Pearl review: A funny and frightening slasher that makes you fall in love with a serial killer

PEARL: AN X-TRAORDINARY ORIGIN STORY

(15) 102mins

★★★★☆

IT takes a very clever performer to make you fall in love with them while playing a psychopathic serial killer.

That is exactly what Mia Goth does in this ferocious, funny and — sometimes — frightening film.

It is the story of Pearl (Goth) who lives on a secluded Texas farm with her fearsome German immigrant mother (Tandi Wright) and incapacitated father (Matthew Sunderland) who cannot speak or move due to contracting Spanish flu.

Cruel and brutal

It is 1918, with the Great War coming to an end — which Pearl’s husband is fighting in — and the pandemic is sweeping through the States.

She is desperate to escape the monotony of life on the farm and be a star.

Pearl has her heart set on being one of the dancing showgirls that perform before a movie starts in the cinema.

On a secret trip to the movies, she sees a burlesque one-reeler of high-kicking dancers and gets the attention of the smooth-talking projectionist (David Corenswet) who sees an opportunity to sleep with this simple, pretty farm girl.

Boy, did he get her all wrong. Ruthlessly ambitious, Pearl will not let anything or anyone stand in her way of success.

This includes family, friends, and lovers — as well as the occasional farm animal.

And while her actions are bloodthirsty, cruel and brutal, you can’t help but, well, admire them.

You understand her anger at being trapped on the suffocating, lonely farm and knowing how dull and hard her life is likely to be.

Pearl is a prequel to director Ti West’s slasher film X.

West and Goth are reuinted to flesh out the origin story of X’s main villain, an elderly murderess.

Written by both West and Goth, Pearl, this colourful and gorgeously cinematic piece pays homage to the films of the time.

And the soundtrack could be straight from a Hitchcock movie.

Goth is hypnotic in the role, flitting from a crazed psychopath who simulates sex with a scarecrow, to a wide-eyed, innocent child who simply wants to be loved.

In the palm-sweating finale, there’s a one-shot monologue from Pearl where she reveals all her crimes and darkest thoughts, which is quite simply Oscar-worthy.

It’s mad, bad and sad and will leave you wondering how it’s possible to root for this demonic diamond — or Pearl — in the rough.

ALLELUJAH

(12A) 99mins

★★★☆☆

THERE’S a theory that nobody notices old people, but it doesn’t hold water when it comes to playwright Alan Bennett.

From Thora Hird in his remarkable Talking Heads to the elderly Woman in the Van, Bennett is clearly fascinated by those in later life.

His new offering is about a geriatric ward in a small Yorkshire town that is threatened with closure.

We are introduced to Dr Valentine (Bally Gill), who immediately states: “I have always loved the old.”

On his rounds, he cares for retired English teacher Ambrose (Derek Jacobi), timid Mary (Judi Dench) and ex-miner Joe (David Bradley).

His son, Colin (Russell Tovey) is a Tory intent on shutting down the ward, run by Sister Gilpin (Jennifer Saunders).

The hospital has become the focus of a documentary, following the elderly as they campaign to keep it open.

There are some lovely character observations and heart-warming scenes between father and son Joe and Colin, and this gentle film, directed by Richard Eyre, appears to know where it’s going.

But a shocking and unnecessary twist sets it on a different path, which almost feels like an embarrassment to all involved.

SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS

(12A) 130mins

★★★★☆

IN this sequel to the DCU’s irreverent superhero origin story, the Shazam family take on a trio of goddesses to entertaining effect.

Set again in Philadelphia, the film sees teen Billy Batson, aka Shazam (Asher Angel/Zachery Levi) and his foster siblings finding that the superhero gig isn’t as easy as it looks.

Plus Freddie (Jack Dylan Grazer) wants some independence and it’s causing friction between the BFFs.

Then the Daughters of Atlas – played with diva flair by Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu and Rachel Zegler – arrive on the scene.

They want to claim back the godly powers the Wizard (Djimon Hounsou) took to give his champion Billy magical abilities and chaos ensues.

Everyone looks like they’re having a blast in this goofy superhero franchise.

But director David F. Sandberg once again gets the balance right for adult and child audiences alike.

Fight sequences are gnarly and outlandish with most of the action taking place in the city, ensuring real-world stakes are underscored.

And a well-tuned cast delivers comedic respites without losing the sequel’s peril, heart or continued familial core.