History Film / Pearl2022

* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: Pearl kills a goose with a pitchfork before feeding it to an alligator. While a farm girl could be expected to slaughter animals for food without being squeamish about it, this killing was pointlessly cruel, wasteful, and done [[ForTheEvulz purely for the fun of it]].

* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: Pearl kills a goose with a pitchfork before feeding it to an alligator.

''Pearl'' (also marketed as ''Pearl: An X-traordinary Origin Story'') is a 2022 [[SlasherMovie slasher film]] co-written and directed by Ti West. It is a {{prequel}} to West's previous film ''Film/{{X|2022}}'', released earlier in the same year, and was shot in secret [[MovieMultipack directly after that film wrapped production]]. ''Pearl'' provides an origin story for the namesake character from ''X'', the female half of that film's EvilOldFolks duo, who is again played by Creator/MiaGoth, who co-wrote this film and collaborated with West on its original story.

A teaser trailer for ''Pearl'' was screened directly following ''X''’s premiere at SXSW. The film later premiered in full at 2022's Venice International Film Festival on September 3, and premiered in theaters on September 16, again distributed by Creator/{{A24}}. Three days before that, Ti West and A24 announced a full sequel to ''X'' titled ''Film/{{Maxxxine}}'', once again starring Mia Goth as Maxine seeking to make it as a Hollywood actress in [[TheEighties 1985]].

Definitely '''NOT''' to be confused with the animated [[WesternAnimation/{{Pearl}} film of the same name.]]

* AnAxeToGrind: An axe features heavily in the promotional material. [[spoiler:Pearl kills Mitzy with it.]]

* AmbiguousSituation: It's left unclear whether [[spoiler:Pearl purposely pushed her mother closer to the furnace to catch her clothes alight, or if she acted on blind impulse.]]
** It's also unclear if [[spoiler:Mitzy actually won the part at the dance audition. She denies it at first, but when Pearl presses her, she admits it in a strained, worried tone. This could either mean she's badly lying or telling the truth and is simply too disturbed by everything she's just learned to be happy about it.]]

* CallBack: Plenty to ''X''.

** We now know at least one reason that Pearl hates blondes.

* JerkassHasAPoint: Pearl's mother is strict at best and abusive at worst, but she correctly points out to Pearl that maintaining the farm with one less pair of hands, very little money, caring for a paralyzed husband, and a national environment prejudiced against German immigrants is ''very'' hard work, and that Pearl's flights of fancy aren't helpful.

* MortonsFork: Mitzy is presented with one at the end of the film. [[spoiler:After Pearl confesses to her murders, she suspects Mitzy of having won the part in the dance troupe, and though the film never confirms if this is the case, Mitzy is in a no-win situation. If she continues to deny it, as she initially did, she'll only incense Pearl further, but admitting to it only confirms Pearl's preconceived notions that Mitzy always gets what she wants. Regardless of her answer, Pearl has already determined in her mind that Mitzy had won and more than likely views her attempts to comfort her after the fact as CondescendingCompassion, and kills her for it.]]

** We also see Ruth chopping wood with an axe and planting it in the stump just as Pearl as come back from her trip to town. [[spoiler:Want to guess what's conveniently within hand's reach for Pearl when she begins to pursue Mitzy out of the farmhouse?]]

** We also see Ruth chopping wood with an axe and planting it the stump just as Pearl as come back from her trip to town. [[spoiler:Want to guess what's conveniently within hand's reach for Pearl when she begins to pursue Mitzy out of the farmhouse?]]

** Pearl early on uses the pitchfork to kill a goose and feed it to the alligator. [[spoiler: We almost forget about that same pitchfork as we follow Pearl pursuing her dreams and The Projectionist at the same time. We don't see it again until The Projectionist, after getting freaked out by Pearl, attempts to start his car and drive away. She promptly [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice stabs him with it]].

** [[spoiler:The Projectionist joins Pearl for what he hopes will be a good second time. But between the rotting pig on the front porch, Pearl being callous about the disturbing sounds coming from below, [[BadLiar Pearl getting caught in the lie about a dog she doesn't have]], and her increasingly possessive and unstable behavior, the Projectionist realizes there's something really wrong with Pearl. He attempts to drive away from the farm with the intention of never having anything to do with Pearl again, but Pearl sticks him with the pitchfork before he can start his car.]]

* GreenEyedMonster: Pearl can barely conceal her envy and resentment when she "compliments" Mitzy's dress. You can tell she was tempted to start her murder spree then and there.

** [[spoiler:The Projectionist joins Pearl for what he hopes will be a good second time. But between the rotting pig on the front porch, Pearl being callous about the disturbing sounds coming from below, [[BadLiar Pearl getting caught in the lie about a dog she doesn't have]], and her increasingly possessive and unstable behavior, the Projectionist realizes there's something really wrong with Pearl. He attempts to drive away from the car with the intention of never having anything to do with Pearl again, but Pearl sticks him with the pitchfork before he can start his car.]]

A teaser trailer for ''Pearl'' was screened directly following ''X''’s premiere at SXSW. The film later premiered in full at 2022's Venice International Film Festival on September 3, and will premiere in theaters on September 16, again distributed by Creator/{{A24}}. Three days before that, Ti West and A24 announced a full sequel to ''X'' titled ''Film/{{Maxxxine}}'', once again starring Mia Goth as Maxine seeking to make it as a Hollywood actress in [[TheEighties 1985]].

* AdvertisingByAssociation: The trailers market the film as "An X-traordinary Origin Story".
* AmbiguousDisorder: Something is wrong with Pearl and apparently always has been. Despite being a married adult, she acts more like a child and loses herself in fantasy to the point it becomes hallucination, and most importantly, her killing escalates from [[BadPeopleAbuseAnimals small animals]] to "things that matter" (i.e. people). She even breaks one of Theda's eggs - the alligator she considers a pet - [[ForTheEvulz for no reason at all]].

* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The Projectionist is not given any name besides his job title.