20 Incredible Modern Horror Movies That Came Out Of NOWHERE

3. X

Prior to X, Ti West had already established his distinctively warped, ironic, and savage voice by helming titles such as The House of the Devil and The Sacrament. His contributions to the initial outings in the V/H/S and ABCs of Death anthology series played a part as well.

It was his wonderfully unpredictable, transgressive, and poignant homage to Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, however, that saw West substantially evolve as an artist and box office draw.

X audaciously subverts the tried-and-true TCM template in at least two major ways.

For one thing, its rowdy protagonists don’t happen upon the deadly farm by accident; instead, they go there to make an adult film. That premise allows West to turn what could’ve been another run-of-the-mill sleazy slasher into a more sophisticated reflection on the 1970s pornography industry in conjunction with societal concerns regarding religious oppression, sexual promiscuity, and body autonomy.

What’s more, West offers a surprisingly touching look at aging, with villainous elderly couple Howard and Pearl murdering their guests in part because they’re jealous of their youthfulness, attractiveness, and ability to fornicate. There’s a particularly moving scene that shows Howard and Pearl struggling to still express their love through sex, and it’s hard not to empathize with them.

Of course, Mia Goth earned newfound acclaim for her dual roles as Pearl and ambitious adult actress Maxine, too, so X was a turning point for its creator and its main star.