After the thrilling horror film X left audiences in awe back in 2022, Ti West brought even more surprises with his follow-up prequel Pearl. This entry changes focus to the early life of the character Pearl, with Mia Goth delivering a striking performance as a young woman in 1918 whose disturbing side starts to emerge when her aspirations of stardom are shattered.
Following the critical and commercial success of both X and Pearl, Ti West has returned to write and direct a third installment in the trilogy, titled MaXXXine, which fans are highly anticipating. The conclusion of Pearl carries the same eerie, creative energy seen throughout the film, with a final shot that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll.
In Pearl, the line between innocence and madness blurs forever (Photo: Pearl/A24 and Little Lamb Productions)What Happens At The End Of Pearl?
The final sequence in Pearl carries as much tension and emotional weight as the rest of the 2022 horror release. While packed with shocking moments, the ending also allows a deeper insight into Pearl’s psychological state. Mia Goth gives a chilling performance, portraying a young woman who feels trapped and increasingly violent as her world feels more confining.
When her audition for a traveling dance troupe falls flat and she realises her sister-in-law Mitsy (Emma Jenkins-Purro) got the spot instead, Pearl takes a brutal turn. She confesses deep frustrations and even admits to feeling relieved after losing her pregnancy, declaring she never wanted to be a mother.
She then kills Mitsy with an axe. In a particularly disturbing moment, Pearl speaks to the decaying body of her mother, Ruth (Tandi Wright), in the basement. She convinces herself she will be a devoted wife to Howard (Alistair Sewell) once he returns from military duty.
The film’s closing scene shows Pearl smiling widely at Howard, who comes home to find the corpses of Pearl’s parents. That terrifying grin suggests a character tormented by her own emotions and destructive urges.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Director | Ti West |
| Writer | Ti West |
| Cast | Mia Goth, Matthew Sunderland, Tandi Wright, David Corenswet, Emma Jenkins-Purro |
| Release Date | September 16th, 2022 (United States) |
| Runtime | 102 minutes |
| Metacritic Score | 76 |
| Where To Watch | Paramount+ |
X offered viewers some of the standout horror sequences of the year, while Pearl delivered its own share of unforgettable scenes. One of the most gruesome callbacks involves Pearl pushing Mitsy into a river, where her pet alligator Theda devours her.
This act reinforces Pearl’s vicious nature. Seeing how Pearl ends, it becomes much easier to understand her murderous rage as an elderly woman in X. Her years of regret and bitterness from a failed dream have clearly hardened her, and her isolated life on a Texas farm only fueled her hatred.
What Is Pearl About?
This film offers an in-depth look into Pearl’s transformation into a serial killer, presenting a psychological portrait of her despair and longing. Taking place in 1918 during the flu outbreak, it draws some visual similarities to the COVID-19 period, showing people in masks and keeping physical distance.
Pearl’s journey from rejection to ruthless killer is sealed in her smile (Photo: Pearl/A24 and Little Lamb Productions)Living under her strict parents’ roof, Pearl longs for adventure beyond the boundaries of their Texas farm. She gets involved with a projectionist (played by David Corenswet), betraying her husband Howard without hesitation. Pearl brings a unique approach to the slasher genre by balancing gory sequences with quiet, unsettling moments.
Although its pace is more measured than other horror films, Pearl offers a detailed account of how she came to embrace her darkest instincts. Every part of her story builds toward her eventual end, as seen in X, where both she and Howard meet their demise. Pearl’s increasing frustration with her family and dreams that never materialise drive her to believe that violence is the only outlet.
What Is Pearl’s Rotten Tomatoes Score?
Among the top horror films of 2022, Pearl scored exceptionally well on Rotten Tomatoes, earning a 93% rating from critics and an 82% approval from viewers. The film was widely applauded, particularly for Mia Goth’s intense performance and Ti West’s inventive direction and storytelling style.
With its blend of whimsical visuals and terrifying content, Pearl stands out due to West’s bold choices in both writing and direction. Speaking to Forbes in 2022, he described how they aimed to create something that looked childlike and dreamy but turned it into something deeply disturbing.
“The moment we went with a style that almost resembled a Disney movie, we stopped leaning on other references because we found ourselves creating a unique piece of work. The intention was to make it feel light and full of wonder at first, then twist it into something twisted.”
West’s distinctive vision and execution helped make Pearl a critical and fan favourite, adding to the growing appreciation for original horror films released in 2022.
