‘MaXXXine’ reviews: Mia Goth gives a ‘powerhouse final turn’ as director Ti West ‘goes three-for-three’
On July 5, 2024, A24 released “MaXXXine,” a slasher film written, directed, produced and edited by Ti West that has Mia Goth reprising her role as Maxine Minx in the third installment of the “X” franchise. Certified fresh with a score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, critics were thrilled by the thriller.
In this go-around, Maxine pursues her dream of becoming a famous actress while trying to avoid the Night Stalker in 1985. The ensemble cast includes Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Halsey, Bobby Cannavale, Lily Collins, Kevin Bacon and Giancarlo Esposito. Read our full review round-up below.
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Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian writes, “Director Ti West goes three for three, serving up a horribly watchable new episode in his outrageous black-comic franchise of aspirational horror porn, this time set in 80s Hollywood.” Adding, “But the film is almost stolen by the statuesque and charismatic Elizabeth Debicki in giant padded shoulders, amusingly playing Elizabeth Bender, a haughty, demanding British movie director, and MaXXXine’s mentor. It is of course the fate of any actor who ever plays a member of the British royal family to be haunted by that persona afterwards, and it’s impossible to watch Debicki’s imperious performance without thinking that ‘The Crown’s’ Princess Diana must have somehow got a gig directing a horror film, perhaps embittered by her marriage to Charles, being mean to the crew in that estuary-posh voice and laying down the law about the correct way blood has to spurt from various orifices.”
Lex Briscuso of Inverse says, “West’s final entry into the modern horror canon seamlessly comes to a confident and glorious close, a star immortalized in her bloody triumph of the self.” Concluding, “Elizabeth Debicki, as the charismatic but intimidating director of Maxine’s big break, becomes both obstacle and cold, often cruel, guide through an uncaring film industry for the ambitious Maxine. Kevin Bacon is perhaps the standout of the supporting players, giving a sleazy performance as a private investigator tailing Maxine. Complete with a nearly perfect and hilariously exaggerated Southern accent, Bacon’s inclusion in the film lays the laughs on thick and genuinely adds a layer of frazzled immediacy to Maxine’s life and career obstacles. But naturally, the most important performance of the film is Goth’s — and the scream queen does not disappoint with a powerhouse final turn.”
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Jeff Nelson of Guy at the Movies praises the film, stating, “’MaXXXine’ doesn’t have the commanding intensity of its two predecessors, operating better as a conclusion to a captivating character arc than it is a particularly impressive film.” Continuing, “’MaXXXine’ paints a critical picture of censorship’s dangers rooted in transitional culture shifts between generations. She’s trying to pave her unique path within the Hollywood system, determined for the world to know her name beyond her pornographic origins. This fight for survival becomes an all-out war between fame and infamy, as new and old demons become known.”
Gregory Ellwood of The Playlist notes, “Where “MaXXXine” pops is in the world Ti West has meticulously fashioned on screen.” Adding, “The most entertaining aspect of ‘MaXXXine’ is not the murder mystery. In some ways, it’s sort of an afterthought like the B-movie 80’s horror movies that inspired it. And like many of those films, West’s latest endeavor isn’t that scary. It’s decidedly gruesome and has one particular scene that will make many male viewers squeamish, but this writer usually finds themselves scared at the drop of a hat with this genre and we didn’t cover our eyes once. This is the sort of movie where in the first 10 minutes Maxine sits in front of her makeup mirror at the strip club to take a hit out of a giant ceramic vase filled with cocaine. The 80’s were wild, but that’s a sight gag that is justifiably laughable and a meme waiting to happen.”
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