Horror Movie Review: MaXXXine (2024)

MaXXXine is a 2024 American horror film written, directed, produced, and edited by Ti West. It is the third installment in West’s X film series following X and Pearl (both 2022), serving as a direct sequel to the former.

In 1985 Los Angeles, amidst the Night Stalker murders, Maxine Minx successfully auditions for the lead in a new horror film, The Puritan II. Despite all of her previous film credits being in adult films. After sharing the news with her friend Leon and colleague Amber James, the latter invites Maxine to a party in the Hollywood Hills, which she declines. Maxine goes to work at her second job, a live peep show, where a mysterious, leather-clad figure watches with anger. She meets another adult entertainer, Tabby Martin, who also invites her to the party that Amber mentioned. But Maxine declines again.

The leather-clad figure leaves a police evidence VHS tape containing the pornographic film Maxine and her now-deceased friends had attempted to make six years prior. Upon watching it, she asks a confused Leon to find out where it came from. Meanwhile, in the Hollywood Hills, Amber and Tabby are killed and have their bodies branded with Satanic symbols. Maxine is invited to meet with John Labat, a private investigator. He informs her that her previous crimes will be revealed unless she meets with his employer. He tells her she must appear at a specific address on Starlight Drive later that night or risk repercussions. LAPD detectives Williams and Torres question Maxine about Tabby and Amber, but she refuses to answer them. She later sees Labat following her and attacks him, warning him to stay away from her.

Will fate let Maxine be a star or is she destined to have her past catch up with her? Watch and find out.

MaXXXine is the third and final instalment of this trilogy, so it’s pretty important it ties everything together. But does it manage it? Unfortunately, I don’t think so. MaXXXine isn’t a good sequel to X, Maxine doesn’t talk about what happened and the weight of the event is only shown to very briefly affect her but it doesn’t lead to anything. By proxy, it then isn’t a good follow up to Pearl as she’s completely disregarded. She never enters Maxine’s mind, as the older self she met. And considering what happened between them and that they’re played by the same actor, you’d think there would be even a small mention. MaXXXine is more wrapped up in its own tale of twisted Hollywood than carrying on with anything that came before. Therefore, in my opinion, this movie weakens the trilogy and doesn’t wrap it up in any meaningful way.

Saying all that, it would be easier to comment on the movie as if it’s a stand alone. I enjoyed the concept and the commentary on the dark side of Hollywood. Especially the seedy beginnings of horror movies. A lot of female horror actors during that time period must find this film relatable. From the exploitation and essentially doing soft core porn.

It was interesting to see the sensibilities of the time and the start of “video nasties”. It’s curious that media was very focused and distressed about Satanism, pornography and graphic horror movies, but today they’re not much of a concern. Perhaps introducing ratings really did help assuage people.

I can never hate on a Mia Goth performance. She’s always incredible as well as beautiful. But this performance felt pretty restrained for her. Especially after the last instalment, Pearl. It’s hard to come back down after reaching the height of insanity. Maxine is also a strange protagonist. You don’t root for her and she’s not likeable. But I viewed it as she’s a product of her time and the industry she’s in.

The effects were fantastic and realistic. And the rest of the cast were great, Kevin Bacon being a highlight. I felt the movie falls off the deep end after his character exits.

In summary, a pretty good movie that shines a light on an interesting and important time period, warts and all. But, it doesn’t make sense in the trilogy or add anything meaningful so I have to rate it way down for that one.