It was meant to be an electrifying double bill of Ti West's spine-chilling thrillers, 'X' and 'Pearl.' However, the script took an unexpected turn. On Thursday night, Ti West and A24 pulled off a diabolical trick, revealing an early screening of their forthcoming slasher film, 'Maxxxine,' to a group of unsuspecting horror enthusiasts.
The evening was touted as a double feature showcasing West's 'X' horror franchise, encompassing 'X' and its predecessor 'Pearl,' the films that catapulted Mia Goth into the role of Hollywood's new queen of terror. The sold-out screening drew a diverse crowd of film buffs and horror enthusiasts, some dressed as Pearl herself, others sporting 'Pearl' T-shirts, and yet a few flaunting T-shirts adorned with logos and characters ranging from X-Men to Rick Dalton from 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.'
During a question-and-answer session between the screenings, moderator and 'Maxxxine' actress Lily Collins and West sprung a sudden surprise. Collins inquired how many in the audience had watched 'Pearl'—almost every hand shot up in response. She then posed a rhetorical question: why watch 'Pearl' again if they could instead witness 'Maxxxine?' The crowd cheered excitedly, albeit unaware that she was being deadly serious. When West confirmed with a grin, "You're going to be the first to see this movie," the audience erupted into a frenzy of cheers and whistles, some gasping and covering their mouths in disbelief.
"Just don't spoil it," West cautioned with a mischievous smile. Prior to the revelation, West reminisced about directing the trilogy, from crafting the first two during the pandemic to the challenges of filming Goth in her dual role in 'X.' He even recalled the thrilling encounter with eels during a lake scene (while keeping it a secret from actor Kid Cudi). He even toyed with the idea of making a film set between 'X' and 'Pearl,' teasing, "You never know."
The 'X' films proved to be unexpected gems for A24, earning rave reviews from critics and horror aficionados alike, while also raking in impressive box office numbers. 'X,' released in March 2022, was a love letter to backwoods horror films of the 1970s, nodding to the porn flicks of that era, while exploring themes of aging and fading beauty. 'Pearl,' filmed concurrently with 'X' and released in September 2022, served as a prequel to 'X,' with a Douglas Sirk-like melodramatic touch, focusing on a woman's insatiable hunger for fame and stardom.
Both films, especially 'Pearl,' were star-making turns for Goth, who portrayed multiple roles in the franchise. She now reprises her role in 'Maxxxine,' which is set in the mid-1980s Hollywood, where the surviving character from the first film works in the booming VHS porn industry, on the cusp of a significant career break—until her past comes knocking. A24 will unleash 'Maxxxine' on July 5.
