How the X-Trilogy Proves It’s That Damn Good…

Arthouse Horror Is Here to Stay

Ti West just wrapped up the Infamous X trilogy, and fans can't believe it's over. It has been a whirlwind two years for Ti West and Mia Goth as their “Elevated” horror trilogy took the world by storm with unprecedented speed. The first film in the trilogy, X, was barely making the rounds before the sequel Pearl was released to the masses.

However, this was a great ploy on the part of the production studio. Everyone knew that X was going to be a smash hit in the world of horror. So, they went ahead and shot the second one at the same time they were making X. Now, this isn't some generic slasher trying to pump out as many sequels as possible. Ti West has already stated that the third film will serve as the conclusion to the trilogy, much to the sadness of horror fans.

“Why are you leaving me if I didn't do anything wrong? I don't understand, I thought you liked me!” - Pearl

So, what makes this franchise stand out amongst its competition? For starters, Elevated or Arthouse horror has been on the rise for the past decade. These films feel that they are above the standard slash and gore mechanics that so many of these films rely on. Not that the x trilogy steers away from gore mind you, more so that it doesn’t rely on as many cheap tricks to scare its audience.

More importantly, the X trilogy isn't content with just being a slasher film. The first film, X, is a cross between granny horror and an off brand meta horror. At the same time, Pearl deals with the complexities of fame worship while also providing weird parallels to the Wizard of OZ for some reason. Both films are fantastic in their own way and are not even remotely similar, minus the glorious Mia Goth that is.

This isn't just horror fans patting themselves on the back either. Recently, the godfather of film, Martin Scorsese congratulated the film, stating that it highlights the different era of American filmmaking. Noting that the films showcase the art style from the 50s, 70s, and most recently with MaXXXine, the 80s.

MaXXXine is currently receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews. Not only for wrapping up the trilogy in a delightful way, something other trilogies could learn from but also for its dedication to the genre. Many films try to pay homage to decades or films that came before it. However, many of those films feel more like nostalgia bait than an honest attempt at inventive filmmaking.

The X trilogy succeeds where these other films fail. Each iteration of the franchise builds upon the one before it. However, each film also works as a standalone tale. You can watch them out of order or skip films entirely and still enjoy them. Now, it's obviously more fun if you can piece together all the little details, but it is nice that it isn't required.

Although it is always sad to see such a wonderful story reach its conclusion, Ti West is making the right call in letting the X trilogy have its proper conclusion. Too many films, especially horror films, continue pumping out sequels until the subject matter is no longer entertaining. Think of how many Hellraiser films exist versus how many of them are actually Hellraiser films.

That being said, fans can only hope that whatever projects Ti West and Mia Goth are cooking up next can bring the same level of creativity and arthouse style. If not, at least we have a truly wonderful trilogy to dissect and enjoy until the next best thing is released.