MaXXXine trailer hits 10 million views, ignites horror buzz

"MaXXXine" is highly anticipated by both critics and fans. It’s no surprise—Ti West's previous horror films, "X" and "Pearl," captivated millions of viewers. While it might seem unusual for horror films to be so well-received, these two movies stood out by breaking away from mainstream cinema, earning glowing reviews and respectable box office results. Given this success, it was clear that West would continue the story with Mia Goth in a leading role. The trailer for "MaXXXine" has only amplified interest.

"X" told the story of aspiring filmmakers from the '80s who rented a secluded house in Texas to shoot their first pornographic film. The eccentric and elderly landlords quickly develop a dangerous obsession with their guests.

A few months later, "Pearl" - a prequel to "X" - hit the screens. Set in 1918, it follows the main character, who lives on a Texas farm with her paralyzed father and domineering mother. She dreams of escaping the countryside to become a star. Critics noted that "Pearl" isn’t just about dreams and ambitions and descending into madness.

This time in "MaXXXine," we follow Pearl (Mia Goth)—the sole survivor of the massacre—as she moves to Los Angeles to pursue a career as an actress. "I always wanted to be famous," says the titular character during a casting call. It quickly becomes evident that she is already well-known in the pornographic film industry. While Maxine attempts to launch her Hollywood career, a psychopathic killer roams the streets of the City of Angels.

The trailer created a huge buzz among internet users, with over 10 million views on YouTube. It promises intense scenes, which reviewers who saw the new West film before its official release are already raving about.

A reviewer from The Guardian describes the film as a "porno-horror" where the show is stolen not by Mia Goth but by Elizabeth Debicki, who plays a British director. "It is, of course the fate of any actor who ever plays a member of the British royal family to be haunted by that persona afterward, and it’s impossible to watch Debicki’s imperious performance without thinking that The Crown’s Princess Diana must have somehow got a gig directing a horror film, perhaps embittered by her marriage to Charles, being mean to the crew in that estuary-posh voice and laying down the law about the correct way blood has to spurt from various orifices." Early on, The Guardian notes that the film is full of sex, blood, fear, and gore—a word of caution for viewers.

In contrast, Deadline highlights that it's a genre piece that examines women's portrayal in Hollywood, while The Hollywood Reporter sees it as a tribute to '80s films. They emphasize that Mia Goth is the new queen of horror, the so-called scream queen. "In the space of just two years, the actress and her director have cooked up a highly entertaining slasher trilogy that nods back to the past while striding forward into the meta future, deliciously skewering the pursuit of fame and the lure of desire with a subversive take on female objectification and an outpouring of love for the craft of moviemaking," they write.

The global premiere of "MaXXXine" is scheduled for July 5.