MaXXXine

Screened at Regal Cinemas, Rancho Mirage, California.

It may be a new thing with my reviews/commentaries/whatever, as only recently have I mentioned any biases I have going into a film, but I feel the need to do that again here. Perhaps I'll make it "a thing" in the future (or more likely, simply forget as soon as I hit publish on this). Granted, what turned me into such an admirer of Mia Goth was the first two films in this very trilogy, but that admiration didn't cement until her performance in my top film from 2023, Infinity Pool. I truly don't know if it's clouding my view of her performances now, but I'm thinking not, as I'm certainly not the only one impressed with her roles overall, and in this film gauging by the coverage I've seen. But let there be no doubt, at this stage, Mia Goth can do no wrong.

I bring that bias up first so I can emphasize that though Goth's portrayal of, and in Pearl, was outstanding in my view, and remains the peak of the trilogy after seeing this third film in the X trilogy, she is still fantastic in her portrayal of, and in MaXXXine. She embodies the character so completely, that it's no shock that her and writer/director Ti West recognized the magic they had together as collaborators, and rolled with it, starting with the original X, followed up by a sort-of prequel, Pearl, and now this (supposed, and hopefully) finale. To me, these films have been quite unique and a special thing to experience compared to much of what's coming out of Hollywood these days. The criticisms I do understand, including that there's a lot of nostalgia porn at play. As much as nostalgia hits me as well, quite a lot in fact, I'm also very picky with it. In my view Ti West is one of the few who really get it right, aesthetically-speaking. Story and writing are of course always up for debate. But where he appears to be universally-lauded in terms of recreating past decades on the silver screen, that is ultimately what I'm going to the cinema for, to be transported back to those times again. In other words, for me, West comes closest to capturing the feel of the past. Everything else that's good is a bonus. Luckily the bonus is good.

While MaXXXine doesn't reach the heights of Pearl in terms of "cinematic achievement," it instead matches the same impressive heights X did. There are a few moments where I felt the film got a bit off focus. Not tremendously so, and of course we're essentially talking a slasher film here and shouldn't be expecting Citizen Kane; the B-movie vibe has always been part of the fun of slashers. But for the horror genre, West raises the game here across the trilogy. They're not exactly "elevated horror" (I abhor that description), but they are A24, sooooooo???? LOL. Point being, if and when there are dips in quality, it's noticeable. Overall, I'd say X vibes are stronger here, which only makes sense as per the timeline, this film is the follow-up to the first film.

There may be some detractors when it comes to the genre on this one. No question there's a good amount of gore and "fun" kills in MaXXXine to justify calling itself at least a horror film, but really it's more of a crime thriller. Thankfully it's endlessly entertaining, and it delivers. Sure there's some issues here and there when it comes to the story, but if you can ignore it and just get lost in the decade this time travels you to, you'll find a lot to enjoy here. There's even small details in the background that are factually correct for crying out loud! Do you have any idea how much I appreciate that in one scene there's a somewhat-visible billboard for Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment, which was released at the end of March 1985, and then later Maxine is handed a can of New Coke, released one month later in April 1985?!?! Those small but accurate details are what sells it for me.

I highly recommend checking out the film's official trailer below. In my view, it's outstanding. It not only encapsulated on its release what fans of the trilogy were hoping to see after the long wait. For the vast majority, it seemed to exceed most expectations, which is quite rare in general, especially for a second sequel. But after seeing the film I felt it also encapsulates what the film itself ultimately delivers on. A masterclass in trailer craftsmanship.

There's two reviews of MaXXXine on Rotten Tomatoes that stood out to me as simple yet perfect descriptions of the film: "Brian de Palma meets Skid Row," and "What if Sunset Boulevard were a 1980s slasher movie?" Bold statements, but when you have one force of nature like Maxine Minx portrayed by another, Mia Goth, you're got all the star power you need to make it work.