Pearl (2022)

Kernel Score: 82% · 2,477 ratings · Rated R

Genres: Horror, Thriller

Released: 2022-09-16

Runtime: 102 minutes

Is Pearl worth watching?

Worth watching. A prequel to X that works as a stand-alone character study. Mia Goth makes a lonely farm girl both sympathetic and frightening, and the film looks like an old Technicolor melodrama. It's violent and unsettling.

Watch it if you

  • like character-driven horror
  • enjoy stylized, retro-looking films
  • are drawn to a strong lead performance

Skip it if you

  • can't handle graphic violence
  • want fast, jump-scare horror

Best for: Solo horror night

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch Pearl

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

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’s ambitions, temptations, and repressions collide.

Pearl parents' guide: ages 15+

Parents need to know that Pearl is an R-rated slasher horror film with graphic violence and disturbing themes.

  • Violence & scariness: Intense — Features murder, a serial killer, and slasher violence, including a violent death and corpse, per its R rating.
  • Sex, romance & nudity: Some — Involves pornography and lust as thematic elements tied to the character's repression.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like Pearl

If you liked Pearl, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • Rosemary's Baby (1968) — 88%: Slow-burn psychological horror built around a disturbed woman's world.
  • The Shining (1980) — 95%: Isolation slowly pushes someone toward violence.
  • Psycho (1960) — 91%: A seemingly ordinary person hides something terrifying.
  • I Saw the Devil (2010) — 88%: Brutal, stylish horror-thriller with a disturbing central character.
  • The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) — 80%: Rural, grimy slasher with a raw, unsettling atmosphere.
  • Get Out (2017) — 88%: Smart modern horror that mixes dread with sharp social commentary.

Director

Ti West

Cast

  • Mia Goth as Pearl
  • David Corenswet as Projectionist
  • Tandi Wright as Ruth
  • Matthew Sunderland as Father
  • Emma Jenkins-Purro as Mitsy
  • Alistair Sewell as Howard
  • Amelia Reid as Margaret
  • Gabe McDonnell as Woman
  • Lauren Stewart as Pianist
  • Todd Rippon as Director

Pearl FAQ

Is Pearl worth watching?

Worth watching. A prequel to X that works as a stand-alone character study. Mia Goth makes a lonely farm girl both sympathetic and frightening, and the film looks like an old Technicolor melodrama. It's violent and unsettling.

Where can I watch Pearl?

In the US you can stream Pearl on Prime Video, Hulu and HBO Max, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, The Roku Channel, Fandango at Home and Plex and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is Pearl OK for kids?

Pearl is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Pearl is an R-rated slasher horror film with graphic violence and disturbing themes.

What movies are like Pearl?

If you liked Pearl, try Rosemary's Baby, The Shining, Psycho and I Saw the Devil.