Ti West‘s latest film, MaXXXine, will take back viewers to the 1980s. West’s third installment in his X trilogy will explore some of the decade’s more provocative and adrenaline-pumping film influences.

Speaking with Total Film (via GamesRadar+), West elaborated on his eclectic sources of inspiration for the film. MaXXXine draws from a variety of ’80s cinema, including the austere futurism of The Terminator and the gritty, raw narrative style found in Paul Schrader’s Hardcore and the crime drama Vice Squad. Ti West has brilliantly repurposed the past to serve his uniquely dark visions. The mentioned films align well with West’s penchant for mixing horror with critical social commentary, as they are known for their intense stories and exploration of darker themes.

MaXXXine

Release Date

July 4, 2024

Studio

A24, Bron Creative, Film New Zealand

Hardcore, for example, follows a father’s desperate search through the seedy underbelly of the Californian porn industry for his missing daughter. Vice Squad features a narrative about a prostitute coerced into undercover police work, weaving a tale of crime and survival. The Italian genre Giallo, famous for its murder mysteries intertwined with sexual and sometimes supernatural elements, also serves as a significant touchstone for the film’s thematic and stylistic direction.

In MaXXXine, West continues the story of Mia Goth’s character, Maxine Minx, an ex-adult film star who arrives in 1985 seeking her major break in the film industry. This setting allows West to explore both the glamorous allure and the darker, seedier aspects of the era’s movie business. West described the film’s aesthetic, saying:

This direct sequel to X and follow-up to Pearl continues to combine historical settings with a modern narrative approach. X, set in 1979, drew from ’70s slasher films, while Pearl, set in 1918, twisted the narrative of The Wizard of Oz into a darker tale.

Ti West Hints at Surprising New Direction for X Franchise

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, West discussed the trajectory of his trilogy and the potential expansion of the narrative universe.

“I do have one idea that plays into these movies that could maybe happen. I don’t know if it’ll be next. It might be. We’ll see.”

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While West indicated that MaXXXine might conclude the “Maxine era,” he is not closing the door on the franchise. His thoughts on a fourth installment suggest a departure from traditional sequel expectations, reminiscent of how Pearl shifted away from the narrative path of X.

“I’ll say that, if there’s more to be done in this X franchise, it’s certainly not what people are expecting it to be. It’s not just picking up again a few years later and whatever. It’s different in the way that Pearl was an unexpected departure. It’s another unexpected departure.”