MaXXXine (2024)
MaXXXine is the third in Ti
West's horror trilogy, which began with X and then continued with the
prequel Pearl. These first two films, which were both released in 2022,
are two of the best horror movies I have seen in recent years, so MaXXXine
has a lot to live up to. While it's not quite in the same stratosphere as its
predecessors, MaXXXine is still a good solid thriller and a worthy
conclusion to the trilogy.
Mia Goth returns as Maxine Minx, the
lone survivor of the farmhouse slaughter depicted in X. The year is now
1985, and she is in Hollywood making adult films, but she wants to break into
mainstream movies. She gets a juicy role in a horror sequel, but soon starts to
get creepy messages from a copycat serial killer who is murdering strippers and
wannabe actresses. Maxine is also harassed by a sleazebag private investigator named
John Labat (played with oily glee by Kevin Bacon).
The duality of the main character is
the most interesting part here. Maxine is the heroine but could easily become
the villain, thanks to the complexities of the character as written by director
West and, once again, a dynamic performance by Goth. However, the fact that the
Maxine character isn't always likable may turn some viewers off, but, for me,
Goth balances sympathetic with sinister.
It's clear that West knows and loves
cinema, from the artistry of his shots and the darkly humorous scene of Maxine
almost getting mugged by a street performer dressed as silent movie icon Buster
Keaton to the giallo-inspired mystery killer wearing black gloves, a trench
coat, and a fedora.
MaXXXine completes a terrific
horror trilogy, and it would be awesome to see this three-movie marathon in a
darkened theater.
