2024 / Ti West / Rent / R
"Say it with me now... I will not accept a life I do not deserve!"
Plot
We follow Maxxxine Minx, the protagonist of X and a cocaine-addicted porn star, on the backdrop of 1980s Hollywood. She's striving for more fame, and before her lies the role that could shoot her into stardom. Maxxxine insists on being a household name, but fears being known as the sole survivor of a terrible massacre. When a tape shows up exposing her past Maxxxine struggles to decipher who could be behind her blackmail. Meanwhile, the people she loves are being brutally murdered. The serial killer known as the Night Stalker is building his list of victims as the tension ratchets up. Maxxxine feeling cornered is left to take matters into her own hands. Brutality ensues.
Creators
The X trilogy is a true love letter to cinema from writer/director Ti West. X is his homage to dusty Texas slashers, Pearl is a throwback to films such as Wizard of Oz, and Maxxxine pays tribute to raunchy 80's flicks. Mia Goth has made her name in this trilogy, becoming a horror sensation and starring in other films such as Infinity Pool. She's gotten a few producer credits under her belt now as well, including this film. The man responsible for the soundtrack is Tyler Bates whose resume consists of films and TV spanning all genres. From John Wick to Samurai Jack. Other notable actors in Maxxxine are Kevin Bacon (Footloose), Elizabeth Debicki (Guardians of The Galaxy), and Halsey (an actual pop star).
Jake's Take
My fiance and I were in town and baby free for a night, so we got ourselves a margarita and promptly stopped in at our favorite movie theater. It's the kind of theater that has a big old parking lot that never quite fills up, and the seats are most definitely not recliners. It was probably built sometime in the late 80's or early 90’s which was fitting for viewing the third installment in Ti West’s X franchise, Maxxxine. I've reviewed a film of Ti's in the past, but I've yet to express my absolute love for Pearl on my blog. X is fun, but Pearl is the dissection of a narcissist. I was expecting a lot from Maxxxine to say the least, and it unfortunately fell short.
The 80's aesthetic is awesome. Mia goths it up, Kevin Bacon sizzles. Halsey just shouldn't. The storytelling doesn't feel cohesive. This film could have used another draft. The stuff with the Night Stalker went over my head, there's some kind of metaphor there that has to do with monsters in the shadows as opposed to those in plain sight, I suppose. And then the kills, the gore, the balls… blegh. I left Maxxxine hankering for another drink. I will still sing praise for Pearl, but Maxxxine doesn't quite reach those heights.
Maxxxine isn't exactly a horror film. Do other fans of Ti West's like this change of pace?
Absolutely not.
It was mid.
H. E. double hockey sticks YES!
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