The plot of the A24 horror slasher movie “X” centres on a group of young adult filmmakers who, while on set, accidentally stumble across a terrifying farm. Encouraged by her producer lover Wayne’s belief that she has the X Factor, Maxine Minx dreams of becoming a Hollywood star. However, until she eventually gains fame and makes it into the mainstream sector, the woman is trapped playing the lead role in his pornographic movies. As a result, Wayne secretly books an elderly couple’s acreage with his team of six filmmakers. However, as soon as Howard and Pearl, the owners of the farm, find out about the crew’s plans, something terrible is unleashed, forcing Maxine and her crew to battle for their lives.
The 1979 movie, which contrasts graphic violence with themes of sexual pleasure, provides an intriguing peek into the hedonistic slasher film genre. In addition, the plot advances due to a never-ending yearning for adolescent popularity, which opens the door for Pearl and her murderous plot. Viewers must therefore question if the film crew’s deadly night and the narrative pillars that support “X” have any real-world precedent.
X is Not Based on a True Story
The first film in director Ti West’s horror trilogy, “X,” features Mia Goth in key roles within a linked cinematic universe. Within the parameters of “X’s” story, West delves into two distinct themes: one is an ode to the craft of filmmaking, while the other expresses an enduring fear of growing old and failing. The two concepts manage to stay closely related in some way.
The movie is set in the late 1970s, which is regarded by West as the most prestigious era in American film history. As a result, it turns out to be a deliberate decision since the filmmaker wanted to portray the passion and craftsmanship that went into creating a picture. As a result, the filmmaker found it easy to choose the era since his successful experimental films defined it.
In an interview with Collider, West stated, “[So] I wanted to make a movie where the characters in the movie were making a movie to invite you in to kind of be charmed by what it takes to make a movie.” The director was able to address one of the film’s most basic elements by doing this. Additionally, by designating an adult film crew from the 1970s as the main group in the movie, the story subtly draws attention to the main theme of ageing and the anxieties that go along with it.
Speaking on the same subject, actress Brittany Snow, who plays Bobby-Lynne in the movie, remarked, “That was one of my first conversations with Ti.” I mentioned, “So, you did a movie about the fear of getting older,” I believe, on our first phone chat. That’s how I feel! Everyone feels that, I believe. I often worry about if I’m doing enough because I’m getting older and my parents are getting older. “Am I making the most out of my life?”
And what strikes me is the way these two groups of people—one at the start and one at the finish—are positioned next to each other. Snow went on, “I think [it] is something that nobody’s done in a horror movie before,” effectively expressing the main struggle in the movie. Therefore, “X” is able to create a plot that is realistically laced with terror, thanks to its natural relationship to the well-known slasher genre and actual materials. Nevertheless, the movie stays in the realm of fiction because its events are entirely made up.
Similarity to a Serial Killing Duo Of The Past
Though it has no concrete foundation in truth, “X” bears some resemblance to the narrative of a real-life pair of serial killers who were notable throughout history for their advanced age. An old couple well into their 70s, Ray & Faye Copeland, were apprehended by the authorities in October 1989 for the murder of multiple victims. The officers were called to the Copeland’s farm by an anonymous tip, despite the fact that Ray already had a long criminal record from past encounters with the law, including a year-long jail sentence for theft and forgery.
Following a check of the area, the police discovered five shallow graves with rotting bodies inside of them. Additionally, when the police looked into it deeper, they found the murder weapon and an unsettling quilt that Faye had created out of the victims’ clothing. Even though neither Ray nor Faye were executed, they were ultimately accused of five murders and made history as the oldest convicts in America to be given the death penalty.
Despite the fact that the Copeland’s crimes were motivated by a cattle scam scheme rather than desire or envy, the parallels between Howard and Pearl’s killings are still apparent. However, neither director West nor any other individual associated with the film’s production has ever cited the Copelands’ narrative as an inspiration. As a result, there is no deliberate connection between the two stories, and their parallels remain entirely coincidental.
Furthermore, Pearl’s account diverges even more from the actual crime committed by the Copelands as the audience gets to know her better. Similar to how he wrote the whole screenplay for “X,” West came up with the idea for the film independently. But when the team left for New Zealand to begin filming, the mandatory quarantine that all participants had to follow due to COVID-19 requirements left the director with some spare time.
Consequently, West—who was already toying with the notion of making two films in quick succession—made the decision to write “Pearl” with the assistance of main actress Mia Goth. As a result, even though “X” was not inspired by its prior prequel picture, “Pearl,” its creation was still greatly impacted by it. The two films continue to be intrinsically linked for the same reason. As a result, even though the Copeland murders and “X” have certain parallels, it is likely that the former did not serve as the basis for the latter, which makes it a completely fictional tale.
