‘The X Trilogy’ Blu-ray Review
Stars: Mia Goth, Charley Rowan McCain, David Corenswet, Jenna Ortega | Written and Directed by Ti West
Horror cinema changed forever with the arrival of Friday the 13th. As the first independently produced slasher to be picked up by a major studio, its 1980 release didn’t just electrify audiences – it reshaped the entire genre. Its success paved the way for future filmmakers, proving that low-budget slasher storytelling could break into the mainstream and thrive.
One of the directors who later walked that path is Ti West. After making his mark with The Roost (2005), Trigger Man (2007), The House of the Devil (2009), The Innkeepers (2011), and even dabbling in Westerns with In a Valley of Violence (2016), West found himself creating something far more ambitious during the Covid-19 pandemic. Shooting two films back-to-back, he unknowingly laid the foundation for what would become a full trilogy. Now, The X Trilogy has arrived on Blu-ray, bringing his twisted, stylish vision together in one complete package.
- X (2022): A group of young actors shooting an adult film in rural Texas find themselves running for their lives when caught in the act by their elderly hosts. ***
- PEARL (2022): Trapped on an isolated farm and lusting for the life she’s seen in the movies, Pearl’s temptations prevail in the origin story of X’s iconic villain. ***
- MAXXXINE (2024): An aspiring movie star (Mia Goth) finally gets her big break. But as a killer stalks starlets, a bloody trail threatens to reveal her sinister past. ***
All three films are presented in 1080p. X is presented in 1.89:1 aspect ratio while Pearl and MaXXXine are presented in 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The audio tracks are English Dolby Atmos tracks. There is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. These transfers to Blu-ray are stunning. The colours are bright and vibrant, the skin tones are correct, and the audio is clear. There are no signs of compression issues, digital artefacts or audio anomalies. But wonderful looking transfer is not all this set has going for it, take a look at the bonus features included:
X Bonus Features:
- Commentary with D.P. Eliot Rockett and Production Designer Tom Hammock
- Pearl Makeup Timelapse
- “The X Factor” Featurette
- Original Trailer
Pearl Bonus Features:
- Commentary with D.P. Eliot Rockett and Production Designer Tom Hammock
- “Coming Out of Her Shell: The Creation of Pearl” Featurette
- “Time After Time” Featurette
- Original Trailer
MaXXXine Bonus Features:
- Commentary with Production Designer Jason Kisvarday and Set Decorator Kelsi Ephraim
- “The Belly of the Beast’ Featurette
- “XXX Marks the Spot” Featurette
- “Hollywood is a Killer” Featurette
- Deep Dive with Composer Tyler Bates
- Q&A with Ti West
- Original Trailers
Now, in addition to the informative audio commentaries, featurettes and more on-disc bonus features, this Blu-ray set includes a 64-page booklet with a new essay by Jon Dieringer, unreleased concept art, costume sketches, behind-the-scenes photography, original poster and VHS artwork created as set dressing for the films.
The X Trilogy is not going to be for everyone; there is a lot of graphic sexual content, violence and profanity. So, viewers beware going into this film. But if this content doesn’t bother you and you love the slasher genre, this could be a set right up your alley.
**** 4/5
If you enjoy the films of Ti West or the slasher genre in general, this super deluxe Blu-ray set of The X Trilogy is a great release, and you are definitely going to be impressed with this set. Head over to Amazon and order your copy now.
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