Ti West’s third offering in his esteemed X horror saga, “MaXXXine”, leaps head-first into a pandemonium of ‘80s allusions, however, it remains the weakest link in the trilogy. Set in 1985, the film reintroduces us to Mia Goth’s adult actress character, Maxine Minx, as she ventures into mainstream cinema. Her promising escape from the world of adult films goes awry when her friends start turning up dead, all marked with devilish symbols. The plot then entangles her with shady private detective John Labat, played by Kevin Bacon, who possesses a damning videotape that implicates Maxine in the ghastly murders central to X.
Throughout MaXXXine, West delivers his unique take on the “video nasties” subgenre, accompanied by inconsistent dialogue, memorable slasher sequences and ample film-focused discussions. Goth’s character tackles the challenge of starring in a low-budget film boasting high-concept ideas.
Regrettably, such concepts fail to resonate with the same clarity discernible in West’s second outing, “Pearl”. A hodgepodge of random scenes set at the famous Bates Motel and subpar police investigations conducted by Michelle Monaghan and Bobby Cannavale, these stray elements feel more like random add-ons than well-integrated subplots. Despite countless elements vying for attention, none manage to fully capture the thrilling appeal of X’s robotic alligator scares or Pearl’s bizarre scarecrow scene.
Even as the much-anticipated climax unfolds with a twist that’s more cringe-worthy than cleverly deceptive, Goth stays convincingly aligned with her role. West’s inventive storytelling showcases a blend of popular ‘80s elements but sadly stops short of the daring content and engaging subversiveness exuded by other iconic films like “Cruising” and “Hardcore” which are referenced throughout this film.