XX Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Four women direct short horror films, proving that the scariest thing is really just… unresolved ambiguity.

🍿 XX: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Box

A young boy named Danny encounters a mysterious man on the subway holding a wrapped box. After glimpsing inside, Danny loses his appetite and refuses to eat, baffling his parents. His sister, Jenny, also stops eating after Danny describes what he saw, followed by their father, Robert. The segment explores the family’s descent as they succumb to starvation, with the contents of the box remaining ambiguous to the audience.

The Birthday Party

Mary discovers her husband dead in his office on the day of her daughter’s birthday party. Determined to maintain appearances, she frantically attempts to hide the body from the guests, including her daughter and the nanny. The segment escalates into a dark comedy of errors as Mary struggles to keep the situation under control while managing the increasingly bizarre circumstances.

Don’t Fall

Four friends on a camping trip stumble upon ancient petroglyphs in a remote area. One of the friends goes missing and is then possessed, transforming into a monstrous creature that hunts the others. This segment presents a straightforward monster-chases-victims scenario with limited character development or detailed explanations.

Her Only Living Son

Cora, a single mother, lives in a small town with her son, Andy, who is about to turn 18. As Andy’s birthday approaches, his behavior becomes increasingly disturbing, though the community inexplicably adores him. Cora discovers the dark truth about Andy’s origins, reminiscent of Rosemary’s Baby, forcing her to confront his sinister nature and her role in his existence.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Susan Jacobs (Natalie Brown): A mother struggling to understand her son’s sudden refusal to eat after he looks inside a mysterious box.
• Danny Jacobs (Peter DaCunha): A young boy who loses his appetite after seeing something inside a stranger’s box on the subway.
• Mary (Melanie Lynskey): A woman who discovers her husband dead on her daughter’s birthday and tries to conceal the body.
• Cora (Christina Kirk): A mother dealing with the increasingly disturbing behavior of her son as he approaches adulthood.
• Andy (Kyle Allen): Cora’s son, who begins displaying a dark side as his eighteenth birthday nears, hinting at sinister origins.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Susan Jacobs: “You love spaghetti.” – Susan says this to her son, Danny, in an attempt to get him to eat, highlighting his unnerving loss of appetite after seeing the contents of the box.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: $30,911
• Worldwide Gross: $55,668

💥 XX Reviews

Personal Review

Honestly, I wanted to love this more. The idea of female directors helming horror shorts is fantastic, but the stories felt a bit disjointed. ‘The Box’ was really creepy and stayed with me, but the others didn’t quite hit the mark. I think it’s worth a watch for horror fans, but don’t expect a masterpiece.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of horror anthologies”
  • “Viewers interested in female-driven horror”
  • “Those who appreciate psychological horror and ambiguous narratives”
  • “Indie horror enthusiasts”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Disturbing themes”
  • “Starvation”
  • “Death”
  • “Suicide”
  • “Implied violence”
  • “Supernatural elements”
  • “Brief gore”

Professional Reviews

• IndieHorrorWeekly: “XX shows sparks of brilliance but ultimately falters, with some segments feeling underdeveloped while others lack originality. While the direction is solid, the anthology struggles to find a consistent tone.
• ScreamCentral: “XX is a mixed bag of horror shorts. ‘The Box’ is intriguing, but ‘The Birthday Party’ feels out of place. The anthology suffers from uneven pacing and a lack of satisfying conclusions.

Audience Reactions

The first segment, ‘The Box,’ was genuinely unsettling and created a lasting sense of dread.: Many viewers enjoyed the creepy atmosphere and the questions raised by ‘The Box’ segment.

The stop-motion animation interstitials added a unique and unsettling visual element.: The interludes were praised for their artistic and creepy style.

Overall Consensus: XX is an uneven horror anthology with some intriguing ideas but lacks consistent execution and satisfying conclusions. ‘The Box’ stands out as a highlight.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “”The Box” segment is based on a short story by horror writer Jack Ketchum, making it the only segment not based on an original idea by the female directors.”
• “Each segment was given free creative rein within budget and time constraints, which contributed to the diverse range of horror styles presented in the anthology.”
• “The stop-motion animation sequences that link the segments were directed by Soffia Carrillo and serve as a surreal and unsettling interlude between the stories.”

🖥️ How to Watch XX?

As an anthology film, individual segments of XX might appear on various streaming platforms depending on licensing agreements. Check services like Shudder (known for horror), Prime Video, Apple TV, and Tubi for availability. You can also rent or purchase XX through platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu. Check JustWatch for current streaming and rental options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed XX, you might like these similar films:

• V/H/S (2012): Another horror anthology with multiple directors contributing segments, although V/H/S utilizes a found-footage format.
• The Babadook (2014): Shares thematic similarities with “Her Only Living Son,” exploring the anxieties of motherhood and dealing with a potentially malevolent child.
• Southbound (2015): Features Roxanne Benjamin, who also directed one of the segments in “XX”.

🛒 XX Related Products

• XX (Blu-ray): Own the physical copy of this horror anthology. Perfect for collectors and fans of indie horror. Dive into a night of female-led horror with your own physical media
• Rosemary’s Baby [Blu-ray]: An absolute classic of the genre – on Blu-Ray

🎧 Soundtrack

XX features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “XX Theme” – performed by Fesway

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

XX (2017) Ending Explained/Theory

Confused by the ending of XX? This video breaks down the theories and hidden meanings, and I gotta say, some of these interpretations are pretty wild!

✨ Rate