Pearl (Lionsgate) Blu-ray Review + Screenshots + Packaging Shots

In this prequel to the box office hit, X, we learn about how the old woman in X became the killer she was.

Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: September 16th, 2022 (theatrical) / November 15th, 2022 (blu-ray)
Run Time: 1 hour 42 minutes 5 seconds
Region Code: A (locked)
Picture: 1080p (2.39:1 aspect ratio)
Sound: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH
Slipcover: Yes
Digital Copy: Yes
Starring: Mia Goth, David Corenswet, Tandi Wright, Matthew Sunderland, Emma Jenkins-Purro
Written by Ti West and Mia Goth
Directed by Ti West
Rating: R (some strong violence, gore, strong sexual content and graphic nudity)

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Poster

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What's It About?

Filmmaker Ti West returns with another chapter from the twisted world of X, in this astonishing follow-up to the year’s most acclaimed horror film. Trapped on her family’s isolated farm, Pearl must tend to her ailing father under the bitter and overbearing watch of her devout mother. Lusting for a glamorous life like she’s seen in the movies, Pearl finds her ambitions, temptations, and repressions all colliding in this stunning, technicolor-inspired origin story of X’s iconic villain.

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Video/Audio

Presented in the film's original aspect ratio of 2.39:1, PEARL looks great. The film is very colorful and this transfer recreates these colors exceptionally well. Black levels are deep and inky and depth is pretty damn deep. Skin tones are natural and nice looking. This is, of course, a new film, so everything is going to be damn near perfect and this release is no different.

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Extras/Packaging

Coming Out of Her Shell: The Creation of Pearl (11m 38s, HD, 1.78:1) Mia Goth talks about her role of Pearl and what she did to make her come to life.

Time After Time (4m 1s, HD, 1.78:1) This is West giving commentary over scenes from the film. Why could we not get an audio commentary from West if he is kind of doing one here?

Teaser Trailer (1m 2s, HD, 2.39:1) I think this is the teaser trailer that played after showings of X

Theatrical Trailer (2m 13s, HD, 2.39:1)

Also from A24 (7m 12s, HD) Trailers for Bodies Bodies Bodies, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Men

Lionsgate brings PEARL to blu-ray in a nice package. The slipcover features one of the film's posters (the one with Pearl carrying an axe). The blu-ray case features the same artwork (would have been nice to have the other poster as the blu-ray case artwork). Inside the 2-disc, eco-friendly blu-ray, are a blu-ray (with blue "artwork") and a DVD (with white "artwork"). This is yet another lazy release from A24. Their strategy is to throw out a release with a nice slipcover, but with no disc art or lengthy special features. I know that A24 are probably going to do a 4K release of all the films in the trilogy (X, PEARL, and MaXXXine), but it feels like they are not doing right by the fans who don't have a 4K player or don't want to spend the ridiculous prices that A24 charges for their website exclusives. Their 4K release of MIDSOMMAR is FORTY-SEVEN FUCKING DOLLARS!! That is ridiculous. This release doesn't even have any special features outside of the digibook packaging. A24 has a rabid fanbase who apparently loves being ripped off.

The Blu-ray disc is REGION A (locked) and the DVD is REGION 1 (locked)

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Overall

While I was not the biggest fan of X, I did love PEARL. The film is a lot more fun than X and Mia Goth is amazing. If you see the film for nothing else, then see it for Goth. The scene where she explains everything that happened in the film up to that point is just beautiful. This A24 blu-ray has great picture and sound, but they dropped the ball on the special features. I can still recommend this release based on how strong the film is, but that's it.

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Extras/Menus