Mia Goth is a force of nature in MaXXXine, the end of Ti West's horror trilogy and a brutally entertaining summer slasher.
It's not a straight-up horror movie like X nor is it as unexpectedly unhinged as Pearl — the threequel is a blend of both and so many other things, offering some glorious moments and a not-entirely-winning chaotic energy.
If the first movie was a tribute to Tobe Hooper's slasher legacy and the second a twisted take on The Wizard of Oz, MaXXXine moves forward its many movie references to the gritty '70s and '80s New Hollywood scene, from Chinatown to Body Double.
It's a retro portrait of the ultimate land of dreams and nightmares, a satire that unfortunately offers more vibes than real substance.
Ronald Reagan is on TV and Frankie Goes to Hollywood are on the radio as we fall into the movie underworld of Los Angeles in 1985, packed with creepy celebrity impersonators, dangerous cults and adult film VHS stores.
As the sole survivor of the Texas Porn Movie Massacre, Maxine is now trying to become a respected actress away from the porn industry. At the start of the movie, she auditions for the sequel of a successful horror film, The Puritan, in the hopes of proving she is, indeed, a star.
What to Read Next
Helped by her committed agent Teddy (Giancarlo Esposito) and her best friend Leon (Moses Sumney), Maxine is rising above the tide.
However, a (real-life) Satanic serial killer known as The Night Stalker is starting to target people close to her, which lures LAPD cops Detective Williams (Michelle Monaghan) and Detective Torres (Bobby Cannavale) into her life and threatens to spill her darkest secrets.
Needless to say, Maxine doesn't need the authorities. As she tells one of her friends (played by singer Halsey), she can take care of herself. It doesn't take long for her to demonstrate that as she turns the tables on an alleyway attacker by smashing a guy's balls with her shoe heel.
That's the kind of B-horror gore and brutality MaXXXine delights in, while tapping into the aesthetics of genres like the giallo and noir cinema.
As this relentless porn star inhabits spaces like the Walk of Fame (stopping briefly by the star of Theda Bara, a sex icon of silent cinema) or Psycho's Bates Motel set, the film shatters the grand idea of the Hollywood dream. It's all made of cardboard and desperation, a dark, distorted version of what La La Land tried to sell.
Much like Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood had fun recreating the changing climate of the late '60s, this threequel takes a dive into the era's defining movements, from Satanic Panic and cult paranoia to increasingly explicit and controversial sex on screen.
There are plenty of nods to the previous movies too, to the point of it being difficult to totally claim it as a standalone movie.
Many flashbacks and allusions to Maxine's past might confuse first-time viewers, although there is much to be enjoyed beyond the intricacies of the plot, which can feel a bit like nonsense at times.
Despite how messy this overall trilogy feels, clearly created without a route map at hand, what is consistent is Mia Goth's astounding and raw performances. This has been an unmatched platform to show how insanely talented the actress is, storming into every scene like a hurricane of charisma and commanding the camera at every turn.
It's probably best to just enjoy MaXXXine's wildest moments, along with Goth's terrific performance, without digging too deep.
MaXXXine is now out in cinemas.
Mireia (she/her) has been working as a movie and TV journalist for over eight years. Based in the UK, she is a former deputy movies editor at Digital Spy, and previously worked for the Spanish magazine Fotogramas. Mireia's work has been published in other outlets such as Esquire and Elle in Spain, and WeLoveCinema and GamesRadar+ in the UK. She is also a published author, having written the essay Biblioteca Studio Ghibli: Nicky, la aprendiz de bruja about Hayao Miyazaki's Kiki's Delivery Service.
During her years as a freelance journalist and film critic, Mireia has covered festivals around the world and has interviewed high-profile talents such as Kristen Stewart, Ryan Gosling, Jake Gyllenhaal and many more. She's also taken part in juries such as the FIPRESCI jury at Venice Film Festival and the short film jury at Kingston International Film Festival in London. LinkedIn
