MaXXXine

Overview

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.

Rating

9 Reviews

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  Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

  6 Jul 17, 2024

  There’s a lot to appreciate about “MaXXXine,” writer/director Ti West‘s latest film in his horror trilogy, even if he doesn’t quite stick the landing. The whole project feels like, as one of his characters says in one of the film’s most memorable lines, a “B-movie with A+ ideas.” There’s plenty of blood and gore to appease slasher fanatics, but there’s a depth to the film that comes from the hefty themes about sex, opportunity, religion, and Hollywood’s dark underbelly. Set in Los Angeles in the mid-1980s, adult film star and aspiring big studio actress Maxine Minx (Mia Goth) finally gets her big break into the mainstream. She’s been cast in a supporting role in a horror movie sequel and is set to work with up-and-coming director Elizabeth Bender (Elizabeth Debicki). Things are looking up for Maxine career-wise, but a mysterious stalker who is targeting the starlets of Hollywood seems to have her directly in his sights. When a trail of blood makes it clear that several murders are directly connected to her, Maxine starts to worry that her sinister past is going to be exposed. The first half of the film is also the best, and West fully embraces the decadence and danger that goes along with the backdrop of sleazy Hollywood. Filmed with a vintage aesthetic and Eighties feel, the neon-lit, blood soaked movie looks like it has stepped out of an exploitation cinema time capsule. It’s an homage that’s done exceedingly well, from the cinematography to the soundtrack to the costume design. The casting is perfect across the board, with standout performances from both Kevin Bacon as a menacing bad guy and Giancarlo Esposito as Maxine’s attorney agent, Teddy Night. (Even the supporting roles are meaty, featuring solid turns from Michelle Monaghan, Moses Sumney, Bobby Cannavale, and Sophie Thatcher). Goth is once again terrific as a shrewd woman with a fierce ambition, lending the ideal mix of street smart toughness with a relatable vulnerability. West never demeans his lead character either, which is refreshing. The film portrays sex work and the adult film industry as a legitimate profession and Maxine as a strong, empowered woman who takes charge of her own destiny. The second half of the film derails with a conclusion that seems both corny and disappointing (at least on the surface). The ending is left open for rampant speculation, which is probably going to polarize audiences. I think it’s fun when a film can be interpreted in several different ways, but this may prove frustrating for moviegoers who like things very black and white. Best of all, “MaXXXine” leaves plenty of room for a fourth film featuring the character, which I certainly hope we get. By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS

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  tmdb26361240

  Aug 6, 2024

  Didn't like it, stupid film.

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  Manuel São Bento

  5 Aug 19, 2024

  MAXXXINE holds many strong ideas & thematic weight, but fails to bring it all together in a cohesive, captivating fashion. Everything feels less than its predecessors, where the only outstanding constant is Mia Goth's terrific central performance. Underwhelming. Rating: C

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  tmdb51616167

  5 Sep 2, 2024

  Maxxine is the third installment in a confusing trilogy of movies. After enduring the first film, X, which was essentially a low-quality adult film, and only partially watching the second film, Pearl, which was equally disappointing, I had low expectations for Maxxine. Assuming it would follow the same pattern, I made sure no children were present before watching it alone. Surprisingly, Maxxine had less nudity, only appearing twice, compared to its predecessors. Instead, it focused more on horror and thriller elements, following an aspiring actress being stalked by a serial killer named Knight and another mysterious figure out to harm her. While this film didn't win me over completely, I appreciated that it actually had a plot and some semblance of a storyline, unlike the previous entries in the trilogy. For those who enjoy quirky, over-the-top thrillers with unconventional writing, Maxxine may be worth a watch. However, if you prefer gripping, edge-of-your-seat thrillers, this may not be the film for you. After viewing Maxxine, I concluded that it was not something I would revisit or add to my collection. It's the kind of movie you watch once and then move on from, ticking it off your list without a second thought.

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  AguaCaliente

  8 Nov 19, 2024

  **Maxxxine** serves as a **crowd-pleasing** end to a strong trilogy. No fuss, no frills, decent pacing, with a more simplified **action-focused** plot. Lots of **good gore**, and perfect to kiss in the back of a cinema to. **8/10**

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  r96sk

  7 Apr 9, 2025

  'MaXXXine' is a positive end (?) to this trilogy of Ti West-directed flicks. I'd rank it below the prior releases, but that's simply because I enjoyed those ones more. This one is absolutely a good movie, yet again Mia Goth and the visuals are my biggest elements to praise. Away from the splendid Goth, Kevin Bacon is the one I liked most from the rest; he plays a successfully sleazy dude. Away from them, I wanted to see more of Giancarlo Esposito, while Michelle Monaghan and Bobby Cannavale are solid; Elizabeth Debicki too (still can't unhear Diana, mind). The conclusion underwhelmed me, I won't lie. The reveal and just the way the plot goes in general just didn't really click with me. I wouldn't at all say it's explicitly a bad ending, it just didn't give me proper satisfaction. All in all, I did have a good time watching this and the series overall. One to recommend, for sure.