Pilot X: A Clunky Trip to a Creepy House

Is it worth your time?

Look, if you have a soft spot for 1930s aviation mysteries that mostly take place in living rooms, you'll probably enjoy Pilot X. It’s got that specific, creaky charm of a movie that doesn't quite know if it wants to be a high-stakes thriller or a parlor game.

If you need your movies to have tight logic or characters who don't act like they're auditioning for a play in the dark, you should probably skip this one. It's not exactly The Man on the Box in terms of polish, that's for sure.

The Setup

Planes are dropping out of the sky like flies. And they're being taken down by a black plane with a giant X on the wing. It’s not subtle, but I kind of respect the commitment to branding.

Naturally, the chief of police or whoever is in charge decides the best way to handle this is to invite a bunch of suspects to a big, dark mansion. Because nothing says "investigation" like trapping potential murderers in a house with bad lighting and weird floorboards.

The Vibe

The pacing is a little… well, it’s like walking through mud in a tuxedo. You spend a lot of time watching people stand in doorways and look intensely at each other. Sometimes I forgot why they were even there. Was it the plane crash? Or just bad real estate?

There is this one shot where they're all gathered around a table, and the camera lingers for so long I started wondering if the projectionist had fallen asleep. It was almost funny. Almost.

• The mansion looks like it hasn't been dusted since the turn of the century.
• The "X" plane shows up just enough to keep you from totally zoning out.
• The dialogue feels like it was written in a hurry between lunch breaks.

It’s nowhere near as tight as The Expert, which had a bit more snap to its step. Here, things just sort of happen because the script needs them to, not because anyone actually figured out a clever way to link the dots.

Final Thoughts

I found myself looking at the wallpaper patterns more than the actors toward the end. It's a thin movie, honestly. It doesn't overstay its welcome, which is a mercy, but it doesn't give you much to chew on either. 🕵️‍♂️

If you're a fan of these old low-budget mysteries, you’ll find the bits you like. If not, you'll probably wonder why everyone is so upset about a plane that hasn't even been seen in twenty minutes.