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The Horror Trilogy Praised by Martin Scorsese and Criticized by Paul Schrader

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Martin Scorsese Applauds Ti West’s Horror Trilogy While Paul Schrader Disapproves

Martin Scorsese has joined the chorus of directors and artists who have shown their appreciation for Ti West’s horror trilogy, which comprises X, Pearl, and MaXXXine, all featuring scream queen Mia Goth. The latest entry in the series premiered recently in the US and is set to debut in Spain on August 23. Seizing this moment, Scorsese expressed his admiration for the trilogy.

The legendary director of Goodfellas was so taken with the latest film that he penned a note to The New York Times, praising Ti West’s creation.

“The X trilogy embodies a unique kind of horror, each film reflecting a different era of American cinema. X captures the 70s slasher vibe; Pearl channels the vivid, saturated melodrama of the 50s; MaXXXine portrays the gritty, desperate Hollywood of the 80s. These interconnected stories are set in distinct moments of cinematic culture, offering a broader cultural reflection,” Scorsese remarked.

Scorsese’s endorsement highlights his deep appreciation for the trilogy, which he described as “bold and entirely cinematic.” His praise echoes the sentiments of other notable figures like Stephen King, who called the trilogy “great,” and early reviews that likened it to a gory rendition of Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Paul Schrader’s Criticism of ‘MaXXXine’

Contrary to this praise, Paul Schrader offered a less favorable perspective on MaXXXine. Ti West, the director, had described MaXXXine as a blend of Terminator and the grittier aspects of Schrader’s films. However, Schrader himself was not impressed.

The director of American Gigolo and First Reformed expressed that he finds Ti West to be an “enigma.” “He’s a very talented and imaginative director; why does he confine himself to the slasher subgenre with its many inherent limitations?” Schrader questioned, aligning with a critique from Variety journalist Owen Gleiberman, who suggested that one shouldn’t “reconfigure trash and insert brilliant ideas into an A-movie.”

Schrader’s remarks were controversial, but he continued, “It’s not so much horror as exploitation cinema. Horror can be nuanced. Each person must decide: is this art, is this valuable, or is this trash? I don’t think it’s transgressive to tell the truth: slasher exploitation is trash,” he concluded decisively.

It’s not surprising that many have pointed to Schrader’s own involvement in directing Exorcist: The Beginning – The Unrated Version, a prequel in the horror franchise that many fans would prefer to forget.

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