ICYMI: Ti West has been killing and (ironically) simultaneously reviving the horror movie genre lately with movies X and Pearl.
Now, he's bringing the long-awaited continuation of Maxine's story in MaXXXine. With the trailer now here, let's break it down:
1. It takes place six years after X.
2. Maxine scored a role in the fictional horror movie The Puritan II, which was also the working title of MaXXXine while it was in production.
3. Maxine has dyed her hair blonde. And you know who hated blondes? Pearl.
4. We got a glimpse of Bates Motel from Psycho.
5. Maxine sees Pearl in the window of Bates Motel, a callback to both X and "Norma Bates" in Psycho.
6. The first song that plays is "Obsession" by Animotion, which describes feeling so obsessed with someone that it becomes madness.
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This synth-pop tune from 1983 covers a Holly Knight and Michael Des Barres song. It's Animotion's biggest hit, and the music video takes place in a fancy house with a pool in Hollywood. The parallels never end.
7. The second song is "Self Control" by Laura Branigan, which is about being entranced by the nightlife.
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"You take my self, you take my self-control / You got me livin' only for the night." Branigan's cover of a Raf song is about being drawn to the nightlife. I see what you did there, Mr. West.