What Movie Should I Watch Tonight? ‘X’ Now Streaming on Netflix

Need a movie to watch tonight? We got you covered. Check out the 2022 slasher X, starring Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, and Martin Henderson. The horror movie is the start of a thrilling franchise that includes the 2022 prequel Pearl and upcoming sequel MaXXXine.

Directed by Ti West, X takes place in 1979 and follows a film crew and cast as they rent a cabin in rural Texas to film a pornographic movie.

Goth stars as the aspiring porn star Maxine with Henderson as Maxine’s boyfriend and movie producer Wayne, Brittany Snow and Scott Mescudi as performers Bobby-Lynne and Jackson, Owen Campbell as director RJ, and Jenna Ortega as RJ’s quiet and apathetic girlfriend Lorraine.

The elderly couple they are staying with, Pearl (also played by Goth) and Howard (Stephen Ure), are dismissive of the rowdy group from the beginning, and it eventually comes out that Wayne never told them the reason why they rented the cabin.

But that’s the least of their worries. Early on, Pearl takes a keen interest in Maxine and makes sexual advances towards her. Howard intervenes and insinuates that Maxine’s behavior is due to her age-related decline. As this plays out, the group deals with their own issues caused by their conflicting personalities.

True to the slasher genre, Pearl and Howard attacks the group, taking them out one by one.

The movie features several noteworthy performances, including Ortega’s fearless approach to Lorraine, which allowed her to shake off the lingering association she still had with her child acting days and prove herself to be more than a one-note actor. Though initially prudish, Lorraine becomes interested in the porn scene and decides to film a sex scene of her own. While Ortega has always taken on a diverse selection of roles, this one seemed like the biggest risk yet and a metaphor for her own career. Why not try something new?

X has its highs and lows, with the latter coming out in its reliance on “old people ick” in the scenes involving Pearl and her sexuality. When I first saw the movie in 2022, it seemed that people in the audience were more grossed out by old people having sexual feelings than the brutal kill scenes, and that can’t be entirely blamed on the viewers as the movie’s narrative made space for that response. But overall, the movie is a fun and sexy homage to the slasher genre while also making itself stand out due to West’s unique direction.

Wondering why we are recommending X tonight? Out of all nights? Get the movie queued up and we’ll tell you.

Why Watch X Tonight?

The answer is quite simple: X was just added to the Netflix catalogue this week, which means that now is the perfect time for movie lovers to rediscover this horror movie as it reaches a wider audience with its new streaming home.

Also, the rewatch will pay off soon as MaXXXine is set to release later in 2024. If you’re anything like me, it’s been nearly two years since you’ve seen X and in that time, you watched the prequel. Why not go back to where things started?

The third reason is that the movie explores four different romantic relationship. There are three boyfriend-girlfriend pairings and a budding romance amid Bobby-Lynne and Jackson. Do you get where I’m going with this? Valentine’s Day pregame, baby!

Synopsis: “In 1979, a group of young filmmakers set out to make an adult film in rural Texas, but when their reclusive, elderly hosts catch them in the act, the cast find themselves fighting for their lives.”

Cast: Mia Goth, Brittany Snow, Jenna Ortega, Martin Henderson

Release Date: March 18, 2022

Where to Stream: Netflix