MaXXXine
Rating: 4/5
By: Nathaniel Simpson
When I walked in to watch Ti West's X back in 2022, I didn't expect for it to be the first film in a trilogy, which went on to expand this small universe West had created. Focusing on the main characters of Pearl and Maxine throughout his twisted trilogy, West showed how these two characters intertwine and connect, and how they aren't as different as they think. While X and its sequel, Pearl, follow small-scale stories, West goes all out for MaXXXine, concluding the trilogy off with a bang. This film is definitely the most enjoyable of the trilogy, as well as having the most rewatchability, but I feel like there is a missing piece somewhere that could have benefited the film quite well.
The film follows Maxine Minx (Mia Goth), who is now living in Hollywood after the traumatic experience she went through on the farm while shooting a porno with her friends. Even though she went through something no one should have to experience, it made her grow up a whole lot, and gave her the necessary skills to survive the real world, especially when she is living in Los Angeles during the reign of terror of the Night Stalker. While she is trying to make a name for herself in the film business and become a "star", there is a looming threat who is targeting the aspiring actress and the people close to her. Maxine has to pick what is more important to her - being famous or being infamous.
My first thoughts when watching this film was that West delivered a great Hollywood period piece that is inspired by Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. From numerous shots to how the characters interact with one another and the stories that West tells, you can definitely see the influence that Tarantino's film had on this one. Therefore, I might be a little biased as West is definitely playing in a sort of genre that I consider to be my favorite. While Tarantino was focused on showing the glitz and glamor he remembers from 1960s Hollywood, West is more concerned with showing the seedy underbelly of the "real world" of showbiz and how dangerous the city of stars can be.
Goth is, of course, fantastic in this role. She really showed off her acting chops in X, and then blew everyone away in Pearl. MaXXXine is no different, with her really embodying this role that she is playing and showing how great she is as a modern scream queen. She is not only a badass from beginning to end, but is great at adding comedy and pizazz to whatever she does. Consider the scene where she stops a man from assaulting her in an alley towards the beginning of the film. I won't give anything away here, but this scene is absolutely electric because of her. In interviews, Goth seems so sweet and kind, but it feels like a light switches whenever she gets into the role of Maxine Minx. It's honestly inspiring how well she fits into this performance.
At the same time, West has a higher caliber cast of actors here, including Elizabeth Debicki, Kevin Bacon, Lily Collins, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Giancarlo Esposito, and Halsey. These are all talented, successful actors, and it feels like they are simply having fun in this world West had created. I especially love the performance from Esposito, as it shows a more fun, comedic side of the actor as he has been known for playing such dark and serious roles. Each one of these actors compliment Goth's performance perfectly, and are all such a joy to watch on the silver screen.
I do think the story for this film, as well as the numerous film locations and references, are delightful and fit in really well to this film. It's hard to not get a surge of energy and fear when Maxine runs into the iconic Bates' house from Hitchcock's Psycho. The movie is never boring and always keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat. But, there is simply something missing from this film. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but it feels like there could have been more if West had expanded the runtime a little bit. Maybe they could have added in a longer chase sequence? Maybe they could have shown Maxine act in one of the scenes from the horror movie she is starring in? It just feels like there is something missing, or something that could have been added to the film to elevate it beyond what it is.
But, for the story here, I think it is quite good. It showcases how Maxine tries to move on from the grisly murders, even though she still deals with PTSD and trauma from what happened. At the same time, she is focusing on shooting the film she was cast for while being hunted down by this deranged killer and his lawyer. The movie does move at a pretty nice pace and really does a good job of concluding the whole trilogy, but like I said, there could have just been a little more punch to really bring the film home,
It's awesome how Ti West was able to craft this whole trilogy based off a plot of a slasher film, and he really does a fantastic job of really creating this world for the characters of Maxine and Pearl to exist in. I have had a lot of fun with each installment in this trilogy, and I think West proves how good of a horror filmmaker he is. While this last outing for Mia Goth's character leans more into the thriller genre than horror, West is still able to thrill and shock audiences with this character of an actress who just wants to be a star.
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