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MaXXXinemarks the conclusion to Ti West’s improbably horror trilogy (althoughMaXXXineis much more a thriller than horror). It began withX‘s release in 2022, followed byPearllater in the same year – the two films were shot back-to-back in secret. Both movies proved to be hits, so fans were delighted when the first teaser trailer dropped forMaXXXinein September, soon afterPearl’s premiere. Exceptional marketing is one with, but how does writer-director Ti West sew up the trilogy?
MaXXXinePlot
Six years after the events ofX, Maxine Minx has made a name for herself in the adult film industry, but she has her sights set on stardom in mainstream Hollywood. Set against the backdrop of 1985 Los Angeles, the skeletons from Maxine’s past threaten to come back and destroy everything she’s worked for, all while also contending with the threat of the Night Stalker serial killer.
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MaXXXineCritique
Let’s get the big one out of the way first:Mia Gothis a STAR. Or, as Maxine would say, she’s “a f*cking movie star.” Saying Goth has delivered across the trilogy might be the undersell of the century. She pulled double duty inX,playing both Maxine and the elderly Pearl. Nailed both. Then as the titular character inPearl, she had a completely different character, though that version of Pearl definitely had some certain similarities to Maxine. Everything she was asked to do through the first two movies, she’s done, and she’s been perfect.
And that continues withMaXXXine. Goth is incredible in the role, with a commanding presence every second she’s on screen – which is nearly the entire runtime. With some of the film’s shortcomings, this was a critical performance for its overall success. It may not have even come close to working if not for Goth.
But she’s not the only actor to bring it, because everyone else does too.MaXXXineis filled with star power. Kevin Bacon shines as John Labat a sleazy private investigator hired to find Maxine. You can feel the slime dripping off him with every word he speaks. Labat fits in perfectly to the broader aesthetic of the trilogy. Giancarlo Esposito is Teddy Night, Maxine’s agent and entertainment lawyer who she asks to help deal with Labat.
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Along withBacon, Elizabeth Debicki is also a standout as Elizabeth Bender, who cast Maxine in her filmThe Puritan II, marking Maxine’s big break.
On the serial killer side of things, Michelle Monaghan and Bobby Cannavale are Detectives Williams and Torres, respectively, who are on the trail of the Night Stalker. When Maxine’s friends start turning up dead, the detectives plead with her to help, thinking she’ll be able to lead them to the culprit.
It’s a good thing all the performances are good across the board. Because from a story standpoint, there’s not much there. This is easily the weakest story and script of the trilogy, and it’s only saved by the immense talent West was able to assemble. Even with Goth, if these roles had gone to lesser actors, or any of the performances fell flat, it could have killed the movie.
As you’re watching, or even just describing the plot, itfeelslike there should be a lot happening. But there’s really not all that much there. The whole thing is stitched together, often feeling more like a collection of individual scenes rather than one larger, cohesive story. Maybe a more apt description is that it feels like two separate movies in competition with each other.
In one, Maxine is hunted by the Night Stalker, which threatens to quite literally kill her big break. In the other, she’s racked with survivor’s guilt over what happened in Texas, which also threatens to derail her crossover into mainstream movies. Either idea on its own could have made for a great story, and great film. But being split between the two, neither receives its proper due.
All of that leads to a finale and “twist” so laughably obvious it’s almost unbelievable that’s the direction West decided on for his big finale.
Some of these choices could have been forgiven if West had anything interesting or incisive to say about the themes he presents. Now, I may not often care as much as other critics about what a movie has to say, or what’s bigger messaging is. I’m usually much more of a “vibes guy.” But with that being said, if you’re going to present and focus on a particular idea, then you have to go for it; saysomething.
But whether it’s Maxine’s youth, growing up as a pastor’s daughter to becoming an adult film star to starring in ahorrorfilm in the midst of the Satanic Panic, or Bender embodying the wayHollywoodcan so easily destroy those it claims to support, there’s nothing beneath the surface. To a certain degree, it doesn’t matter what you say, as long as you say it. And with whatever West wants to say here, there’s little to no conviction behind it.
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It’s not all doom and gloom, though. The80ssetting and accompanying aesthetic is rocking. It might come off as overindulgent to some, but that felt perfectly in line with the part of this time period West wanted to explore.
Much likeXandPearl,MaXXXinedoes a terrific job at building tension, and not using cheap jump scares to pay off that tension. So even with several predictable beats, the handling of the setups and resolutions helps soften that underwhelming feeling. There a few uses of practical gore that are really well done, though more would have been welcome.
Even though the path West took to get to his big finish was disappointing, that ultimate ending at least feels like a real conclision to the trilogy and Maxine’s story. It’s not easy to stick the landing, be it a single movie or series. So the fact that he found a good ending that fits in line with the previous two entries is a big plus.
In Conclusion
MaXXXineultimately feels underwhelming. With great performances and a cool vibe, there’s enough to like here to recommend it. But with the weakest story of the series, and a big twist that is annoyingly predictable, it’s hard to say it’s not a disappointing conclusion to the trilogy.
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Matt Hambidge
Film Critic
Articles Published :119
Matt Hambidge is a film critic based in Minneapolis, and is a member of the Minnesota Film Critics Alliance.You can also find him covering SURVIVOR on the Talking Llama podcast.
