The ending of Ti West's X brings a powerful conclusion that ties the story together while leaving some mysteries open for future exploration. After a brutal series of murders at the farmhouse, only two characters survive: Maxine and Lorraine. Maxine manages to hide under Howard’s bed while Lorraine is chained in the basement, but when she frees Lorraine, her friend reacts with hysteria and blames her promiscuity for the horror they've endured. Panic-stricken, Lorraine attempts to flee on foot but is shot by Howard, whose heart ultimately fails from fright after witnessing her death. Enraged by her friend's death and thwarted in her attempt to fight back, Pearl—a figure driven by jealousy and thwarted desires—tries to shoot Maxine, but the shotgun blast breaks her hip. In a final act of revenge, Maxine takes Howard’s van and violently runs over Pearl’s head, ending her murderous cycle.
The authorities arrive the next day, uncovering the carnage and the hidden footage from RJ’s camera, hinting that Pearl and Howard’s murderous deeds may soon come to light. A shock twist reveals that Maxine is the daughter of a conservative televangelist, connecting her past to her present and hinting at her potential future. The film’s themes suggest a cycle of youth and beauty versus age and obscurity, with Maxine symbolizing renewal and change, outlasting Pearl’s obsession with her fading youth. The ending also sets up Ti West’s planned franchise, with a prequel exploring Pearl’s origins and a sequel focusing on Maxine’s rise in 1980s Los Angeles, hinting that her story is far from over.
Ultimately, the film’s ending highlights a battle between the old and the new, with Maxine overcoming her predecessor’s jealousy and violence to forge her own destiny. It’s both a literal and symbolic victory over the destructive forces of envy and decay, emphasizing that new life and ambition can prevail even in the face of profound darkness. The connections to her father’s religious background and her ambitions in Hollywood suggest her journey is one of resilience—one where she must decide whether to follow her roots or forge her own path in a brutal world. This conclusion leaves viewers pondering her future, setting the stage for more stories about her rise to fame and the ongoing cycle of life, death, and reinvention in West’s horror universe.
