‘Maxxxine’: Ti West, Lily Collins Shock Fans with Surprise Screening of New Horror Movie

THR – It was supposed to be a double feature of West’s killer thrillers ‘X’ and ‘Pearl.’ But then the script was flipped.

Ti West and A24 pulled off a killer surprise Thursday night, unveiling an early screening of their upcoming slasher movie Maxxxine to a group of unsuspecting horror fans.

The evening was billed as a double feature of West’s X horror series, which includes X and Pearl, the movies that thrust Mia Goth into the role Hollywood’s nouveau killer queen. The sold-out evening brought out film nerds and horror geeks of all shapes and hairstyles — some dressed up as Pearl, some wearing Pearl T-shirts, while others sported T-shirts with logos and characters ranging from X-Men to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood‘s Rick Dalton.

During a Q&A in between the two screenings, moderator and Maxxxine actress Lily Collins and West suddenly switched gears. Collins asked how many in the audience had seen Pearl — and almost all raised their hands. She then posited the question: if everyone had seen that movie, why see it again if they could just see Maxxxine? The crowd cheered in the affirmative, although it was clear the audience didn’t think she was serious. When West confirmed, saying, “You’re going to be the first to see this movie,” the crowd went wild, cheering and whistling. Some gasped and covered their mouths.

“Just don’t spoil it,” West said.