by Anthony O'Connor
Worth: $15.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Mia Goth, Kevin Bacon, Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Giancarlo Esposito, Lily Collins, Halsey
Intro:
…. a neon-hued psycho-thriller chock full of great performances and arresting imagery.
Ti West’s Mia Goth/X Trilogy of horror flicks is a bloody strange one. It began in 2022 with X, an engaging enough slasher flick set in the late 1970s, with a strong subtext of violent sexual frustration and an appealing heroine, Maxine Minx (Mia Goth) and effective old lady antagonist, Pearl (also Mia Goth). Later that same year, West dropped Pearl (aka Pearl: An X-traordinary Origin Story) set in 1918, which showcased why Pearl was such a horny nutter in the first place and gave Mia Goth a chance to unleash her impressive acting chops. Now, in this odd year of 2024, the trilogy concludes with MaXXXine, and you know what? It’s pretty damn decent.
MaXXXine is set in the 1980s and reintroduces us to final girl/pornstar Maxine Minx (Mia Goth yet again). High on the times, and era-appropriate cocaine, Maxine is trying to make the jump from fuck flicks to legit cinema. After a successful audition for vampish director Elizabeth Bender (Elizabeth Debicki), it seems that those dreams may just come true. However, when sleazy private detective John Labat (Kevin Bacon) and a leather-gloved killer begin making unwelcome appearances in her life, Maxine realises that her past may not be quite as dead and buried as she believed.
In all honesty, MaXXXine’s story is a bit of an amiable shambles. It has a central mystery that isn’t all that mysterious and the stakes never feel enormously high, even when bodies start dropping. It does, however, feature an impeccable sense of atmosphere and a great ‘80s vibe that will delight anyone (particularly Gen-Xers) who miss video shops, slasher films and big hair. It also features a star-studded cast that includes Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Halsey, Lily Collins, Sophie Thatcher and Giancarlo freakin’ Esposito! However, this is undeniably Mia Goth’s movie, and she clearly relishes jumping back into the role, even though there’s a little less meat to chew on compared to Pearl.
So, at the end of this X Trilogy, was it all worth it? Pretty much. You’ve got a slick, albeit generic, slasher flick, a brilliantly twisted character study and a neon-hued psycho-thriller chock full of great performances and arresting imagery. Hell, Pearl is pretty much worth the price of admission alone, and all three entries have their unique charms.
MaXXXine, while imperfect, finishes off the trilogy in style and is well worth a spin through those dark Hollywood hills on a cold and rainy night.
