MaXXXine

The hype was high, and expectations were sky-high, but I'll get straight to the point: "Maxxxine," the final instalment in Ti West's trilogy that began with "X," falls short of the mark.

I'm sorry to dampen your excitement, as mine has been shattered. This film fails to meet the high standards of the wonderful debut feature "X" and its noteworthy sequel, "Pearl." Although...

Forget about Pearl; This movie is a return to the roots with "X" and its adult film star Maxine. It's also important to remember the backstory revealed by the televisions in the house of the two elderly killers.

That background, perhaps, quietly overlooked, struck me as a crucial piece of the story from the start. It would be interesting to know if Ti West envisioned this ending while writing 'X' and if he had planned the trilogy from the beginning.

However, let's go back to "Maxxxine." The film defies classification as a pure horror piece, instead leaning more towards a crime-thriller with a meandering and inconclusive plot, blending too many genres, resulting in a vague and unconvincing product. Frankly, the director has demonstrated far superior work in the past.

The film starts with a tired and overused 1980s trope: Success, Drugs, Porn, Satanic Panic - This theme, increasingly worn out in recent years, and that has honestly grown weary - and the Night Stalker, Richard Ramirez, who symbolizes a terrified Los Angeles. He embodies the Hollywood spotlight sought by aspiring actresses while also representing its dark, depraved side. Ramirez almost serves as the narrator of Maxine's essence.

The entire package of direction, cinematography, set design, costumes, and acting is impressive - Lily Collins delivers a standout performance, shedding her 'Emily in Paris' persona to emerge as a potential new Scream Queen - and the kills are pure dope, blending splatter and gore. There is one scene where Maxine shines, standing out, and is likely the only memorable part of the film. The rest, unfortunately, is forgettable.

Unfortunately, this is a prime example of the industry leveraging success for profit, delivering a subpar product bolstered only by glamorous marketing tactics, enhanced by red carpet flashes.

Although Pearl was a well-written film with excellent character and story development, I couldn't help but feel it didn't quite measure up to "X", which was something else. So, while I wasn't anticipating a spectacular finale, I was still hoping for a good movie overall!

With "Maxxxine," there seems to be an attempt to blend Mia Goth's characters Maxine and Pearl excessively, possibly to elevate her as a horror icon rather than focusing on crafting a coherent and compelling screenplay that could have brought depth to conclude this trilogy admirably. It feels like a standalone film where Ti West aimed to capitalize on past successes, but not all waves lift you; sometimes, they can drown you in disappointment.

The message is clear and chilling, yet it falls short in effectively ending this trilogy to harsh the truth of fame, with a precarious balance between being a Hollywood star and a death star.

The movie would have greatly benefited without the need for a character that undermines the plot's credibility. I'll refrain from saying more to avoid spoilers. If you've seen the film, you'll likely know what I mean, and if not, you'll understand once you do.

In any case, I highly recommend it. If you enjoyed the previous two chapters, this is a must-wa6ch to draw your own conclusion.