A One Mann’s Movies review of “Pearl” (2023).
“Pearl” looks to be yet another A24 hit. They certainly know how to pick ’em. This is an effective and claustrophobic little horror film, that’s not for the fainthearted.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
It’s 1918 in rural America. Pearl is a teenage girl with issues. With her husband Howard on the Western Front, she feels trapped on her family farm, as carer for her paraplegic father (Matthew Sunderland) and bullied by her domineering German-speaking mother (Tandi Wright). Here only respite are the films at the local picturehouse and her dreams of becoming a famous dancer. But with tensions rising, something feels like it is ready to snap.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC: “Strong violence, gore, threat, sex, domestic abuse”). (I think this was VERY fortunate to get away with a ’15’ certificate. I’d have certainly rated this one an ’18’ for the violence and the sense of pervading threat throughout. Watcher beware!)
Talent:
Starring: Mia Goth, Tandi Wright, Matthew Sutherland, David Corenswet, Emma Jenkins-Purro.
Directed by: Ti West.
Written by: Ti West & Mia Goth.
Twitter Handle: #PearlMovie.
I know a girl has needs, but….. (Source: A24).
“Pearl” Review:
Positives:
- This is an unsettling film from the outset, with its twee 1950’s-style titles, its jaunty music and the Pollyanna vibes of its opening bucolic scenes. But in the blink of an eye and a pitch-forked goose, you realise you aren’t in Kansas anymore. That sense of building dread pervades the film in a most creepy and disturbing way.
- Mia Goth delivers an astonishing performance, reminding me very much at times of Sissie Spacek in “Carrie”. There’s a particular monologue scene, where she is talking to Mitsy (Emma Jenkins-Purro) near the finale of the film that goes on and on and on in mesmeric fashion. (The director wisely keeps the camera fixed on Pearl so you have no direct feedback from Mitsy, which feels infuriating!) I know there was a bit of Oscar-speculation around Mia Goth in this role, and it is well-deserved. My God, she deserves an Oscar for holding that incredible expression throughout the end-titles! (It reminded me of the Barbie Tour-Guide doll at the end of the Toy Story 2 credits – “Can I stop now. Oh my gosh, my cheeks are KILLING me!”).
- Some of the prosthetics work here is top-notch, with some very strong and believable gore and dismemberments!
Negatives:
- Although I never got bored with this, the story felt quite linear and predictable to me. The film was enlivened by occasional flights of fantasy, such as during a dance audition number and, disturbingly, while Pearl is dry-humping a scarecrow. But I could have personally done with some more of this, helping us to get inside Pearl’s mentally disturbed head some more.
Summary Thoughts on “Pearl”
This is a prequel (an origin story in fact) to another A24 sleeper-hit from last year, “X”: a similar slasher-horror set around a porn-movie shoot in rural Texas. I’ve not got to see that yet, but I didn’t need to. This film works perfectly well standalone.
It’s certainly an effective little horror film, full of building suspense and gory outcomes. And it’s underpinned by a stellar performance from London-born Mia Gypsy Mello da Silva Goth.
Mia Goth is set to return, in a sequel to “X” – “MaXXXine” – which starts filming next month and which, I guess, will likely come out in 2024.
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Trailer for “Pearl”
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5PW5r3pEOg . (Note: this is the red band trailer).
