Maxine refuses to settle for living an existence unworthy of her! In “MaXXXine,” writer/director Ti West completes his “X” trilogy of horror films by having Maxine Minx relocate to Los Angeles after surviving the horrific massacre at “The Farmer’s Daughter,” depicted in “X.” She hopes that Hollywood Boulevard can give her something better!
As the emerging starlet explores Tinseltown for the first time, West takes this as an opportunity to stage iconic sequences at some of Hollywood’s most well-known spots – from seedy Hollywood Boulevard used in 1980s exploitation films like Foxes and Angel, to Brian De Palma’s glossy “Body Double”, an ambitious story featuring an actor aspiring to stardom alongside pornstars and murderers.
West told Variety he wanted his final movie to feel expansive, unlike its predecessors which took place primarily on farms. To that end, he wanted it to “hit all of Los Angeles” – including TCL Chinese Theatre and other landmarks – during production.
Here’s a breakdown of all of the locations featured throughout “MaXXXine.”
Image credit to Justin Lubin of Warner Bros’ Stage 15
Maxine attempts to venture outside the porn industry and live peep shows by auditioning for her first proper acting role in Elizabeth Bender (Elizabeth Debicki) horror sequel “The Puritan II.” While filming takes place mainly at Universal Studios backlot, Maxine takes her initial steps into legit acting at Warner Bros. Stage 15 in Burbank; its noisy sliding “elephant door” recalls “X’s” initial shot taken from within its barn where Maxine gains experience of show biz for herself.
Hollywood Boulevard: 10200 S Hollywood Boulevard
Maxine’s apartment, the peep show place she works at and other scenes in the film all take place along Hollywood Boulevard; extras used to give it more 1980s flair include signs advertising 50 cent pizza slices; however it largely looks the same today.
West told Variety he envisioned his movie taking place at iconic tourist-type destinations. Although some suggested shooting the scenes in Monrovia and using film tricks to simulate Hollywood Boulevard’s appearance on screen, West insisted the crew shoot actual street locations instead.
“My dream for Los Angeles was for it to play itself out as cinematically possible,” West stated.
Universal Studios Backlot
Image Credit: Everett Collection
Universal Studios backlot in L.A.’s Universal City features prominently throughout Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 horror classic Psycho, providing Maxine an opportunity to consult with Bender in its parking lot before meeting Molly Bennett (Lily Collins) from her first fictional “The Puritan” film or being pursued by Kevin Bacon’s private investigator John Labat into Norman Bates’ hilltop house facade facade, it receives significant screen time throughout.
West revealed to Variety that filming the scene at the house behind the motel created haunting imagery, as did shooting inside its physical set.
Shooting in the “Psycho” house when not making a “Psycho” movie may never come around again because it makes no logical sense; but, West noted, doing it once did create striking imagery and created quite an impactful experience for her and the film crew.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery can only be visited with prior consent and reservations are needed in advance for service at this site.
Image Credits: Everett Collection
Tabby Martin and Amber James (Halsey and Chloe Farnworth), Maxine’s porn-star colleagues, venture to an unknown party in Hollywood Hills before both ultimately end up dead at Hollywood Forever Cemetery with pentagrams written on their skin – this cemetery serves as resting ground for many prominent figures like Cecil B. DeMille, Judy Garland and Rudolph Valentino as well as hosting movie screenings and concerts despite experiencing difficulties between 1980s-1990s.
Two detectives (Michelle Monaghan and Bobby Cannavale) investigate their deaths under suspicion that it’s attributable to The Night Stalker – an actual serial killer from Los Angeles who terrorized residents for several decades before finally killing himself off in 2010.
BonaVista Revolving Lounge of Westin Bonaventure Hotel.
Image Credits: Getty Images.
Maxine first encounters Labat (Kevin Bacon), her private investigator investigating her past, when they meet at the BonaVista Revolving Lounge of Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Downtown L.A. “MaXXXine” marks another film to use this venue – previously featuring in films like True Lies,” In the Line of Fire,” and “The Dark Knight Returns”.
West told Variety that his original plan had called for filming the scene in a hotel lobby; after changing to shooting at a revolving restaurant instead, “getting there was hard – getting all our gear onto 32nd Floor wasn’t so straightforward – but once there, everything became manageable.
Image Credits: Justin Lubin
Leon, Maxine’s best friend (played by Mose Sumney), works at an adult video rental store on Hollywood Boulevard; however, West informed Variety the store wasn’t actually located there and had actually been constructed on set instead of being near it in reality.
He described it as an amalgam of 1980s video stores; some areas like its Rewinder and Special Interest sections drew inspiration from those at which he frequented as a kid.
“My goal wasn’t specific,” West said, “more like searching out benchmark things that you forget existed until seeing them again and experiencing that rush of genuine nostalgia.
Discover flyers of popular punk bands of that era like Black Flag and Fear posted around Hollywood Blvd in this movie.
Maxine lives at Maxine’s Apartment
Maxine’s apartment on Hollywood Boulevard mirrored West’s vision for her character’s living arrangements – she wanted it to capture an urban rather than suburban feel in keeping with classic 1980s films such as ‘The Breakfast Club.
“[Their work is] offering an alternative take on modern fashion and urban style,” West told Variety. “Their aesthetic offers more grungy urban imagery.”
Teddy Knight’s Office | Everett Collection
Maxine leans heavily on Teddy Knight (Giancarlo Esposito), her manager and agent for both career advice and to take down any private investigator pursuing her. Teddy’s office features realistic movie posters from B-movie production studios during VHS heyday of 1980s era, reflecting Teddy as being her true ally in defeating them all.
West said of his office space that its purpose was to display posters illustrative of what kind of films their client is making. Though there may not be as much as before when I first moved to L.A. and went to meetings where everybody displayed their slate of movies for consideration by peers or potential investors, when someone is proud to show his or her pride for something other people may find less impressive is charming.”
Hollywood Hills Mansion
Maxine hears word from Tabby Martin (Halsey), Amber James (Chloe Farnsworth) and Molly Bennett (Lily Collins), as well as Labat himself, about an event being hosted in Hollywood Hills; an invitation is extended by Labat to Maxine for this gathering; though such gatherings are typical within moviemaking circles, Maxine accepting leads to her final confrontation with those blocking her entry to mainstream acting roles.
West designed and constructed an unusual funicular for her ride back home. His inspiration came from attending a Halloween party he attended at Benedict Canyon when first arriving to Los Angeles where the real fun lay elsewhere – specifically, in another room!
“I remember riding down on a funicular and arriving to find that there was an incredible party happening here, it really embodied everything about Los Angeles to me!” West reminisced. “That memory remains vivid to this day – truly iconic of L.A.”
Getty Images via Wiki Commons The Hollywood Sign (credit Getty Images ).
After chaos ensues at Maxine’s mansion, she embarks on an investigation for murderer. This brings Maxine full circle as her ambitions culminate as she dispatches someone whom she thought had tried to stop her becoming famous but later discovers was responsible for planting that desire in her mind.
While West had wanted to shoot his scene at the real sign itself, due to steep and hilly terrain and fiercely protective local residents defending against tourists visiting, this plan had to change slightly in Santa Clarita.
Images Credits: Everett Collection.
Maxine finally sees her breakthrough role as “The Puritan II” at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (then known as TCL) on Hollywood Boulevard! After having endured several struggles throughout her life and two grueling audition processes for it, this event marks one of her proudest accomplishments to date!
West described shooting the premiere scene as being as meta as it could possibly be, using his beloved 97-year-old theater which holds so much Hollywood lore and history, to host their movie premiere.
West, speaking about his experience at the premiere of “MaXXXine” June 24 at TCL Chinese Theatre, noted: “Normally I wouldn’t sit through an entire film but on that night it was so surreal and unlikely it made it an experience worth remembering – this certainly ticked one box off of my bucket list!”
