Welcome back to White Rose of Avalon, my Darlings. Today’s post is my personal ranking of Ti West’s X Trilogy! I finally got the chance to watch MaxXxine over the weekend, as it was added to HBO Max, so I knew I just had to do this post ranking the trilogy. Without further ado, let’s look at my ranking!
Number 3: X (2022)
~I really did enjoy this first entry in the trilogy, and it had me very enthralled to see where the franchise would go. The seventies setting and the plot of filming an X-rated adult film on a farm without the owners’ knowledge was very entertaining. I loved the examination of sexuality and aging presented in the film as well. This first film laid a great groundwork that would pay off in the other entries in the trilogy. That being said, I think the franchise just got even better from here, which is why it is in last place!
Number 2: MAXXXINE (2024)
~I was really thoroughly delighted with how well this final film in the saga wrapped up the storyline. I loved the Hollywood setting and the timeframe, having this set during the height of the Satanic Panic of the 1980s and the Night Stalker’s reign of terror was ideal! I loved how much Maxine had grown as a character and how they explored her continuing trauma surrounding the events of X. The film truly brought her character full circle, even tying up the loose ends of her childhood that was hinted at in X! As the final film in the trilogy, it got to do some very fun callbacks to the other two films, which is always nice to see. It is my number two because of how well it works as a sequel, and I did not even mind that I guessed the killer from the jump, as it was such a great ride of a story!
Number 1: PEARL (2022)
~I knew from the moment I saw this one that it would remain my favorite of the franchise! This film is so utterly engrossing. I love a good villain origin story, and this one is told from Pearl’s perspective during the flu epidemic and WWI. Howard is off fighting in the war, and Pearl is left at home with her parents on their farm. Her only escapes are going to the movies and acting for her audience of farm animals. She dreams of being a star, but her lot in life does not leave room for much opportunity. Pearl had married Howard in hopes of getting off the farm, as his family was well-to-do. To her chagrin, Howard was happy to live on the farm with her parents and hoped to inherit it one day. Her life was made even worse when Howard went to fight in the war, as she was left with her harsh mother. I love the examination of her mindset, the obsessive way she approaches the opportunity to audition for a touring dance company, and her exploration of her sexuality! Pearl is confronted with abandonment and people gaining a sense of unease around her throughout the film. It is obvious that even when people do not know what she has done, they can sense something is off about her. The film does a nice job of showing us how the Pearl of X came to be, as it answers the questions of how her mind became so disturbed.
~I hope you have enjoyed this short post ranking this awesome horror trilogy. What is your favorite film of the three? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Note on Image: The image at the top of the post is all three film posters. I found the image on https://www.reddit.com/r/Letterboxd/comments/1cws5rx/the_x_trilogy_is_upon_us/?rdt=48910.
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