My final musical moment from the films of 2023 comes from another movie I’ll discuss in more detail in coming weeks. This one is writer-director Ti West’s X, a slasher film set in 1979 and following a small crew filming an adult film on a secluded farm.
This scene comes about halfway through the film when one of the actresses, Bobby-Lynne (a delightful Brittany Snow), sings Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Landslide’ while the group is hanging out in their cabin.
If you Google “Landslide scene in X” you’ll find two kinds of responses: people who thought it was a pointless and stupid detour in a movie that didn’t deliver the expected slasher thrills, or people who thought it was the most brilliant touch in a movie full of brilliant touches. I clearly fall in the latter camp.
I love that West takes the time to let us sit with these characters, and to give them a moment of grace before things go to hell. I also love that he extends that moment of grace to the film’s villain, Pearl, seen in this montage preparing herself for bed after being rebuffed by her husband.
Nearly 15 years ago, back on Song of the Day #31, I mentioned a theory of mine (I call it the “jockey” theory) that some movies have a scene where they kick into a higher plane of greatness, the way a jockey urges a horse to turn on a late burst of speed.
In X, one of my favorite 2023 movies, this was that scene.
[Note: You can click on the YouTube embed below to watch the clip on YouTube]
I took my love, took it down
I climbed a mountain, and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow-covered hills
‘Til the landslide brought me down
[Verse 2]
Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can I sail through the changing ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?
Hmm-hmm, hmm-hmm
[Chorus]
Well, I’ve been afraid of changing
‘Cause I’ve built my life around you
But time makes you bolder, even children get older
And I’m getting older too
[Chorus]
Well, I’ve been afraid of changing
‘Cause I’ve built my life around you
But time makes you bolder, even children get older
And I’m getting older too
Oh, I’m getting older too
[Verse 3]
I take my love, take it down
Ah, climb a mountain and turn around
And If you see my reflection in the snow-covered hills
Well, the landslide will bring you down
[Outro]
And if you see my reflection in the snow-covered hills
Well, the landslide will bring you down
Oh, the landslide will bring it down
Meet Me In Montauk 
As I will not be seeing this slasher film, I will not be able to weigh in on which camp is right.
Well, my camp is right, of course!
Since I have no plan to see this film (and there’s actually a short bit of Jenny Slater performing “Landslide” as Marcel I watched just the other day for those who’d like to check that out 😜), I opted to go down memory lane and read the original “jockey theory” posts.
There I found a more regularly contentious Dana ranting that every film you had chosen was not a musical, you and I rightfully pointing out that both Moulin Rouge and Once absolutely are musicals (though you also admitted to not being a fan of that genre), and, this comment from me around SOTD #30something:
“First, let me say how impressed I am that you’re keeping up with this “song of the day” schedule. Each morning, usually before 6:00 a.m., I head to your site and am greeted by music and witty, insightful commentary. It’s a hell of a nice way to start my day 🙂”
Needless to say, still impressed 🫶🏼
I went down the same memory lane. That was a fun week. 😀
Even if you don’t plan to see this movie, I recommend watching the clip for a lovely Brittany Snow performance. It isn’t remotely disturbing.. just a woman singing on a couch.
Just watched it. Got me in the mood for Pitch Perfect. 😜 Without the context of the rest of the film, it’s difficult to see why this is the “jockey moment” for you, though it’s a perfectly lovely rendition of the song with a bunch of close-ups on all the people who will soon die gruesome deaths. Glad they got to experience this peaceful moment first.
Amy just read me my comments from that “musical” week in 2008. Clearly, I have mellowed over the past 15 years. Indeed, in 2008 I surely would have ranted about a slasher film making your top 10. In any event, I will make a much belated retraction as to Moulin Rouge — it is a musical. Once, however, is not!
In 2008, I never would have had a slasher movie in my top ten to begin with.
It’s funny that I said back then that I wasn’t a fan of musicals. Since then I’ve done deep dives into both the musical and horror genres and can say I’m a fan of both now.
Never heard of this movie not that I would ever see it but still 🤷♀️
I agree with Amy I am still impressed ❤️
Late to this one – but I was definitely a fan of this film and also land in the camp who thinks this scene added a lot of value to it. I wouldn’t recommend this one to the non-horror fans, but I maintain that Pearl (the sequel, prequel) would be better received by the frequent commenters crowd.
Also – Once is absolutely a musical