The two films are closely connected, and their interactions with each other are significant. In Goth, Pearl plays the titular character, and appears much younger than the old woman who appeared in X. It’s 1918, not 1979–and Pearl’s Texas farm, like the rest of the world, is experiencing the harsh effects of World War I and the Spanish flu epidemic. But Pearl’s attention is set on neither, as she focuses on her dream to become a famous dancer.
West’s team reportedly had only three and a half weeks to turn the same set into a completely new vision–a setting that would have existed 60 years prior to the events of X. The result is the same farmhouse we see in the first film of the horror franchise. But it’s newer and more pristine–all the more emphasized by the use of glossy technicolor, evoking a Wizard-of-Oz-like romanticization of the oppressive setting.
Pearl is largely about the dangers of repression and the need for realism. Though war and a pandemic are ravaging the world, Pearl’s favorite movie has nothing to do with such harsh realities. She falls in love with images of dancing showgirls. “There’s no room for even the tiniest lack of precision,” she observes of their dancing troupe, as she dreams of being a part of something similar. ..
Pearl is not the type of showgirl who would fit into this era’s mold. Casting directors prefer someone “more American,” “more blonde.” Pearl does not have these desires, so she is not a good fit for the role.
Pearl’s favorite movie may reveal her desire to be normal, but a film shown to her by the handsome projectionist reveals her truest and darkest impulses. It’s pornography- overtly sexual, with undercurrents of violence- and the outward portrayal of such secret desires is thrilling to Pearl, who has to keep these same desires suppressed within herself due to a strict upbringing from her religious mother and the harsh rules for women in this period. ..
In a scene in which Pearl holds a long, trembling smile, she’s tired of keeping up a flawless facade. But she’s still pretending.
Disney villains are often a mix of good and evil, between the innocent Dorothy and the wicked witch. Goth walks a fine line between Disney princess and villain, between the innocent Dorothy and the wicked witch. If you want to understand the psychology of most Disney villain characters, truly, skip all the remakes and watch Pearl instead. West and Goth beautifully translate this dichotomy with several allusions to The Wizard of Oz, as well as a general nod to the saccharine quality of old Disney films (We get more into that in our Pearl Ending Explained article).
The film is about Pearl’s journey from being a normal person to becoming a madwoman. This is not something that everyone will enjoy, as the gore and scares are more prominent than the personal story. However, the film’s main focus is on Pearl’s journey, which makes it more interesting.
The camera movement away from the subjects as they fall dead may speak to Pearl’s themes more. It is a horrific world we live in, but it feels less so when we cast things in technicolor and look ever so slightly away. ..
The Pearl is a small, triangular-shaped pearl that is found in the eastern Caribbean Sea. It is often mistaken for a small, white pearl because of its similarity in shape and size. The Pearl is a valuable gemstone and has been used for jewelry, cosmetics, and other items for centuries.
