MaXXXine takes place 6 years after the 1979 massacre in Texas. Maxine still dreams of being a movie star and is poised on the edge of her big break, starring in a horror movie sequel. While she faces the struggles that come with transitioning from adult entertainment into Hollywood, an extremely dangerous serial killer known as the Night Stalker is hunting for his next starry-eyed starlet to slash up.

Ti West continues the story of Maxine Minx with the third installation of the X franchise. The X franchise has explored not only different eras, but different horror subgenres, with MaXXXine exploring the neo-noir of the 1980s. Mia Goth reprises her role as Maxine with a new cast of intriguing characters from the world of Hollywood, including The Crown‘s Elizabeth Debicki, screen legend Kevin Bacon, The Mandalorian‘s Giancarlo Esposito, Emily in Paris star Lily Collins, and Moses Sumney.

Screen Rant interviewed stars Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth Debicki about the latest X installment, MaXXXine. Debicki and Bacon shared insight into their characters and what informed their performances. Debicki also discussed working with Goth and the realities of being a director in Hollywood in the 1980s.

Elizabeth Debicki Loves “The Idea Of Two Women Bonding Over Their Shared Ruthlessness”

Debicki shared insight into her approach to playing Elizabeth Bender and how she feels connected to Maxine, including their shared desire to make their mark in Hollywood. Debicki also revealed that she did research on female filmmakers when crafting her character.

Elizabeth Debicki: Yes, I did. That felt like a crucial step to understand what those women were putting into the world and what they were up against. I feel like [an] essential part of the Liz Bender character is the struggle to get where she is because her vulnerability is not wanting to lose her footing. That’s a very real thing in Hollywood because, I mean, it’s a very overused saying, but there is sometimes a sense that you’re only as good as your last job. So she’s aware of that.

I think the things she sees in Maxine, it’s in the line in the film when she asks her if she’s ruthless. I loved that Ti wrote that speech, and I love the idea of two women bonding over their shared ruthlessness and their sense of being unapologetically themselves. I think I can imagine if you were a director and you wanted to make the Puritan II, you are looking for someone to walk into the room who is completely different to everyone, but is not going to please you. Who is going to do something raw and true and surprising.

Frankly, that’s what I feel that Mia did in the film. I felt there’s so many references to life through the movie, and frankly, I kind of think that’s what Mia has done with all three of these films. She’s ruthless and she’s does amazing raw work.

Kevin Bacon Fit MaXXXine’s World Perfectly: “I’d Rather Take A Big Swing”

Bacon revealed that he was drawn initially to working with West, whether it was part of this franchise or not, but also worked with him to develop Detective John Labat. He also explained how West told him to take big swings and, if needed, he would pull him back.

Kevin Bacon: I knew Ti’s movies and just reached out to have a conversation with him not knowing that it was part of a trilogy or that he had this other thing. He sent it to me. I said, this is a really fun guy, I mean, interesting. We started to exchange ideas right away about him. I think with Ti and me in this part, his biggest, I don’t even if it was a concern, but the thing that he really wanted to express to me was that he wanted us to go as far possible with the guy in terms of his look and the way he sounded, the way he moved, the various things about his teeth, all that kind of stuff. And I said, Yeah, let’s go big.

He said to me very clearly, I’m going to protect that it’s not going to be too much. And if it feels like it’s going to be too much, trust me that we will pull it back. That’s like the greatest thing to say to me because I’d rather take a big swing and that’s why I became an actor. But I think that if you look at the performances of people in this movie, we’re all in the same movie. You know how sometimes you see a movie and it’s like one person’s doing this kind of thing over here and one person’s doing. I think he really tempered that well for all of us. It was a great part.

Debicki described Goth as “a gravitational force” pulling everyone into this world and the story. She also shared why Goth was the perfect actor to play against. Debicki leaned heavily into her own fascination to show Elizabeth Bender’s fascination with Maxine.

Elizabeth Debicki: She’s like a gravitational force. She pulled us all into the story, I think. In many ways she’s kind of like the pulse of the thing and we align with her, and that’s a huge ask to not only sort of be giving constantly. I mean, she’s in every shot of the film, so she is just swallowed up by that thing and we just come and splash around for a little bit and leave. It’s a huge weight and she carried it enormously, sort of gracefully, I thought.

To me, she was the perfect person to play opposite, because I think she’s fascinating and Liz Bender is completely fascinated by her. So there were times where, yeah, very little acting required to be honest. I mean, I didn’t really like being so harsh with her, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy that bit too. No. Yeah, I enjoyed all the bits. I don’t know her well enough to know when she was in or out of character at that time, so she just kind of was floating in the back of the sound stage and then she’d just appear in my line of vision and she’s really fascinating.

About MaXXXine

In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally gets her big break. But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.

Check back soon for our other MaXXXine interview with Ti West, Moses Sumney & Giancarlo Esposito.

Source: Screen Rant Plus