Famed director Martin Scorsese is a big fan of Ti West. Now in theaters, West's newest movie Pearl serves as a prequel to X, the 70s-set slasher flick that was released to great success earlier this year. The story will be further expanded with an upcoming sequel in the works dubbed MaXXXine that will bring back franchise star Mia Goth to take the lead once again.
Among those who've seen Pearl is Scorsese, who recently spoke about how impressed he's been with West's recent work. Per /Film, A24 received a review from Scorsese offering very high praise for West, X, and Pearl. Scorsese explained how West brings a certain energy and love for cinema with these films, and along with Goth's impressive work as an actress, the results have left the Oscar-winning director in awe.
"Ti West's movies have a kind of energy that is so rare these days, powered by a pure, undiluted love for cinema. You feel it in every frame. A prequel to X made in a diametrically opposite cinematic register (think 50s Scope color melodramas), Pearl makes for a wild, mesmerizing, deeply — and I mean deeply — disturbing 102 minutes. West and his muse and creative partner Mia Goth really know how to toy with their audience ... before they plunge the knife into our chests and start twisting. I was enthralled, then disturbed, then so unsettled that I had trouble getting to sleep. But I couldn't stop watching."
This is far different from the opinion Scorsese has on superhero movies. The accomplished filmmaker has come under fire for sharing his opinion that superhero movies are "not cinema," comparing them more to theme park experiences. Despite the criticism, Scorsese has stood by this opinion, but as we're seeing with Pearl, he's also willing to give praise as he sees fit with the movies that leave him impressed.
The Story of X and Pearl Will Continue in MaXXXine
It was recently confirmed by A24 that a third movie in the X series is on the way. Called MaXXXine, the film will feature Mia Goth as Maxine, the sole survivor of X who "continues her journey towards fame setting out to make it as an actress in 1980s Los Angeles." A teaser for the film has been released, which you can watch below.
Pearl is now playing in theaters. MaXXXine does not yet have a premiere date.