MaXXXine

MaXXXine

In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally gets her big break. But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.

  • Released:
  • Runtime: 104 minutes
  • Genre: Crime, Horror, Thrillers
  • Stars: Mia Goth, Kevin Bacon, Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Monaghan, Halsey, Bobby Cannavale, Lily Collins, Moses Sumney, Giancarlo Esposito, Uli Latukefu, Chloe Farnworth, Deborah Geffner, Cecilia Yesuil Kim, Charley Rowan McCain, Daniel Lench, Sophie Thatcher, Ned Vaughn, Pegah Rashti, Susan Pingleton, James Hunter
  • Director: Ti West
 Comments
  • benjytudor - 4 July 2024
    Horror love letter to Hollywood and the gruesome 80's
    Fun '80s horror throwback, setting yourself apart from Xand Pearl, while also being an intriguing, presumably last chapter in the trilogy. Mia Goth is a badass, Kevin Bacon oozes sleaze and has a great final scene, and Giancarlo Esposito creates an unpredictably cool character. All the acting was good, including Bobby Cannavale and Michelle Monaghan as LAPD detectives.

    The film is an ode to the '80s, '80s horror, and Hollywood, in general. It's nowhere near Mulholland Drive -- the film, not the road -- but it isn't trying to be, although it would make a fun double feature. It could easily be a double feature with Body Double, as well, and has a lot in common with that one. However, it could be paired just as easily with Sunset Boulevard, and in paying homage to classic Hollywood and also bookings itself in very cool ways with Bette Davis references, especially considering how apt they are when it comes to Maxine's character.

    The film isn't as propulsive or fascinating as X or, especially, Pearl, which I think is one of the top five horror films this century. But Maxxxine seems also purposely not meant to be that way, which makes sense considering each film has been developed with intentions in mind when it comes to paying homage to the horror genre. Speaking to that, I really enjoyed the influence of Psycho found, in different ways, in Pearl and now Maxxxine.

    There is a little bit too much '80s reference, but it is always fun to see, nevertheless. I also like the way it uses The Night Stalker in a couple different ways throughout the film's storyline.

    Interestingly enough, the first 10 minutes of the film or so sets it up to be really raunchy, but then the rest of the film doesn't turn out necessarily that way. A lot of the gore is done in a way that's not exactly horrific but more gruesome and amusing, especially for those that have watched a bunch of '80s horror. And it's also interesting the way that, as the film progresses, it taps into '80s action films, as well.

    Overall, a fun time at the theater, starring some great actors, well-written and directed, well not, perhaps, as fun as X or as groundbreaking as Pearl, it's still a very solid horror film.