With MaXXXine, Ti West rounds out his X/Pearl trilogy and reaffirms that the director has a strong knack for compelling subject matter–but not all-around great films. A letdown from Pearl, MaXXXine is nonetheless a creative and unpredictable thriller, even if it goes limpdick in the end.
Years from now, most people won’t remember what happens in MaXXXine or even the movie itself: but they will remember Mia Goth. As she did in Pearl, Goth absolutely rocks it with another stellar performance. Fierce, ruthless, and packed with suppressed emotion, Goth ravages the screen with lustful abandon.
The rest of the movie is… okay.
Set in 1985, West does what he does best: create an immersive experience in another time period. With a blend of great set pieces and costumes, semi-nuanced pop culture throwbacks, and some 80’s film references that largely went over my head, MaXXXine makes you feel as though you are in 1980s Hollywood. With Goth chewing scenery and a strong supporting cast that includes Elizabeth Debicki, Giancarlo Esposito, and Kevin Bacon, there is a lot to enjoy and more to unpack.
MaXXXine starts off strong, with Goth flexing her muscles and West hinting very strongly that the movie will in part revolve around the real-life Night Stalker. Bad things are happening to people who are close to our title character, but she’s no innocent little girl either. The police are investigating, a sleazy private detective (Bacon) representing a rich bad dude is circling, and Maxine is prepping to star in her first non-porn feature-length movie.
Where will it all go? I had no idea, and that’s a great feeling to have as you sit through a movie such as this.
But while the first half of the movie fucks, the third act stops thrusting. It’s disappointingly cheesy, underwhelming, and just downright unsatisfactory. he final minute or two are rewarding, but the climax doesn’t land the way West clearly thought it would; Maxine, so headstrong and in control of her destiny throughout, becomes an observer in her own movie.
MaXXXine is worth seeing for Goth’s performance, and the movie overall has a lot to like. But as usual, West doesn’t quite bring everything together–and certainly doesn’t reach the momentary apex he reached with Pearl.
Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.