26.5K
Pearl
Ti West kills it this year, giving us another horror icon with his double feature X and Pearl. While I loved X, Pearl takes the spot for me as one of the year’s most terrifying and heartbreaking horror experiences. Mia Goth kills it as the titular Pearl, showing her struggles trapped on a farm with her oppressive family as relatably sympathetic and terrifying. With a gorgeous Wizard of Oz-style production and a deeply empathetic story allows her growing madness to sneak up on you. West captures how the intoxicating desire for freedom and fame can bring out the utter worst in a person. Pearl submits itself as a horror classic and I’m eager for the sequel MaXXXine next year.
