the Sunday underwear was a reference to the scene in When Harry Met Sally, where Sally is talking about a friend of hers that wore those weekly underwear. In the story, the friend's boyfriend accused her of cheating because her Sunday underwears were always missing from her drawer, but she protested that it was because the company didn't make Sunday underwear "because it was the Lord's day."

[@OutOfTheBasement]

Love the different camera angles for the podcast! Great job guys.

[@Demarcoa]

"We're doing a live cut!" *Ten million camera cuts ensue* So funny XD

[@naonao9528]

The Northman was also so dark and I saw it at the theater, but the projector wasn't very good. They also left the hallway door open and the light made a giant yellow spot in the bottom left corner. So pick a dark theater to see that one if you can.

[@nocoture]

The northman sucks

[@teddycheddar1114]

I’m rewatching this for the Xth time because it’s one of the best eps, in my opinion, and had a possible revelation that I needed to get out of my head: when Chelsea mentions Maxine saying how she doesn’t like how people here stare? I wonder if that’s older folk who were alive when Pearl was young and looked identical to Maxine, and they see Maxine and kind of do a double take. No idea if that’s what they intended and I haven’t seen the movie in a year but I had to get that thought out. You guys rule!

[@lionelwilliams1646]

The actor playing Rj(Owen Campbell ) looked exactly like Lou Taylor Pucci’s character in the Evil Dead Remake to me .

[@taraharrison9354]

Yes! I though it was him when I first saw the trailer

[@lionelwilliams1646]

@@taraharrison9354 oh my gosh me too lol then I looked it up and it’s one of the kids from “Super Dark Times”. A very outstanding movie !

[@rolanslide8509]

Oui Oui Marie is such a perfect choice for this movie and the character of Pearl. Not only is it an era appropriate wartime song, but it's about a WW1 soldier who falls in love with a young frisky dancer, much like young Howard and Pearl.

[@justinhop7122]

Easily one of the best horror movies I have seen in recent years. It was sad and horrifying, funny and sexy. There was so much in this movie that elevated it to masterpiece status. I can't wait for Pearl!

[@rorymohle2973]

I thought it was really cool that throughout the movie, whenever one of the younger people try to help Pearl or Howard they usually note their age. Jackson says "alright there old timer" and Peal gets compared to the grandmother. I think that's a big part of what makes them angry.

[@ZackaryBiagi]

Dang. Jenna Ortega is on a roll with horror movies. She had a horror movie per month with scream, studio 666, then X.

[@joeertman]

Definitely my favorite of the year so far, can’t get over how beautifully it was shot

[@lelkr]

Great podcasat, I always love watching dicuss random topics in the foreground while I have this on in the bacground.

[@mrgamerwatch100]

I’ll be honest I have never watched your podcasts until today when I watched your entire stay alive episode and now I’m binging these while I’m at work! Thank you for all the information and being the best ❤️

[@havocstillman7572]

I feel stupid now 🤦🏽‍♂️ didn’t even realize Mia goth played the old lady 😒 totally makes this movie so much better for me !

[@tonydarre9954]

I didn't realize it either when I watched it. She's not American either - so pretty impressive performance I'd say

[@FancyTophatDude]

I loved the direction of this movie. It's been so long since I legitimately felt on edge because I didn't know what the movie I'm watching would throw at me next. Just the way scares are delivered in this is switched up again and again and there were edits and shots in there I don't think I've ever seen in a slasher. Felt like a genuine evolution of the genre.

[@danxp1090]

Owen Campbell is from Super Dark Times (2017), which is good. The movie is amazing, I liked Jenna and Mia's characters, but man, all of the characters were great and the "villains" are super creepy and cool.

[@madamemari9138]

i love also the correlation of the cow being run over in the beginning, the blood and guts being on the tire as they drive by, and then a the end when Maxine runs over Pearl's head, pretty cool i loved it!

[@mdrndyprpht9890]

Mia Goths performance as Maxine reminded me alot of Charlize Therons performance of Aileen Wuornos in Monster. My prediction for the third film will follow Maxine as an old person (65? Which isn't really even that old?) in the present day finally facing her fear of aging and fleeting beauty.

[@itsjustpaper]

i feel so bad for the protagonists, most of them are just nice people

[@Matter-Dark]

The only guy who sucks is the camera guy.

[@bravestoffairies6710]

@@Matter-Dark True, although I loved his scenes talking about how porn could be cinema. Which I think is a worthwhile convo to have period.

[@nightbirdgames]

@@Matter-Dark Why'd he suck? He was my favorite character.

[@nightbirdgames]

@@StevieMcKenna10 fair enough with not telling her but she looked pretty comfortable quick enough...