The three Xs in the title are the correct context of MaXXXine. Ti West is back with a sexual and prolific adventure with no boundaries. The 1980s Hollywood era is mixed with tons of lethal drugs and behaviors. MaXXXine is a dangerous expedition. West did a thriller with the adult film industry in X and Pearl. Both films opened in 2022. Mia Goth has been in both and continues to be the frightening and audacious actress in MaXXXine.
The eras of Hollywood are always a joy of grandeur for me especially when it makes its focus to be risky or risque scenarios. All the stories many have heard about Hollywood’s history play well into MaXXXine. MaXXXine though, had me in a bind. It is bonkers and quickly curated around its dangerous aspects, but is there meaning behind it? The film itself. The film tends to go down the road of being sexually horrific for the sake of it.
To explain the concept of the film, Goth is Maxine Minx. The three X’s make the point clear that she is an adult movie star. She is one of the bad choices. She does tons of drugs and is addicted to fuels of fame. She even has a nasty attitude. Regardless, she feels she is the sexy queen that conquers the world. However, the film takes place in the era of the night stalker scenario. Maxine finds herself with people who have been killed after the fact that she has seen them. Detective Torres (played by Bobby Cannavale) and Detective Williams (played by Michelle Monaghan) try to get to the bottom of Maxine’s involvement. However, Maxine is oblivious and only tries to remember she is the best.
Another officer John Labat (played by Kevin Bacon) comes around. He has got that dirty cop vibe. He is on the list of hatred for Maxine. The film is a dynamic of Maxine meeting bizarre individuals as the night stalker murder abounds. What is more invigorating? The fact that Maxine is an adult film star? The fact that it is around the night stalker scenario? The film begins to go down a road where personality is damaging. From that, I found the writing to start to have a blur.
Even around the personalities of the film, it is a ride that is average. “Average” in terms of performance and quality. Goth’s performance may be surreal, but her role in this one did not do it for me as much. That is more because I felt she was playing the same role in X and Pearl. Only this time, her way of revenge is getting people crushed in their vehicles. It is also one where bizarre exorcisms come around, and they are hard to take seriously.
The concept is interruption of fame. With all the murder moments zooming back and forth, it is Maxine being distracted from her privileged life. MaXXXine deserves three X’s because that is all the film cares about and so does the role of Goth. Drugs, sex, and murders, just keep going down the aisles. The presentation is bulky which is hard to manage. I found myself thinking how much more over-the-top grotesque moments do I have to endure? Will anyone find joy in this one? I will say I did on some levels. But I wish there was more meaning than over-the-top celebrity nonsense mended with a murder scenario. My rating falls at two out of four stars for MaXXXine.
Movies with Tarek 