Pearl (2022) is a gripping American horror film directed, produced, and edited by Ti West, with a screenplay co-written by West and actress Mia Goth. Serving as both a prequel to West’s 2022 film X and a standalone story, Pearl delves into the disturbing origins of the character Pearl, a young woman whose innocent aspirations take a dark, violent turn.

Set in 1918, Pearl follows the titular character, a naive yet ambitious young woman living on a farm with her strict, overbearing mother and her disabled father. Pearl dreams of escaping her isolated life and becoming a star, but her desires for fame and recognition quickly lead her down a dangerous path. Her frustrations with her circumstances and the people around her begin to fester, and what starts as a yearning for a better life slowly turns into a deadly obsession.

Mia Goth delivers a standout performance as Pearl, embodying the character with a mix of sweetness, vulnerability, and underlying madness. Her portrayal is both captivating and chilling, making Pearl a truly memorable character in the horror genre. The film explores her inner turmoil and descent into madness, with Goth’s performance serving as the emotional core of the film. Through Pearl’s eyes, the audience witnesses how her innocence is eroded by a combination of isolation, unmet desires, and deep-seated resentment.

The film is a visual and emotional throwback to classic horror, with a unique style that blends vintage aesthetics with modern horror sensibilities. The cinematography in Pearl is beautifully crafted, with rich colors and striking shots that create a haunting atmosphere. The film’s use of bright, almost dreamlike visuals contrasts with the dark themes at its core, enhancing the unsettling feeling of unease throughout.

Pearl also explores themes of ambition, loneliness, and the pursuit of fame at any cost. The character’s intense yearning for escape and her obsession with becoming someone more than what her circumstances dictate are central to the story. However, this pursuit of a dream quickly turns nightmarish as Pearl’s actions become more erratic and violent, revealing the dangerous consequences of unchecked desires.

As a prequel to X, Pearl enriches the backstory of the character introduced in the earlier film. While X focuses on a group of people making a film in a remote farmhouse, Pearl gives us a deeper look at the origins of the villainous figure who would later haunt them. The prequel provides context to Pearl’s motivations and actions in X, making her an even more compelling and tragic figure.

In conclusion, Pearl (2022) is a chilling and beautifully made horror film that delves into the mind of a woman driven by dreams, loneliness, and a dangerous thirst for fame. With Mia Goth’s exceptional performance and Ti West’s distinctive direction, Pearl stands out as a memorable and unsettling entry in the horror genre. Its dark themes, visual style, and character-driven narrative make it a must-watch for fans of psychological horror and those who appreciate deeper, more complex villainous characters.