Ti West is channelling Paul Schrader for “MaXXXine,” the conclusion of his trilogy. And “The Terminator,” too.
“Hardcore” is a fitting description for writer/director West, who told Total Film that the 1985 horror movie, which has high concept tie-ins to “The Terminator” and “Vice Squad,” is set in Hollywood. Furthermore, what “X” movie would be complete without a dash of giallo, of course?
West characterised his film as “poppy, but still grounded in more of a grittier ’80s than a shopping-mall ’80s.” “You’re witnessing both the seedy side of Hollywood and the glamorous side of the film industry.”
“A ‘Terminator’-like aesthetic to a Paul Schrader hardcore thing to ‘Vice Squad’ to giallo,” according to West, are all jumbled together in “MaXXXine.”
One of IndieWire’s most eagerly awaited movies of 2024 is “MaXXXine,” in which Mia Goth plays adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx in a reunion with the character. Goth had portrayed the elder role of Pearl in “X” as well as Maxine in the later, eponymous prequel. Ten years after the events of “X,” Maxine is finally given her big break in Hollywood in “MaXXXine,” which takes place at the same time that an enigmatic killer is pursuing wannabe actresses. Alongside Halsey in the feature film are Kevin Bacon, Giancarlo Esposito, Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, and Lily Collins.
“MaXXXine” has a foundation with Schrader’s “Taxi Driver” in that it is undoubtedly anti-heroic. While in Cannes 2024, Schrader revealed to IndieWire that he declined to write a “Taxi Driver” sequel following his Academy Award victory. Actor Robert De Niro of “Taxi Driver” reportedly requested Schrader and director Martin Scorsese to think about doing a follow-up picture.
“Not to put a dent in De Niro, but a lot of his choices occasionally have financial undertones. “You know, if you do “Taxi Driver 2,” they can pay,” someone had probably told him,” Schrader remarked. Thus, he put a lot of pressure on Marty. When Marty inquired, I responded, “Marty, that’s the worst fucking idea I’ve ever heard.”
According to Schrader, there might have been a “version of him” that became like “Ted Kaczynski and maybe he’s in a cabin somewhere and just sitting there, making letter bombs,” even though De Niro’s character passed away at the end of the movie. De Niro, though, wasn’t really intrigued by the notion.
“Well, that sounds very good. Travis, that would be really amazing. He no longer owns a taxi. “He simply sits there, laughing, writing bombs with letters,” Schrader remembered telling De Niro. “Yet Bob also wasn’t sold on that notion.”
