In the vast and often male-dominated landscape of horror cinema, a film emerged in 2017 that dared to challenge the status quo, offering a fresh, diverse, and fiercely feminine perspective on fear. That film is **XX**, an American horror anthology that isn't just about scares, but about a significant shift in who gets to tell those terrifying tales. Directed entirely by women, and featuring stories centered on female characters, XX carved out a unique space, proving that horror's future is indeed female.
A Groundbreaking Concept in Horror
At its heart, XX is a bold statement. It's a 2017 horror anthology film that stands out because all its segments are helmed by female directors and largely star female leads. This "gender twist," as some have called it, was a deliberate and much-needed move to showcase the talent of women filmmakers in a genre where their voices have historically been underrepresented. The project brought together a quartet of fiercely talented women, each with a distinct vision, ensuring a diverse range of scares and storytelling styles. The directorial lineup is impressive:- Jovanka Vuckovic
- Annie Clark (better known by her musical moniker, St. Vincent)
- Roxanne Benjamin
- Karyn Kusama
Unpacking the Terrifying Tales
XX strings together four distinct horror shorts, each exploring different facets of fear, dread, and the macabre. While the film’s anthology nature means some segments might resonate more than others, each offers a unique glimpse into the dark corners of the human psyche, filtered through a female lens."The Box": A Quiet Dread
The film kicks off with "The Box," directed by Jovanka Vuckovic. This segment is a direct and chilling adaptation of Jack Ketchum's short story of the same name. It stars Natalie Brown as a mother whose young son, Peter DaCunha, begins to display truly strange and unsettling behavior after simply looking inside a mysterious gift box on a train. The segment remains faithful to Ketchum's unsettling and mysterious original, building a quiet, pervasive sense of dread that is both inexplicable and deeply disturbing. It's a masterclass in psychological horror, showing how the simplest of things can unravel a family's sanity."The Birthday Party": A Mother's Nightmare
Next up is "The Birthday Party," which marks the directorial debut of musician Annie Clark, aka St. Vincent. Starring Melanie Lynskey, this segment delves into a woman's desperate attempts to maintain normalcy amidst an increasingly bizarre and horrifying situation during her daughter's birthday party. While the exact details of the "refusal to let an..." situation are left to the imagination in the provided data, Lynskey's presence alone suggests a performance steeped in the kind of anxious, relatable terror that makes for compelling viewing. It's a segment that blends dark humor with genuine discomfort, showcasing Clark's unique artistic sensibilities."Don't Fall" & "Her Only Living Son": More Shades of Fear
Roxanne Benjamin, known for her work in other horror anthologies like *Southbound*, contributes "Don't Fall." While specific plot details are sparse in the provided data, the title itself, coupled with Benjamin's reputation, suggests a tale of survival and physical peril. Karyn Kusama, a veteran director whose work often explores themes of female agency and dark psychological landscapes (as seen in *Jennifer's Body* and *The Invitation*), presents "Her Only Living Son." The phrase "Karyn Kusama exorcises Her Only Living Son" hints at a segment steeped in supernatural or demonic horror, possibly exploring a mother's terrifying relationship with her child. These two segments round out the quartet, each contributing a different flavor to the overall horror experience.The Artful Framing Device
Adding to the film's artistic merit is the work of award-winning animator Sofía Carrillo. Her animated sequences serve as the interstitial tissue between the live-action stories, creating a cohesive and visually striking experience. These animated segments are not just filler; they are mini-narratives in themselves, often setting a tone of eerie anticipation and connecting the disparate tales with a shared sense of gothic wonder and dread.The Talented Cast Behind the Scares
Beyond the directors, XX boasts a strong ensemble cast that brings these dark tales to life. Leading the charge are familiar faces and talented performers who ground the supernatural and psychological horrors in relatable human emotion. Key cast members include:- Natalie Brown (prominently featured in "The Box")
- Melanie Lynskey (the tormented mother in "The Birthday Party")
- Breeda Wool
- Peter DaCunha (the enigmatic boy in "The Box")
- Jonathan Watton
- Peyton Kennedy
- Christina Kirk
- Sheila Vand
- Mike Doyle
Reception and Legacy: A Noble, Yet Patchy, Endeavor
Upon its release, XX garnered significant attention, not just for its content but for its groundbreaking premise. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 69% based on 64 reviews, with an average rating of 6/10. The critics' consensus, while acknowledging the film's noble intentions, often pointed to a common challenge with anthology films: inconsistency. Reviewers noted that while the project was "noble" and had "a lot that appealed," it "didn’t quite work as a whole" and felt "unusually frustrating in its inconsistency." This "patchy" nature is a typical fault of anthology horror, where the strength of individual segments can vary wildly. However, for XX, this inconsistency was perhaps more keenly felt due to the high expectations surrounding its unique all-female creative team. Despite this, the film's significance lies not just in its individual stories, but in the precedent it set. It followed in the footsteps of other recent horror anthologies like *Southbound* and the *V/H/S* franchise, but distinguished itself by offering a much-needed platform for female voices in horror filmmaking. It’s a project that many were glad got put together, even if it didn't achieve universal perfection.Where to Watch "XX"
For those eager to experience this unique horror anthology, XX is available on various streaming platforms. You can find options to watch it online, including streaming services, rental services, and purchase links, on platforms like Moviefone. Based on the provided data, it has been available on:- Netflix
- Prime Video
- Disney+ (though availability can vary by region and time)
- Magnolia Selects
Final Summary
XX (2017) is more than just a collection of horror stories; it's a significant cultural moment in the horror genre. As an all-female helmed anthology, it bravely showcased the talent of women directors like Jovanka Vuckovic, Annie Clark (St. Vincent), Roxanne Benjamin, and Karyn Kusama, alongside the artistic framing of Sofía Carrillo. While the film, like many anthologies, faced criticism for its inconsistency across segments, its ambition and the importance of its premise are undeniable. Featuring chilling tales like "The Box" and "The Birthday Party," and starring a talented cast including Natalie Brown and Melanie Lynskey, XX offers a diverse and often unsettling exploration of fear. It's a film that, despite its imperfections, remains a noble and essential viewing experience for anyone interested in the evolving landscape of horror cinema and the powerful voices shaping its future.- Cierra Ramirez Boyfriend
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