After the outstanding psychological horror of Pearl (2022) here we have X trilogy closer MaXXXine. This launched in cinemas back in July of this year.
URGH! And here’s another example of how feminism and THE WOKE have ruined cinema these days because everyone gets OFFENDED by everything these days and you can’t have fun these days!
As such, here’s a film with masses of gore, violence, dark humour, and everything THE WOKE get offended about these days (apparently) and cancel so stuff like this never gets made anymore (even though it did get made and launched a few months ago). Enjoy!
Biting Criticism of Hollywood in MaXXXine
Okay, we do think Pearl is a modern classic and just packed full of brilliance. However, and sadly, we did find MaXXXine to be a disappointment. We know some people have enjoyed it a great deal, but for us it was a bit weak and meandering.
On the plus side, there’s another excellent Mia Goth performance and the film’s ’80s sensibilities are brilliantly recreated.
The downsides? It kind of feels like the awful Exorcist II (1977) in how MaXXXine doesn’t really ever get going. It’s nowhere near as horrendous as that mess of a film, but it does feel disjointed and lacking in ideas. And fun. The plot trails off into a closing act shootout and it’s all just a bit predictable.
Set in 1985, with a loose nod to the real-life Night Stalker serial killer case in LA, we catch up with porn star Maxine Minx (Mia Goth). She auditions for the lead role in a new horror film—a sequel to the controversial hit The Puritan.
That gives MaXXXine director Ti West a chance nod to the mid-’80s American moral panic of the Satanic panic, where conservative right-wingers attempted to cancel “offensive” media texts. Something today’s MAGA lot are conveniently ignoring when whining about the non-existent left-wing “woke mob”.
Anyway, the excellent opening here shows off Mia Goth’s acting prowess as she impresses the director.
It’s a great opening and suggests we’re in for another brilliant time of it. But MaXXXine really does go nowhere and for quite some time. It’s a bit odd.
Ti West wrote the script, as before with Pearl, but we don’t even think it’s a particularly great idea.
Some of Maxine’s friends are killed off by an ominous force (implied to be the Night Stalker, but the film’s twist leads to a different revelation). As she attempts to overcome the loss of friends, she deals with PTSD from her abusive upbringing, all whilst attempting to launch her acting career and move away from pornography.
In amongst this we have private investigator John Labat (Kevin Bacon on terrific, sleazy form) who clashes with Maxine on multiple occasions.
For someone so very likeable and charming, across all accounts, it’s interesting Bacon has a long career playing total slimeballs. From Wade in The River Wild (1994) through to Sean Nokes in Sleepers (1996). But, that’s the skill of acting for you!
Breaking Bad star Giancarlo Esposito (Gus Fring) also has a small role as Maxine’s avuncular agent.
MaXXXine builds towards its conclusion with her estranged father—televangelist Ernest Miller (Simon Prast having a lot of demonic fun with the role). This creates a kind of Wicker Man (1974) conclusion. With a shootout. During which Michelle Monaghan (in one of her most subdued roles, unfortunately) gets something jammed in her eye.
The film ends with The Puritan II launching, Maxine attending the premier in full glitz and glamour, and her movie star career launching. It’s implied there may be another episode to the X trilogy, too.
If there is a fourth film hopefully Ti West can write the wrongs here. As this was a disappointment for many film buffs. It has its highs and revels in gore and occasional bursts of dark humour, but it is just a bit dull and plodding a lot of the time.
That’s a surprise as Pearl (only two years ago) ran rings around horror movie cliches in a clever, inventive, and thrilling way. So, sadly, we have to say this is a misstep.
But one you may still enjoy, as the movie does have its defenders.
It’s available now to rent and stream on your nearest, and dearest, platform (i.e. Amazon, AppleTV, YouTube etc.).
The Production of MaXXXine
Director and writer Ti West approached the third installment wanting to cover a sub-genre of horror. But as with the other films from the series, the plan was to offer social commentary on the influence of cinema on life.
In Pearl, that takes the form of Pearl’s fame-hungry antics. Here it’s with the dreaded video nasties! The films here in the UK that Conservatives tried to ban (even though they’re very tame by modern standard) in terror they’d corrupt the fabric of society. Snowflakes.
The film was shot between April and May 2023 (this is how fast production crews can make films these days) in only seven week! Madness, man.
There aren’t many other production notes available, other than Goth felt the script was the best in the trilogy so far. Ti West has also indicated that, yes, he plans for a fourth outing.
MaXXXine took $22.1 million at the global box office as a moderate hit.
