Ti Westended up making one of the most unique horror movie franchises of all-time with theXtrilogy that kicked off in 2022. WhileXwas a throwback to classic grindhouse exploitation thrillers from the 1970s, the prequel filmPearlwas a recreation of “Golden Age” Hollywood fantasies and romantic dramas.The third filmMaXXXinetakes the series into the 1980s for an inventive slasher storythat merges true crime with Hollywood satire, and no shortage of brutal kills.
It’s evident from the references that each film contains that both West and Mia Goth have a deep appreciation for classic cinema. Those who enjoyed seeing familiar genres remixed, reinvented, andmodernized inMaXXXinemay enjoy checking out some of the older classics that inspired it in the first place. Here are ten great movies to watch if you likeMaXXXine.
10‘Hardcore’ (1979)
Directed by Paul Schrader
The entireXtrilogy has been a brave endeavor in Hollywood filmmaking because the series has delved into the illicit world of adult entertainment, a subject that the industry is often scared to shine a spotlight on. While he’s best known as the screenwriter behind suchMartin Scorseseclassics asTaxi DriverandRaging Bull,Paul Schrader explored the dangers of the adult film world in his incendiary 1979 thrillerHardcore.The film starredGeorge C. Scottas a small town businessman who begins searching for his missing daughter, who he discovers has been involved in a pornographic film production.
LikeMaXXXine,Hardcoreis a sleazy crime thriller that nonetheless succeeds as a compelling mysteryabout the loss of innocence. While not for the faint of heart,Hardcoreis a gripping example of 1980s crime cinema at its peak of brutality.
Watch on The Criterion Channel
9‘Dressed to Kill’ (1980)
Directed by Brian De Palma
One of the many homages that West makes inMaXXXineis to the film ofBrian De Palma, ahighly influential member of the “Hollywood New Wave”that turned the industry on its head thanks to the incorporation of graphic violent and sexual content.Dressed to Killis among the most graphic and controversial films that De Palma ever made, as it delved into doppelgangers, psychiatric care, and conspiracy theories.
LikeMaXXXine,Dressed to Killdoes a great job at keeping the audience on the edge of their seat,as the twists compound on top of each other to create a compelling tapestry of intrigue as the narrative gets wilder. Both West and De Palma know the importance of adding a sense of dark humor in order to remind the viewer to not take anything that they are watching too seriously.
Dressed to Kill
A mysterious blonde woman kills one of a psychiatrist’s patients, and then goes after the high-class call girl who witnessed the murder.
Watch on Tubi
8‘Body Double’ (1984)
Dressed to Killmay have kicked off a new level of success in De Palma’s career, butWest includes more than a few references inMaXXXineto the classic erotic thrillerBody Double. Essentially serving as De Palma’s tribute to the works ofAlfred Hitchcock,Body Doublewas yet another gratuitous mystery thriller that turned the industry on its head with its exploration of prostitution and pornography.
Body DoubleandMaXXXineboth succeed because they don’t offer judgment on their characters,acknowledging that the real world is far less “black and white” than how it is portrayed in most mainstream films. Both films are more interesting than they would have been if they includeda more straightforward herothat the audience could use as a moral compass; the ethical ambiguity results in a far more compelling piece of pop entertainment.
Body Double
Jake Scully, an out-of-work actor, becomes embroiled in a dangerous game of voyeurism and murder when he spies on a neighbor through a telescope and witnesses a brutal crime. Determined to uncover the truth, he descends into the dark side of Hollywood, navigating a labyrinth of deception and intrigue.
Rent on Amazon
7‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2’ (1986)
Directed by Tobe Hooper
MaXXXineis a fun addition to theXfranchise because while it is certainly the most action-packed installment so far, it’s also quite silly and irreverent at times.Those looking for a more comedic horror sequel to a more straightforward slasher thriller shouldlook no further thanThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.While directorTobe Hooperblurred the line between reality and fiction with his haunting grindhouse horror filmThe Texas Chain Saw Massacre,the 1986 sequel satirized the slasher genre by including more over-the-top characters and graphic death scenes.
Both Hooper and West showed an awareness of their influence by making sequels that are distinct from their predecessors.It’s far more interesting to see an original director return to the franchise they created in order to do something completely different than it would be to have someone else just reiterate the past success.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
6‘They Live’ (1988)
Directed by John Carpenter
MaXXXineisn’t just a great continuation of the plot and characters that were established inX, but a great film about the realities of living in Los Angeles.John Carpenter examined the cultural legacy of the “City of Angels” withThey Live, a revelatory science fiction thriller that has become a widely celebrated cult classic. The film starsRoddy Piperas a drifter whodiscovers a strange conspiracythat reveals that humanity has been taken over by aliens, who use advertising to mask their true intentions.
The ending ofMaXXXinecertainly contains some really amazing kills, butThey Livefeatures one of the most electrifying fight scenes in cinematic history.A six-minute brawl between Piper andKeith Davidfeatures incredibly demanding stunts from both actors, pushing the film into all-time classic status. It’s one of the more unique projects of Carpenter’s career.
5‘Wes Craven’s New Nightmare’ (1994)
Directed by Wes Craven
One of the most interesting things aboutMaXXXineis that West seems to be analyzing his own legacy by showing how the titular character would fit within a lightly fictionalized version of real Hollywood in 1985.Wes Craven’s New Nightmarewas an inventive horror sequelthat took the characters from theA Nightmare on Elm Streetfranchise and brought them into the real world.The original film’s star,Heather Langnkamp,starred as a fictionalized version of herself who is haunted by the real Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund), who escapes from behind the screen into reality.
Wes Craven’s New Nightmarewas a great example of a filmmaker reckoning with their past success and returning to a series to put it back on track.While not that successful within its original release window,Wes Craven’s New Nightmareended up inspiring Craven to make another self-aware horror franchise when he started theScreamsaga.
Wes Craven’s New Nightmare
A demonic force has chosen Freddy Krueger as its portal to the real world. Can Heather Langenkamp play the part of Nancy one last time and trap the evil trying to enter our world?
Rent on Apple TV
4‘Ready or Not’ (2019)
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett
MaXXXinewas successful because West recognized that at the end of the day, audiences just want slasher films to be fun; although there have been attempts to make a grittier take on the subgenre of horror, many of its best entries are those that simply allow the audience to laugh at the sheer absurdity of it all.Ready or Notwas a very entertaining horror comedy that served asa clever satire of capitalism.The directing duo ofMatt Bettinelli-OlpinandTyler Gillettmanaged to create a unique mythology that focused on a wealthy family’s attempts to hunt down their son’s bride to be after their wedding ceremony.
Similar to what West did with the firstXfilm,Ready or Notsucceeded by keeping the action limited to an isolated location.The constraints put on the film’s setting resulted in a tightly paced thriller that allowed the audience to feel the same sense of claustrophobia that the characters did.
Ready or Not
A bride’s wedding night takes a sinister turn when her eccentric new in-laws force her to take part in a terrifying game.
3‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ (2019)
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
One of the more intriguing aspects ofMaXXXineis that West decided to include some elements of true crime within a boradly fictional narrative; although obviously Goth’s character is fictional, the film makes references to the real “Night Stalker” serial killer that haunted Los Angeles in 1985.Quentin Tarantino merged real history with original characters in his 2019 masterpieceOnce Upon A Time in Hollywood.Set in 1969,Once Upon A Time in Hollywoodincludes a storyline involving the actress Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), who was killed by members of the Charles Manson crime family.
LikeMaXXXine,Once Upon A Time in Hollywoodis a genuine tribute to Hollywood stardom that celebrates the empowering quality of great films.Tarantino includes clever homages to this era of the “Golden Age of Hollywood”that serves as the most profound, and perhaps most personal film that he has made throughout his very impressive career.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
A faded television actor and his stunt double strive to achieve fame and success in the final years of Hollywood’s Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles.
2‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’ (2022)
Directed by Halina Reijn
MaXXXinechanges up the formula of theXtrilogy because while it is still at its heart a slasher film, there is a strong whodunit quality tothe way that the murder mystery unfolds.Bodies Bodies Bodieswas a similarly satirical murder mystery that created tension because the audience was constantly double checking the characters’ intentions, leading to paranoia about who the real killer could be. The film centers around a group of wealthy teenagers who become trapped in a mansion during a rainstorm, only to watch as their friends are picked off one-by-one.
Bodies Bodies BodiesandMaXXXineclearly have respect for their audiences,as they do not take extravagant leaps in logic that don’t make sense. While some of the deaths appear to be shocking when they are first revealed,Bodies Bodies Bodiesmanaged to flash back to critical events early on to explain how they happened.
Bodies Bodies Bodies
When a group of rich 20-somethings plan a hurricane party at a remote family mansion, a party game turns deadly in this fresh and funny look at backstabbing, fake friends, and one party gone very, very wrong.
Watch on Netflix
1‘Barbarian’ (2022)
Directed by Zack Creggar
One of the more compelling aspects ofMaXXXineis the way in which West pokes fun at celebrity culture, revealing how self-important and out of touch many actors are. Similarly,Ack Creggar’s underrated horror thrillerBarbarianincludes a subplot involving a goofy actor who becomes involved in an actual series of killings.Justin Long’s appearance in the filmmakes for a shocking twist that takes the narrative in a completely different direction.
Barbarianis the exact type of horror gem that has the makings of being a future cult classic.Despite being only barely marketed upon its initial release, the film eventually became successful due to the strong word-of-mouth, which highlighted how subversive and entertaining it really was. DirectorZack Creggarhas certainly set himself up to have a career similar to West’s, in which he can make unusual projects that are successful in appealing to a niche audience of horror aficionados.
A young woman discovers the rental home she booked is already occupied by a stranger. Against her better judgment, she decides to spend the night but soon discovers there’s a lot more to fear than just an unexpected house guest. It stars Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård and Justin Long.
