MaXXXine, the latest installment in Ti West’s X trilogy, pays homage to the sleazy, neon-drenched world of 1980s erotic thrillers.
If you’re intrigued by the stylized, provocative world of MaXXXine, here are some other films that explore similar themes and aesthetics:
Dressed to Kill (1980)
Directed by Brian De Palma, Dressed to Kill blends Hitchcockian influences with graphic violence and sexuality. It follows a woman who becomes the target of a razor-wielding killer after a steamy encounter.
Body Double (1984)
Another De Palma gem, Body Double is a twisted tale of obsession and murder set against the backdrop of the adult film industry. It follows a down-on-his-luck actor who becomes embroiled in a deadly scheme after witnessing a gruesome killing.
Basic Instinct (1992)
Paul Verhoeven’s Basic Instinct cemented Sharon Stone’s status as a ’90s icon. The film follows a police detective who becomes entangled in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with a seductive and manipulative novelist.
Femme Fatale (2002)
Brian De Palma’s Femme Fatale is a twisty, neo-noir thriller about a woman who orchestrates an elaborate diamond heist. Like Maxine in MaXXXine, the protagonist navigates the cutthroat world of Hollywood, using her sexuality and cunning to achieve her goals.
Starry Eyes (2014)
Starry Eyes shares MaXXXine’s themes of ambition, exploitation, and the dark side of the entertainment industry. It follows a young actress who makes a Faustian bargain to achieve her dreams of stardom, leading her down a disturbing path.
These films, along with MaXXXine, offer a stylized, often lurid look at the underbelly of Hollywood and the lengths people will go to achieve their dreams of fame and success.
