9 Movies That Inspired Maxxxine, X, and Pearl

The end of Maxxine Ti West’s horror trilogy hits theaters this weekend. The trilogy explores the generational journeys of starlets and women who aspire to stardom. Their success ranges wildly, from infamy to adult films to iconic B-movie roles. Ti West and Mia Goth collaborated to write pearl waiting to shoot Xwhile West wrote every other story. With so much control over the franchise, we’ve rounded up nine films that inspired the horror showcases.

Movies that influenced me X

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

The most obvious influence on X just The Texas Chainsaw MassacreThe 1974 horror classic not only broke the mold of what was possible in the genre. It also helped define a specific aesthetic that would be borrowed, recycled, and reused for years to come. Many grindhouse films, including those by Ti West, Rob Zombie, and others, openly draw inspiration from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It ranks among the most influential films ever made and, in my opinion, one of the scariest. Borrowing the sun-bleached setting before a nighttime killing spree helps X pay homage. However, it is the farm setting, the youth in the van and the feeling of sex in the air that contribute to the atmosphere.

Easy Rider (1969)

The film that brought New Hollywood to the industry, Dennis Hopper’s counterculture classic, continues its influence in X. This is particularly evident in the editing, with rapid-fire editing that shifts between past and present to represent Maxine’s mind. When combined with RJ’s obsession with “realism” and non-linear storytelling, Easy Rider provides a roadmap for the cinema that RJ is pursuing. That’s why the team believes they can achieve overnight success, combining the success of the Porn Chic movement films of the 1970s.

Friday 13 (1980)

Friday 13 borrowed elements from every successful slasher before its time to build a solid foundation. In many ways, it’s the perfect template for a film like X. However, because of its own power as an iconic feature, West pulls out some stylistic aspects. Gorgeous POV shots and whispery music highlight some Friday 13The best moments of. X is better because of its proximity to lewd behavior and Mrs. Vorhees’ hatred of busy young adults.

Movies that influenced me pearl

The Wizard of Oz

The bright colors and saturation of The Wizard of Oz share many characteristics with pearlThe Texas wheat fields look like they’re straight out of classic Technicolor. The most obvious allusion is in the literal scarecrow sequences. However, West’s fascination with bright colors can also be seen throughout the film. pearl. This musical, combined with our next entry, helps inspire the final act’s multi-colored dreamlike dance sequence.

Ziegfeld’s Daughter

A lot of Ziegfeld’s Daughter and many other musicals of the era called upon the talents of Busby Berkeley. As the choreographer of over fifty films and some of the biggest shows on Broadway, Berkeley became a draw in his own right. While Footlight Parade, 42nd Street, and The Gold Diggers were all popular, Ziegfeld Girl is the one that most resembles Pearl. Three women chase their dreams on Broadway. Another Judy Garland film, this time with characters doing whatever they can to achieve stardom, Ziegfeld Girl helps inspire Pearl’s choreography and dancing. Goth became a certified superstar with Pearl, and it was all thanks to this performance.

What happened to Baby Jane?

Two women are torn apart by their quest for glory. What happened to Baby Jane? gave a huge boost to the careers of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. The anger that bubbled up in each character seemed honest to both actresses at that time. However, Davis as Baby Jane and Goth as pearl share a kinship. This eventually becomes text in Maxxine (as “Bette Davis Eyes” shouts towards the end of the film). They don’t understand their inability to earn the fame and fortune that is theirs. They even commit familicide just to prove it. What happened to Baby Jane? help pearl highlight the complexity of his journey.

Movies that influenced me Maxxine

Double body

A descent into madness, murder and pornography helped Brian De Palma touch a social nerve. Carrie, breathAnd Scarface, Double body pushed to extremes. It is not just a Rear window homage but allowed De Palma to create a provocative and sinister image of Los Angeles. The neon lights and colors of Double body feels alive and well in Maxxine. More importantly, the murder scenes bear a striking resemblance to the classic thriller.

hardcore

A father loses track of his daughter who runs away to Los Angeles. Not only does she disappear, she abandons her Christian upbringing for hardcore pornography. Sound familiar? Paul Schraeder has released his second feature with a bang, and hardcore The film focused on the disconnect between Schraeder and his own father. Anchored by Schraeder’s brilliant screenplay and George C. Scott’s standout performance, hardcore has become an unsung classic.

Voyeur

All along Maxxine There’s a personal, even voyeuristic, approach to the murders. By looking through the camera lens, West highlights a disconnect between the women murdered on screen and the way we observe sex in popular culture. If we believe in this disconnect, we can ignore the darker truths. Peeping Tom gave Michael Powell one of the most shocking thrillers of all time. It made people lose their minds when it was released and even pushed Hitchcock to go darker afterward. Drawing on the visuals Powell created and using some influence from Michael Mann’s film Manhunterthe camera-centered viewpoint becomes more effective in Maxxine.

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