Summary

Rating: ★★★★

Genre:  Horror / Thriller / Mystery

UK Release Date:  5th July 2024

Directed by:  Ti West

Film Duration:  1 hour 44 minutes

Starring:  Mia Goth, Elizabeth Debicki, Halsey, Giancarlo Esposito, Bobby Cannavale, Lily Collins

Content Warnings:  Rated 18 - Sex & Nudity, Violence & Gore, Profanity, Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking

Keywords:  “I will not accept a life I do not deserve.”

Review

As for the performances, Mia Goth is, as always, incredible. The ultimate final girl.

Maxine Minx (Mia Goth) is an adult film star and aspiring actress who finally gets her chance at fame when she lands a career-defining role, but as a leather-gloved serial killer starts picking off her closest female colleagues her dreams of stardom are threatened. Rooted in the 80’s aesthetic with themes of female empowerment in Hollywood and the adult film industry, MaXXXine (2024) is a must-watch for anyone who is a fan of slashers, whodunits and general A24 style Horror. 

The third instalment in Ti West’s horror trilogy, MaXXXine (2024), has just finished showing in UK cinemas and is rumoured to begin streaming in August. This female-focused feature began in 2022 with X, and quickly grew in popularity through Tik-Tok. If you were on the app in 2022 you will recognise the infamous “Please, I’m a star!” or “I will not accept a life I do not deserve.” sound bites from actress Mia Goth. X (2022) depicts the fight for survival of an adult-film-making cast and crew when they are caught shooting by their conservative hosts on a rural Texas farm.

The second instalment, Pearl, came out later that same year and tells the prequel story of the farm on which X is set; growing up isolated with dreams of becoming a star, Pearl lusts for a life of glitz and glamour far away from her ailing father and discouraging mother, but how far is she willing to go to achieve her dreams? MaXXXine (2024), the third instalment, follows the story of Maxine Minx, the sole survivor of the events of X.

Still reeling from the terrors of her past, but having successfully made a name for herself in adult cinema, we see Maxine audition for her first Hollywood film. Ironically enough a horror. But just as she lands the role a leather-gloved figure is shown stalking her nightlife and terrorising her colleagues and friends. Maxine, however, is not going down without a fight and with the encouragement from her fiercely loyal agent (Giancarlo Esposito) and cut-throat director (Elizabeth Debicki) she hunts down the killer herself.

Personally I thought the first two acts of the film were picture-perfect. Every detail of the film that lends itself to the 80’s aesthetic is without a doubt the film’s defining feature. The soundtrack, costume design, set design, and mise-en-scene are all stunningly nostalgic and what I think viewers will enjoy most. Paired with the acknowledgment of the time’s very real up-and-coming adult film scene and a realistic look into what Hollywood stardom would do to a woman during that period, the film’s themes of female empowerment and independence are ones that run through Ti West’s entire trilogy.

That being said, MaXXXine’s (2024) third act was one that could have been stronger. The reveal of who exactly the leather-gloved serial killer is, which I will not spoil here for anyone that wishes to watch it for themselves, is not one that I believe was structurally necessary. It would have been a lot more impactful to have the stalker actually just be a stalker. A run-of-the-mill serial killer with no religious agenda, to comment on the safety of women during that time. Within that industry. As for the performances, Mia Goth is, as always, incredible. The ultimate final girl. However as much as I adore Lily Collins, her yorkshire accent was unforgivable. 

Standout Quote or Moment:  The alleyway scene in the first act which shows how truly badass Maxine Minx is.

Watch if  you are a fan of 80’s aesthetics, female-focused and empowered horror, A24 films.

Films in the Trilogy:  Pearl (2022), X (2022), MaXXXine (2024)

Similar Films: Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022), Jennifer’s Body (2009), Bride of Chucky (1998)

Last Impression: Overall the perfect, aesthetically-pleasing horror trilogy for those autumnal Halloween movie nights.

Written by Hazel Earthy