LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� As and filmmaker Ti West walked the red carpet this week for the premiere of 鈥淢aXXXine,鈥� the final installment of the pair鈥檚 buzzy horror trilogy, a group of hired 鈥減rotesters鈥� stood outside the chanting and holding signs with messages like 鈥淗orror is not art鈥� and 鈥淗ollywood is Satan鈥檚 playground.鈥�
The marketing stunt was an homage to the movie鈥檚 backdrop against the satanic panic and censorship wars of the 1980s. But, like the movie, it was also a commentary on what society considers trashy or tasteless and an airing of grievances about sustained sentiments toward one of the most polarizing genres of film.
鈥溾�楳aXXXine,鈥� more than any of the other two, is quite meta. And there were tons of instances in this movie where it definitely felt like there was a parallel between what was going on in the script and what was going on when we filmed it,鈥� said Goth, who also worked as a producer, ahead of the movie鈥檚 highly anticipated theatrical release by A24 on July 5.
It follows Maxine Minx (Goth), an adult film star trying to break into mainstream movies. She becomes increasingly concerned that her violent past will interfere with her plans for fame after she gets her big break with a role in a horror sequel, 鈥淭he Puritan 2."
鈥淵ou鈥檙e not going to the top in no horror movie,鈥� a fellow adult film, tells Maxine.
There鈥檚 a kind of irony to the religious extremism that permeates West鈥檚 trilogy, given his and Goth鈥檚 mission to convert nonbelievers to the genre鈥檚 appeal. Despite the commercial success of the previous two films, 鈥淴鈥� and 鈥淧earl,鈥� and praise of Goth鈥檚 performance from industry titans like , both Goth and West sense a reluctance from the more refined circles of Hollywood to fully embrace well-made horror movies.
鈥淚f I鈥檓 totally honest, I do think that sometimes the work is somewhat reduced,鈥� Goth said, who has embraced the genre as an actor with films like Brandon Cronenberg鈥檚 鈥淚nfinity Pool,鈥� and 2018 remake of 鈥淪uspiria.鈥� 鈥淚t would be nice if they just, you know, appreciated it because of the performance.鈥�
West is optimistic about his proselytizing efforts, arguing that 鈥淢aXXXine鈥� is, at its core, simply a 鈥渇un summer movie.鈥� The film鈥檚 impressive cast, including , and is perhaps a testament to West鈥檚 theory.
鈥淚 think, somewhat historically, for me, the people who like my movies the most are people that are on the fence about horror,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou can always close your eyes at the gruesome parts. And you can still enjoy this movie even if you think you don鈥檛 like horror movies.鈥�
Although those gruesome parts are certainly there, West has crafted 鈥淢aXXXine鈥� as an entertaining period piece about Los Angeles in 1985. His commitment to world building is evident throughout the trilogy, from the 1920s Disney-esque technicolor visuals of 鈥淧earl鈥� to the '70s DIY porn aesthetic of 鈥淴.鈥�
鈥淭he thing about, say something like, 鈥楳aXXXine,鈥� is because it鈥檚 the 1980s, everything that鈥檚 in front of the camera has to get picked by me because it isn鈥檛 just there. You don鈥檛 just walk out and go, 'This location works,鈥欌�� West explained. 鈥淓very shot, every prop, every wardrobe, everything is now a conversation and decision about what would serve the movie. That to me is just a much more fulfilling way to approach things.鈥�
In 鈥淢aXXXine,鈥� West utilizes both landmarks around Los Angeles, like the Hollywood sign and the Universal backlot, as well as actual events from the time, including the , the infamous occultist serial killer who terrorized parts of California. Given its Hollywood setting, the director saw an opportunity to pull back the curtain on the mystique of filmmaking and weave in commentary about how the industry treats people, particularly women.
Early in the film, Maxine delivers an impressive and emotional monologue during her audition for 鈥淭he Puritan 2.鈥� While she is still wiping away the conjured tears from her cheeks, a female producer casually asks to see her breasts.
鈥淚t鈥檚 heightened so that we laugh at it. And at the same time, we know that it鈥檚 real,鈥� Debicki, who plays the film鈥檚 director, said. 鈥淧eople are clocking it more and building more barriers for women and for people in the industry, protecting us from people who do harm unto others. But I think this is a movie set in 1985 and there were no barriers.鈥�
Krysta Fauria, The Associated Press
