Sometimes, it seems that the culture of fame obsession is a relatively recent phenomenon, but in fact, human beings have longed for the attention of the masses since civilization first emerged. We’ve always wanted to be recognized for our talents and reap the benefits life in the spotlight can provide. However, though there are undoubtedly perks to fame, it also comes with a lot of issues. Furthermore, the pursuit of notoriety often puts you on a path riddled with dangerous hurdles and unseen pitfalls.
Over the course of history, the methods by which folks become celebrities, as well as the talents and professions that might earn individual fame, have changed. Still, the problematic nature of relentlessly pursuing stardom has largely remained the same.
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The X franchise, which currently encompasses two films and is slated to become a trilogy, has delved into the harsh reality of seeking stardom in different decades. The recently released prequel to X, Pearl, follows the titular young woman, who was the elderly serial killer antagonist of X, as she desperately attempts to transcend her life on a remote rural farm. Things don’t go according to plan, and Pearl’s reaction to rejection sets her on a path of death and destruction that lasts for decades.
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Dissatisfaction With One’s Lot in Life is Natural, But Potentially Dangerous
In the first installment of the franchise, X, Mia Goth portrayed an adult film actress named Maxine Minx. Over the course of the film, there are occasional shots of an evangelical pastor preaching about the desecration of American decency at the hands of the adult film industry, and at its conclusion, it’s revealed that the pastor is the father of Minx. Similarly, Pearl was dissatisfied with her simple life on the farm, a fact that was only exacerbated by her strict German mother,r Ruth, who has little patience for Ruth’s flights of fancy.
Pearl’s first attempt at escaping the farm came when she wooed Howard, the oldest son of a wealthy family who came to their farm in order to experience a more simple existence. Though Howard is a deeply devoted partner, when he leaves to go fight in World War I, Pearl begins to resent him for leaving her behind on the farm, which serves to deepen the doubts he had about him as a life partner. During the film, she seeks comfort in the bed of a handsome Bohemian projectionist, who represents a free-wheeling lifestyle that Pearl finds deeply appealing.
Prior to absconding to the projectionist’s humble quarters, Pearl has a blowout argument with her mother after she refuses to give Pearl permission to attend her dance audition. Ruth scolds her daughter for being ungrateful and is offended by her hatred for their simple life. In the resulting scuffle, Pearl’s mother grazes a nearby fire and slowly burns to death. This scene not only represents Pearl’s final step across the line into murderous psychopathy, but it serves as an interesting analogy for what can happen to your relationships with friends and family when you choose to seek fame. This analogy is further expanded upon when Pearl murders her enfeebled father, as well as her bubbly best friend, Mitsy.
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Talent and Drive May Be Insufficient When Seeking Stardom
Pearl is a dancer. Though it’s a bit funny for modern audiences to see the arm-flailing, high-kick heavy style of boogying that characterized the late 1910s, Pearl’s dreams of being in a dance troupe are an effective thematic mirror to Maxine Minx’s desire to make it big in the adult entertainment industry as shown in X. Throughout the film, Pearl is steadfast in her commitment to become a famous dancer, even attending her audition after having murdered both of her parents and her projectionist lover.
Despite seemingly being a talented performer, Pearl is ultimately rejected at the audition. The judges in charge of hiring say that while she was an impressive performer, they were looking for someone younger and blonde with a more “all-American” look. This is the ultimate tragedy of pursuing fame. You can be the most talented, driven, and hard-working individual in your respective field but might get passed over for any number of superficial reasons.
Pearl is (if one can excuse the pun) a bloody good time, and everyone from casual moviegoers to industry stalwarts seems to agree. The death scenes are shocking, and the performances are incredible, but perhaps most importantly, the film has a lot to say about the pursuit of fame and its inherent perils. Pearl desperately wanted a life in the spotlight, and when she fails to achieve that, she spends a lifetime stewing in her murderous hatred.
