Pearl, also known as ‘Pearl: An X-traordinary Origin Story,’ is a prequel to the film ‘X.’ Ti West co-wrote and directed the slasher thriller flick. The movie explores the origin tale of the homicidal character Pearl. It is set in the late 1910s, during World War I, and depicts how Pearl’s violent tendencies developed. The film also describes how the cottage where the ‘X’ slaughter takes place was operated as a boarding house. Pearl is confined in her family’s barn, caring for her sick father under the stern supervision of her mother.
Pearl dreams of having a glamorous life, which makes her discover her true ambitious and violent nature. ‘Pearl’ connects many parts of the story for fans of the original movie while keeping the viewers on the edge of their seats with its gory and thrilling scenes. The familiar barn and house settings might make you wonder if the prequel was filmed in the same locations as ‘X.’ Well, we have the answers for you!
Where was “Pearl” Filmed?
Pearl was filmed in New Zealand, primarily in Whanganui and Wellington. The major filming for this slasher movie took place in secret, shortly after the production of ‘X’ ended, most likely around May 2021. Like the first film, ‘Pearl’ is set in Texas but was totally shot in New Zealand.
Ti West explained in a March 2022 interview with IndieWire how the filming team shot two films back to back. He stated, “When I got out of quarantine, I was like, ‘We’re already building all of this gear, it’s COVID, and we’re in the only area on Earth where it’s safe to film a movie. We have the entire ‘Avatar 2’ crew on break. “We should make two movies.” Now, let us take you to each precise place where the prequel was filmed!
Whanganui District, New Zealand
Many major sequences from ‘Pearl’ were shot in the Whanganui District, which comprises the city of Whanganui and its surroundings. The cast and crew established a base at Lambhill Homestead in Fordell’s rural hamlet to film various scenes involving the home and barn. They also used the Royal Whanganui Opera House, located at 69 Street Hill Street in Whanganui. Additionally, Victoria Avenue and Ridgway Street were used for significant exterior shots.
Wellington, New Zealand
More scenes of ‘Pearl’, like its forerunner, were filmed in New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington. Wellington, located on the southwestern corner of the North Island, is commonly referred to as the country’s cultural capital due to its diverse population. Besides ‘Pearl’ and ‘X,’ the city has been a crucial site for many other movies and TV series, such as ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,’ ‘Avatar,’ ‘What We Do in the Shadows,’ ‘Spartacus,’ and ‘The Tribe.’
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Pearl
Q: Where was ‘Pearl’ filmed?
A: ‘Pearl’ was filmed in New Zealand, primarily in the Whanganui District and Wellington. The movie was set in Texas but shot entirely in New Zealand.
Q: When was ‘Pearl’ filmed?
A: The filming of ‘Pearl’ took place right after the production of ‘X’ finished, probably in May 2021. The filming was done in secret, and both movies were shot back to back.
Q: What are the key filming locations in Whanganui?
A: Many important scenes for ‘Pearl’ were filmed in the Whanganui District, including Lambhill Homestead in Fordell, the Royal Whanganui Opera House, Victoria Avenue, and Ridgway Street.
Q: What other locations were used for filming in Wellington?
A: In Wellington, several scenes were filmed to capture the unique and diverse settings. Wellington is known as the nation’s cultural capital and has been a key location for many other movies and TV shows.
Q: When was ‘Pearl’ released?
A:‘Pearl’ was released on September 16, 2022.
