Director – Ti West (The House of the Devil, The Innkeepers)
Starring – Charley Rowan McCain (L.O.L. Surprise: House of Surprises, NCIS), Simon Prast (Serial Killers, Xena: Warrior Princess), and Mia Goth (X, Pearl)
Release Date – 2024
Rating – 4/5
Two years ago I was lucky enough to receive the Ti West’s X for review and instantly fell in love with it. I watched it so many times during that initial week and it’s one I often recommend to pop horror fans when they ask for recommendations. The film’s prequel, Pearl, is a great horror film but it was nowhere near as enjoyable as X was.
Honestly, I wanted to like it just because it seems like the film got more marketing and merch for collectors but X is the superior film. It’s been two years since those releases and Ti West has finished his trilogy with the release of MaXXXine which once again stars Mia Goth. I wasn’t able to check this one out during it’s theatrical run but as soon as the physical release hit store shelves I quickly snagged a copy.
**Spoiler Alert** The film once again follows Maxine Minx who has made a name for herself in the adult film industry but she still longs for the fame and notoriety that only comes from acting in traditional films of Tinseltown. At this time a serial killer is killing aspiring actresses of Hollywood and carving pentagrams on their body to indicate they are sinners. She lands a role in a horror picture and those she is associated with during her adult films and on her new film start to turn up dead. The police are investigating her and she learns that someone her past has hunted her down and she is about to star in the deadliest film of her life. **Spoiler Alert**
I went into MaXXXine blind on purpose. I shared news of the film whenever it was released but I refused to watch any of the trailers or exclusive clips that were sent my way. I didn’t want to the trailer to give away too much so I could go into this one know absolutely nothing which I’m glad I did. MaXXXine was a fantastic entry in Ti West’s trilogy but it was no X.
The acting in this one is absolutely amazing. We have standout performances from Kevin Bacon, Giancarlo Esposito, and Elizabeth Debicki. These three made the film for me and I fucking loved their characters. Once again Goth shows fans why West chose her for the trilogy and she absolutely destroys it. She cold blooded, calculating, and gorgeous. I couldn’t imagine this film with someone else in the role.
The story for this one is a fantastic follow up to X. While Pearl serves as a great prequel to X, this one serves as a great sequel that checks all the right boxes. It’s a gritty 80s slasher that holds your attention from scene to scene without compromising on story. With that being said, the killer reveal is predictable and combining this story with the real like Night Stalker murders feels cheap. An original killer and angle would have worked just as well.
Finally, the film has some seriously impressive kills and a lot of blood. Some of the kills are more drawn out than others and they do a fantastic job with the effects. We also get some great make-up effects as well. I love the look of the pentagram carved into the deceased. Overall, MaXXXine is a worth installment in this trilogy from Ti West. It’s story rich, violent, and features a great cast. I highly recommend it.
