Carl Roberts 
“Maxxxine is a worthy watch, even if it is uncomfortable at times. But there’s no doubt about it, it is a fun ride while it lasts. Congratulations Maxine, you really are a fXXXing star!”
She’s back, and taking no prisoners! After the events of ‘X’ and its prequel, ‘Pearl’, the third and said to be the final film in the saga, Maxxxine is slashing its way into screens this weekend. Once again written and directed by Ti West, and starring the superb Mia Goth as Maxine Minx, the film sees the title character in 1985s Los Angeles. After being the only survivor of the massacre we witnessed in X, Maxine is more determined than ever to be a big star in Hollywood. However, this brings her into the line of sight of the infamous serial killer, The Night Stalker. Will she survive the killer’s eye?
Also starring Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Halsey, Lily Collins, Giancarlo Esposito, and Kevin Bacon, the film continues the saga we have seen in the previous two movies in classic, gory, and scary style at points. But will Maxine get her wish and become famous for her acting? Can the film live up to the promise of the previous two entries? Or should Maxine and the saga be laid to rest for good?
PREMISE
After surviving a massacre in Texas, Maxine continues to pursue her dreams of becoming a famous actress, all while evading the Night Stalker in 1985 in Los Angeles.
THOUGHTS
After the previous two movies, Maxxxine once again changes its style (like Maxine herself) to become something we don’t expect. With the first film being a straight-up horror movie and the second being a look at a person’s declining mental health, this new movie is an enigma. The audience will go in expecting something between the two, or even a continuation of the first film. They will be sorely disappointed. To be truthful, the film doesn’t really know what it is. It could be a slasher flick, a drama, a comedy or a look back at the 1980s. It’s an identity crisis that drags the film down somewhat. Anyone going in expecting a horror movie is in for a shock. It is a blend that does gel at times but just about.
What it does do, however, is to brilliantly satirize the 1980s in Hollywood. The big hair, the big cars, the sleaze and excess that was rampant back then. And the desire to get what you want, no matter who or what you had to do to get it. It is, in part, the age-old story from those times that we can fondly remember. The secrets that certain big names in the entertainment industry tried to hide and bury deep, never to be revealed to the public. The porn movie they did to make ends meet on their way up. The stepping on certain people in their quest for stardom. And the excess they indulged in behind the scenes. Throw in some nasty and graphic violence, some grisly scenes along the way and some superb performances and you have an enjoyable time at the movies.
MIA GOTH
Mia Goth returns again as Maxine Minx. And is, quite frankly, the MVP of the whole film. She is outstanding from the first second we see her. This is Maxine’s story after the events of the first film, forging her way to stardom by any means at her disposal. When we first see her, Maxine is screen-testing for the lead role in a horror movie. Her performance is convincing, showing the assembled she can act and do it well. Then, with her porn star background brought up, she is asked by a female producer to ‘show us your t**s’. Maxine does it without blinking, without thought. This shows us that she is willing to do anything to become a famous star. She has no qualms at all about gaining stardom, even down to insulting the other waiting actresses about to test for the same role as she leaves.
Mia Goth immerses herself into her role, fitting back inside Maxine’s shoes with ease. She delivered a performance that not only holds the film together but is the crux of everything that happens in the movie. Her natural ability shines through from start to finish. We should despise Maxine, to hope to see her fail in her single-minded ambition. Let’s be clear, Maxine is not a nice person. She is self-centred, narcissistic, and not someone we really want to associate with. But despite that, we can’t help but love her. Mia Goth lays the character’s sins and emotions bare for us to see. The actress portrays Maxine’s vulnerabilities, fears, emotions, and desires superbly. Maxine may want to be a star, but Mia Goth is a bona fide one.
ELIZABETH DEBICKI
With Mia Goth shining so brightly, the rest of the cast has to be in her shadow throughout. Elizabeth Debicki as Elizabeth Bender, a film director working on The Puritan II gives a great performance. Bender is an English director who, like Maxine, is desperate to become a big name in Hollywood. She too is single-minded in her goal of attaining attention and acclaim but does it in a more profound way. At times, she too is unlikeable but proves to be a force to be reckoned with. Elizabeth Debicki is a superb actress and again proves her prowess here. She even gets a great in-joke at the start of the film. No spoilers but considering what nationalities both she and Mia Goth are in reality, it leads us to have a great chuckle.
THE SUPPORTING CAST
The supporting cast does get to get their time in the spotlight, however briefly it is. Moses Sumney as Leon, Maxine’s friend and owner of the local video store (remember those?) is welcome in his role. Like some of the cast, he has to make do with appearing in some scenes before vanishing for many others. Halsey as Tabby Martin, a porn star and Maxine’s friend has only a brief appearance in the film before departing and isn’t given the time to make that much of an impression. Sophie Thatcher as an FX Artist too gets a limited time to make an impression before disappearing until the end of the film. Lily Collins as Molly Bennett gets a very brief appearance as a returning actress from the first Puritan film before departing proceedings.
Michelle Monaghan as Detective Williams and Bobby Cannavale as Detective Torres do manage to get important parts to play in the proceedings but again, their appearances are few and far between. But the pair do get to spar off against each other to hilarious effect at times. Torres is a failed actor turned cop whose attempts to get Maxine to talk with them follow every performance in the actor’s playbook. And none of them, whether it be the good cop or the angry cop work, leading to some great comic scenes to alleviate the tension the film contains. While Williams is the straight-laced, take-no-nonsense type who in one scene pleads with Maxine to help them. Both actors fit their roles well.
GIANCARLO ESPOSITO AND KEVIN BACON
Of all of the supporting cast, it is Giancarlo Esposito and Kevin Bacon who get the meatier roles. Esposito as Teddy Knight, Esq., an agent for the adult film industry and Z-list film actors is wonderful. A health freak in his office, we think of him as a kind of wet blanket. We are wrong. Knight is that typical 1980s agent, the kind that will do anything for his clients. And I do mean everything. In trouble with the law? Call my agent. Been arrested for drugs or a traffic violation? Call my agent. Being blackmailed, harassed, threatened, or needing someone to be removed permanently? Knight is the agent you want. Esposito is an actor who is brilliant in everything he appears in, turning in great performances time and again. He does so here.
Kevin Bacon as John Labat, a private investigator is equally as wonderful. Labat is dirty, slimy, the epitome of the dirty side of show business. Bacon shines in his role, whether it be approaching Maxine to order her to attend somewhere or her secrets will be revealed to the world or following her around with a video camera, Labat is pure dirt. From watching the trailers, we already know that he will get a beating from someone. That someone is Maxine herself. Instead of being scared that Labat is being violently assaulted by Maxine, we revel in it, feeling that what she is doing is wholly justified. Kevin Bacon also is brilliant in any project he appears in and he continues that streak here.
TI WEST
Ti West again writes and directs the film. And in doing so gives us a throwback to those heady days of the 1980s. His writing and direction are deftly assured. The scenes are lit to perfection, and his use of locations, including the Hollywood sign and the house and motel from Psycho brings us a sense that we are really back in those days. The attention to authentic detail, including the big hair, cars, the look of Hollywood etc lends the film a much-needed boost. His script is pretty good too.
But here also lies a problem. The film, in trying to be different to the previous two entries, comes across as a mismatch of various ideas. It doesn’t matter that the film knows where it is going, or what will be the fates of these characters. What we get is a comedy, a horror film, a slasher movie, a drama, an action flick and a character study mixed with a look back at the mid-80s and rolled into one. It means the film has no idea what it really is, leaving the audience scratching their heads at times wondering what they are watching. That’s not to say it isn’t good because it is. It is like Return Of The Jedi or many other trilogy-ending films. It’s good, no doubt about it, but it pales in comparison to what has gone before.
THE MUSIC
One thing that the film contains and elevates it is the quite superb mixtape of tunes from 1985. It is like stepping back in time to those discos and clubs we used to frequent in our youth. When you have ZZ Top playing over the opening credits and contains ‘Welcome To The Pleasuredome’ by Frankie Goes To Hollywood (a neat touch), you know you’re in for a good time. With a masterful score from Tyler Bates that fits the film brilliantly, it makes you feel warm and comfortable, despite of some of the things we see on screen.
VERDICT
Maxxxine is an enjoyable film. Mia Goth plays the character so well, that we can believe that Maxine Minx is a real person. And that scares us at times. Watching her strut her stuff during the movie is a real thrill from start to finish. It brings the sole survivor from the original film and plants her firmly into a decade of chaos, mayhem, murder, excess and the cutthroat business of Hollywood. Maxine feels like she belongs there, that she has found her perfect place in the world. The film isn’t a race to the finish line, it takes its time in setting up the events to come before reaching a climax that feels fitting.
It isn’t plain sailing, not by a long shot. With the various tonal shifts at times, we find ourselves being taken out of the movie, not really knowing what we are seeing. Perhaps that’s what both Mia Goth and Ti West were aiming for. To get us in, thinking we are on safe ground before yanking the rug out from under us time and again. If that is the truth, they’ve achieved it. It isn’t for the squeamish or easily offended as some scenes will have the audience either laughing out loud or cringing. One scene in particular will bring tears to the eyes of the male audience, while others bring the gore to us without remorse.
All in all, there is scope for a rumoured fourth chapter in the saga. But if this really is the finale, it goes out with enough bang to keep everyone happy. Maxxxine is a worthy watch, even if it is uncomfortable at times. But there’s no doubt about it, it is a fun ride while it lasts. Congratulations Maxine, you really are a fXXXing movie star!
“I will not accept a life I do not deserve!”
Maxxxine will be in cinemas on July 5th from Universal Pictures.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
