Maxxxine is the third in a trilogy created by director Ti West. X was the first, followed by Pearl. Maxxxine was probably my favorite of the three films.
When we last saw Maxine Minx (Mia Goth), she was escaping what had been dubbed the Texas Porn Star Massacre by the press, killing the elderly Pearl by crushing her head as she drove away, the only survivor of a bloody weekend. Maxxxine is set about five years later, and in that time, Maxine has become a well-known porn star. But that isn’t enough for Maxine; she wants to be the biggest star.
She auditions for – and gets – the lead in a horror movie, The Puritan II. The director, Elizabeth Bender (Elizabeth Debicki), is determined to make this movie more than a horror film, and she believes Maxine has the star power to take the film all the way. Unfortunately, Maxine’s friends keep dying. Set against the backdrop of a town terrified by The Night Stalker, some of the LAPD believe these deaths are victims of the Satanic serial killer. Maxine is too focused on being a star to care too much about them.
Besides, Maxine has other things to worry about – like the private investigator (Kevin Bacon) who has been investigating what happened at that Texas farmhouse and threatening to out her to the police. On top of all of that, Maxine is having flashbacks of her time in Texas.
The film doesn’t have much in the way of plot points. Until the third act, it is mostly following Maxine around in her daily life. And yet, that daily life is fascinating. As someone who was born and raised in Los Angeles, and as someone who lived through The Night Stalker paranoia, the early 1980s is especially enthralling. The Hollywood that Ti West presents is more like New York of the 1980s, but it is wondrous nevertheless. I appreciate that not a single woman was dressed in Madonna-type clothes or the men dressed in Miami Vice couture. Everyone was ‘80s in their own unique way.
The cast is wonderful across the board. Mia Goth continues her portrayal of Maxine brilliantly. Giancarlo Esposito as Maxine’s agent is especially good. He comes across both as oily and yet someone you can trust. Kevin Bacon’s turn as the PI is a little big for me personally. He has a thick Louisiana accent that, along with his crazed attempt to get Maxine’s attention, feels overwrought.
I can’t help but wonder if there was more to this film that was ultimately cut. Halsey and Lily Collins are both listed as headliners, but their parts are small and their screentime is brief. Frankly, I would have loved to see Maxine make her mark in The Puritan II, but we didn’t get to see any of that.
Maxine still gets to be a badass in this film. She takes care of herself, and only herself. It is refreshing to see this, as opposed to films where the female lead is more concerned with those around her than herself. Particularly impressive is what happens when Maxine gets cornered in an alley by a man with a knife.
My biggest complaint comes with the ending of the film. Without giving anything away, it leaves more questions than answers, and left me checking with my friend – who was also confused. Luckily, though I was unsure, it didn’t ruin the rest of the movie for me.
Maxxxine is both an excellent third in a trilogy, but stands on its own as a solo film. Seeing X beforehand is helpful, but not a prerequisite. Pearl is in no way required viewing, although there is a cute little throwback to Pearl in Maxxxine, by way of a callback to Pearl’s pet alligator, Theda.
Maxxxine hits theaters nationwide on July 5.
