Directing three movies over four years is no easy feat. Especially if they are all part of an unconventional trilogy with a prequel, no less, in the middle. Judging from the response of most critics and moviegoers, however, director and screenwriter Ti West has pulled it off. “X” was considered one of the best horror movies of 2022, “Pearl” demonstrated the considerable acting skills of franchise star Mia Goth, and now “MaXXXine,” is a wink at the Hollywood studio horror-thrillers of the mid 1980’s.

Continue reading ‘MaXXXine’: Ti West Doesn’t Close The Door To A Fourth Film [Interview] at The Playlist.

The last time we saw Maxine Minx (Mia Goth), she had barely survived a porn shoot massacre in the middle of Texas. One of her last lines in that particular movie, 2022’s “X,” saw her parroting her father, a television preacher with the mantra, “I will not accept a life I do not deserve.” Now, after an impressive prequel centered on Maxine’s initial adversary, “Pearl,” our heroine returns in the third chapter of Ti West’s gore thriller trilogy, “MaXXXine.” And, you could say Hollywood would never be the same if the movie wasn’t such an obvious and intentional homage to seedy, LA kitsch.

Continue reading ‘MaXXXine’ Review: Ti West & Mia Goth Slash A Love Letter To ’80s Hollywood at The Playlist.

There’s a lot of hype surrounding the release of “MaXXXine.” This is because the first two films in the trilogy, “X” and “Pearl,” were massive hits, both financially and critically. And honestly, it’s pretty rare for a horror film to delight both genre fans and critics. Needless to say, there are a lot of folks who are wondering if “MaXXXine” can end the trilogy on a high note.

Continue reading ‘MaXXXine’ Trailer: Mia Goth Is Being Stalked By A New Killer In Ti West’s Trilogy Ender at The Playlist.

We are less than two months away from the most anticipated horror film of the year, “MaXXXine.” Coming off of the surprising (and massive) success of both “X” and “Pearl,” the trilogy-capper looks like it could become the biggest in the franchise yet. But there are still many trying to pinpoint exactly what style filmmaker Ti West is bringing to this film. 

Continue reading ‘MaXXXine’: Ti West Explains How Paul Schrader, ‘Terminator,’ ‘Vice Squad’ & Giallo All Mix To Bring His Next Slasher To Life at The Playlist.

One of the most unexpected new franchises is, without a doubt, the “X” film series from writer-director Ti West. Beginning with “X” and continuing with “Pearl” less than a year later, the filmmaker wowed audiences with his fresh take on the horror genre. Now, everyone is eagerly attempting his trilogy capper, “MaXXXine,” which arrives in July. Many have just assumed this will be the end of the low budget franchise, but according to the filmmaker, there might be at least one more story to tell.

Continue reading ‘MaXXXine’: Ti West Has “One Idea” For How To Continue ‘X’ Franchise After The Upcoming Film at The Playlist.

It’s wild to see a jumping-around-in-time horror franchise come together at A24 and one that’s not even built on a title brand at the same time. Written and directed by horror filmmaker Ti West, “MaXXXine” is the third and final (?) installment in his slasher trilogy that began with “X” and “Pearl.” “X” was basically a kind of sexploitation horror/cautionary tale about fame set in the late 1970s about a cast and crew who gather to make a pornographic film on an elderly couple’s rural Texas property, but things go horribly awry.

Continue reading “MaXXXine”  Trailer: Ti West’s Slasher Trilogy Closer With Mia Goth Opens In July at The Playlist.

Recently, it was announced that an all-star supporting cast is joining Mia Goth in the trilogy-ending film, “MaXXXine.” And now, with production underway, we get our first look at the leading lady with one of her new castmates. 

READ MORE: ‘MaXXXine’: Mia Goth Describes Upcoming Horror Sequel As “A Superhero Movie”

For those unfamiliar with the “X” trilogy, “MaXXXine” takes place after the events of “X” and finds Mia Goth returning as the title character, the lone survivor from the previous slasher.

Continue reading ‘MaXXXine’ First Look: Mia Goth & Halsey Are In 1980s Hollywood In Ti West’s Latest Horror Film at The Playlist.

In a world where studios are desperate to create the next big franchise, it’s always interesting to see these sorts of things pop up in a truly organic way. “John Wick” is a good example of this. You can also lump in Ti West’s “X” trilogy, which began as a cheap slasher but in very short order, has turned into one of the most interesting horror franchises of the past decade.

Continue reading ‘MaXXXine’: Kevin Bacon, Lily Collins, Halsey & More Join Mia Goth In Ti West’s Horror Film at The Playlist.

We know that Martin Scorsese isn’t a huge fan of superhero films. However, did you know that the man behind “Taxi Driver” and “Raging Bull” is a big fan of indie horror? Well, apparently he is, as Scorsese recently gave the new horror film, “Pearl,” a rave review.

READ MORE: ‘Pearl’ Review: Mia Goth Totally Kills It In Ti West’s ‘X’ Origin Story [Venice]

For those unaware, “Pearl” is the prequel to Ti West’s most recent slasher, “X,” which was only released earlier this year.

Continue reading ‘Pearl’: Martin Scorsese Raves About Ti West’s “Wild, Mesmerizing, Deeply Disturbing” Horror Film at The Playlist.

A subversive throwback to ’70s sleaze, “X” has more on its mind than shock value. That’s not to say that down-and-dirty pleasures were hard to come by in Ti West’s A24-produced slasher (which hit theaters earlier this year), about amateur adult filmmakers facing off with murderous octogenarians on a decrepit farm in rural 1979 Texas. It is, after all, a film that counted “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” among its sizzling, sex-and-slaughter influences. 

But West — whose past retro-horror pictures include “The House of the Devil” and “The Innkeepers” — has earned a reputation for enriching his genre fare with exceptional craft and sharp, savage insight.

Continue reading ‘Pearl’: Ti West & Mia Goth Discuss The ‘X’ Prequel & Aesthetic Ambitions [Interview] at The Playlist.

Continue reading ‘MaXXXine’ Teaser Trailer: Ti West Reveals Surprise Third Film In His ‘X’ Trilogy at The Playlist.

The greatest strength of Ti West’s “X,” the very A24 vibes ‘n all sex-slasher which premiered to tepid acclaim at South By Southwest earlier this year, was never its reverence for “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” nor its lurid ‘70s grit and grain, nor its abundance of pornstaches. No, no: a double-dipping Mia Goth was the lynchpin, be it caked in prosthetics as the melting, murderous octogenarian Pearl or starlet-in-the-making (with an aptly porn-y name) Max Minx.

Continue reading ‘Pearl’ Review: Mia Goth Totally Kills It In Ti West’s ‘X’ Origin Story [Venice] at The Playlist.

Earlier this year, indie filmmaker Ti West (“The Innkeepers”) released the indie horror hit “X,” set in 1979, and centered on a group of young filmmakers who set out to make an adult film in rural Texas. But when their reclusive, elderly hosts catch them in the act, the cast finds themselves fighting for their lives. Starring Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, Brittany Snow, and more, “X” was a fairly big hit for A24, but what audiences didn’t really know at the time was that West, in secret, had shot a whole other film, a prequel starring Mia Goth.

Continue reading ‘Pearl’ Trailer: Ti West’s Prequel To 70’s-Inspired Indie Thriller ‘X’ Arrives In September, Premieres In Venice at The Playlist.

Ti West is no stranger to horror films. He’s also no stranger to low-budget indies. So, it makes sense that his latest film, “X” is, well, a low-budget, indie horror film. And when you have that sort of indie filmmaker mindset, and a penchant for keeping your costs down, you can go ahead and make another film in secret. 

According to A24, Ti West isn’t done with the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”-inspired world he created in “X” and has already shot a prequel film, in secret.

Continue reading Ti West Shot An ‘X’ Prequel Film In Secret & Will Premiere Footage For Theatrical Audiences at The Playlist.

It’s a little surprising that “X” marks director Ti West’s first film for A24 since his approach to horror — emphasizing character and mood over jump scares, building slowly and steadily to a big bloody blowout — is so synced up with their house style. “X” is also his first feature since 2016, and his first horror film since 2013’s “The Sacrament”; he’s kept busy in the years since with plenty of television work, but this is what he does best, and it’s about time he got back to it.

Continue reading ‘X’ Review: Ti West Channels A Winking ‘Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ Horror In The World Of Scuzzy ’70s Porn at The Playlist.

About a decade ago, Ti West was a director to watch in the horror genre thanks to 2009’s “The House Of The Devil” and 2011’s “The Innkeepers.” West hasn’t been up to much since the commercial failure of 2016’s “In A Valley Of Violence,” though. Since that film, West has stuck to directing episodes of various TV series like “Scream,” “The Exorcist,” and “Them.”

READ MORE: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2022

Now, West returns to the big screen with an all-new horror film under the illustrious A24 banner.

Continue reading ‘X’ Trailer: Ti West Returns To The Horror Genre With A Sleazy Take On Grindhouse This March at The Playlist.

She may have sung her way to the ICCA Finals in “Pitch Perfect,” but before that, Brittany Snow dipped her toes in the horror genre with “Prom Night.” Now, she returns to horror in Ti West‘s A24 project, “X,” joining an impressive cast that includes Kid Cudi and Mia Goth.

READ MORE: ‘X’: Mia Goth & Kid Cudi To Star In Ti West’s Upcoming A24 Film

The Hollywood Reporter has the scoop on Brittany Snow joining the cast of “X.” We still don’t know many details about the story, which was written by West himself, but insiders have told THR the film is “about the making of an adult film.” The project is being co-financed by A24 and Bron.

Continue reading ‘X’: Brittany Snow Joins The Cast Of Ti West’s Horror Film For A24 at The Playlist.

It’s been four years since filmmaker Ti West has released a film, with 2016’s “In a Valley of Violence,” being his last feature. Since then, the genre filmmaker has worked extensively in TV, on series such as “The Exorcist,” “Wayward Pines,” “Chambers,” and most recently, “Tales from the Loop.” But it appears he’s ready to hop back to feature filmmaking, with the upcoming film “X.”

READ MORE: ‘In A Valley Of Violence’ Is An Enjoyably Splattery, Throwback Western [Review]

According to Deadline, Ti West is set to write and direct “X” for A24 and BRON Studios.

Continue reading ‘X’: Mia Goth & Kid Cudi To Star In Ti West’s Upcoming A24 Film at The Playlist.

While it’s not quite the return of a full blown trend, westerns are back in action, both at the major studios, and in the indie world. And it’s on a smaller level where arguably some of the most interesting stuff is being made. S. Craig Zahler broke out last fall with his vicious “Bone Tomahawk” and now Ti West, no stranger to making audiences spines tingle, is now tackling the genre with “In A Valley Of Violence.” And the title pretty much says it all.

Continue reading First Trailer For Ti West’s ‘In A Valley Of Violence’ Starring Ethan Hawke, Taissa Farmiga, Karen Gillan & John Travolta at The Playlist.

Pop quiz, hotshot: what’s the biggest independent movie of the year so far? Unlikely sleepers “Eye In The Sky,” starring Helen Mirren, or “Hello My Name Is Doris” with Sally Field? Tom Hanks vehicle “A Hologram For The King?” Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood” followup “Everybody Wants Some?” Jeff Nichols’ sci-fi “Midnight Special?”

READ MORE: The 25 Best Horror Films Of The 21St Century So Far

The answer is: none of the above.

Continue reading 12 Arthouse Horror Directors Who Are Reinventing The Genre at The Playlist.

SXSW Review: Ti West's ‘In A Valley of Violence’ Starring Ethan Hawke, Taissa Farmiga, And John Travolta

Continue reading SXSW Review: Ti West’s ‘In A Valley of Violence’ Starring Ethan Hawke, Taissa Farmiga, And John Travolta at The Playlist.

Directors: Lee Daniels, Shawn Levy And More Line Up New Projects

Continue reading Directors: Lee Daniels, Shawn Levy And More Line Up New Projects at The Playlist.

Review: Ti West's 'The Sacrament' Both Fresh And A Missed Opportunity

Continue reading Review: Ti West’s ‘The Sacrament’ Both Fresh And A Missed Opportunity at The Playlist.

Director Ti West Says Pay For Movies, Don't Pirate Them, As VOD Sales Grow & Blu-Ray Purchases Slow

Continue reading Director Ti West Says Pay For Movies, Don’t Pirate Them, As VOD Sales Grow & Blu-Ray Purchases Slow at The Playlist.

Continue reading John Travolta & Ethan Hawke Join Ti West’s Revenge Western; Steve Carell Is On ‘The Priority List’ & More at The Playlist.