Finally got around to watching this. I would say it's a bit more than a "good" performance. In fact it's one of the best performances in a horror movie I've ever seen. I don't normally give a shit about Academy Awards but if this isn't deserving of a nomination then I don't know what. The 9-minute monologue she gives before dispatching her sister-in-law was incredidble and appeared to be done in one take. As for the movie, I thought it was superior to X and is probably the best horror of the year for me, thus far.

One-take shots are always cool. The one during the end credits threw me for a loop. To see her smiling the whole time is fascinating, and then the tears... it says a lot.

I haven't seen Pearl yet, but I finally saw X. I just wanted to say, YEESH. I felt SO BAD for that dude RJ, especially. He was the guy who appeared to be an actual film student, with an interest in the techniques, and avant-garde stuff, yadda yadda yadda. He made me think of that line from some song by the Police, "their logic ties you up and rapes you." There was no actualy rape involved, but he got spiritually raped even more than his adorable girlfriend, who actually had sex on film with that actor from the film. He (RJ) spent lots of time talking himself into the idea that what he was doing as a porn cinematographer (or whatever) was a serious art form, and could be respectable and legitimate. He was bullshitting, and he knew it on some level, but he was only trying to persuade himself, and the actors and the director of the film. The problem was, they got to be really convincing-sounding in the way they talked about porn, and they actually persuaded RJ's girlfriend that she should take a more active role in the film. That meant that RJ had to literally stand there and film his girlfriend getting boned by that guy. I mean, Jesus. The girlfriend had talked herself into it, so at least at that moment, she wasn't really being raped. But RJ was in a hell of a tough situation. I just felt really bad for him. In a demented way, maybe it was best for his character that he got killed, because I don't think he would have wanted to keep living anyway. Yeesh.

Apart from that... they clearly put a lot of thought into this movie! I appreciated all the little homages to TCM, and the contemporary music was fun to hear. About the stuff about aging... I just wanted to mention the movie Gone in the Night, from this year, starring Winona Ryder, Dermot Mulroney, John Gallagher Jr., Owen Teague, and Brianne Tju. That is also about getting older and how people sometimes still have strong sex-related feelings that can be problematic, etc. OK, I probably made that sound like an absolutely wretched movie that no one would ever voluntarily watch, but it does have a plot, and is kind of interesting. Just a heads up.

Yeah, RJ is better off dead after that fiasco. His gf definitely regreted it after. "I hate all of you!", and then... well, you know! I was watching some of Wednesday with her. Starts off strong and she gives a good performance, but it quickly turns into some dumb teen drama. I'm not sure I'll continue with it. Maybe.

In a quasi-TCM related tidbit, the whole alligator is likely a reference to another GREAT Tobe Hooper flick, Eaten Alive.

Something else about RJ: the guy who played him was also in a movie called Super Dark Times. I'm a pretty big fan of that. It's about a bunch of high school friends, one of whom accidentally commits a murder. That first murder is an accident, but it unleashes... all kinds of things. Owen Campbell, who played RJ in X, is the main character in Super Dark Times. I think he does a great job, as do all the other actors involved. I just want to say, if you watch it, pay attention to the character Allison, played by Elizabeth Cappucino. People online argue about what her character is up to, what she might be doing offscreen, etc. I'm not sure I agree with the theories I've come across, but it is definitely fertile ground for speculation.

I gave it a watch. Good flick, good performances. And man, did it get dark. That sword fight was intense! I do recognize the guy in X now.

Just saw both these movies last month. Thought the first one was really good. But this one? Holy shit! I'm with Markus. Best horror FTV of the year for me, or probably best FTV of any genre. Very enjoyable stuff here. 8/10