After a trip to the past in “Pearl,” the “X” series has gone back to the present, which for the franchise’s characters, is the 1980s.
“MaXXXine” is set in 1985, with its titular character trying to make it in Hollywood after the events of the film “X,” which took place in 1979. With the stage name Maxine Minx, the protagonist (Mia Goth) is an adult film star who gets a chance at the studio system via a role in a horror flick.
It’s a dangerous time for women in Los Angeles, though, as the Night Stalker murders have recently been taking place. It only gets more dangerous for Maxine, when a mysterious person with knowledge of 79 begins stalking her, leaving dead bodies in their wake.
Director Ti West once again does solid work in having his movie feature a certain vibe visually. In “Pearl,” a movie taking place in the 1910s, the movie had a vibrant technicolor aesthetic, while “X” had a gritty look reminiscent of 70s horror flicks. “Maxxxine,” meanwhile, has a proper retro identity capturing the feel of the era, and it has a killer soundtrack to boot.
The film also starts off with a jolt. Maxxxine is living life confidently in LA and making her way in the world in style, which hooks the audience in to her journey. She is still sometimes haunted by the events of “X,” but she’s forging her future, all while the Satanic Panic is taking place and the Night Stalker is on the loose. It’s a good set-up.
Plenty of intrigue is added as the film gets into the thick of its second act. Not only is there Maxine’s mysterious stalker, but that very stalker hires a private investigator who’s also tailing the protagonist. Meanwhile, as more murders take place, two detectives begin investigating the links to Maxine.
It all coincides with Maxine’s on-set experiences, making for an alright watch about Hollywood and LA in the 80s.
Then the third act happens, and things really go off the damn rails. It’s not like this movie was shaping up to be some type of horror masterpiece, but it was certainly a mostly enjoyable picture. However, its final section causes a complete trip-up for the movie.
It poorly handles Maxine’s agency as a character, features absolutely baffling creative decisions and includes one of the worst mystery reveals put to screen in a long time. It’s all such a major disappointment and it’s unfortunate that this trilogy concludes on a sour note.
It’s regrettable because Goth once again lends a solid performance. Her character is hardened after the events of the last movie, and Goth captures that headstrong personality. She is also good at portraying Maxine’s underlying fear of her past.
Michelle Monaghan and Bobby Cannavale are also enjoyable as detectives, as their characters are straight out of an old school police procedural. Moses Sumney is also enjoyable as Maxxine’s friend and video store worker, and Kevin Bacon is a treat as the private investigator.
Elizabeth Debicki is a bit disappointing, though, as a director of Maxxxine’s new movie. Her character has become tough-as-nails because of her work as a woman in a man’s industry, but the performance just feels one-dimensional.
Overall, it’s a shame that “Maxxxine” ends up the way it does because it starts off with momentum. That momentum only carries it so far, though, and because of how the ball gets dropped, it takes away from the overall enjoyment. What’s revealed in the third act is such a let down, and squanders a lot of the film’s potential.
In the end, “Maxxxine” offers another good performance from Goth, some fine thrills, enough horror entertainment to be watchable and a character arc that digs into what people go through for fame. However, the final third torpedoes its chances at being more memorable. 2.5 out of 5.
Matthew Liedke on Film 
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