One of the most hotly anticipated horror films of 2024 is the final installment of Ti West’s unique trilogy, MaXXXine. Living in Hollywood with a successful career as an adult film star, Maxine auditions for a leading horror film role to continue to grow her stardom into a household name. Just as her life seems to be on the path she always wanted, a mysterious killer begins to murder people around her, threatening to expose Maxine’s past and end her life.

The first film, X, takes place in the 1970’s and is inspired by films like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The prequel, Pearl, takes place during WWI and is inspired by technicolor films like The Wizard of Oz. When it comes to MaXXXine, West took inspiration from the Italian giallo films of the 70’s and 80’s with a dash of stylish smuttiness in the same vein as the 1983 cult classic Angel. While this is probably the weakest entry in the trilogy, there is no denying it’s an entertaining, sleazy piece of cinema. West incorporated all the classic elements of 80’s Hollywood. This includes the seedy underbelly of the city, the threat of the Night Stalker at large, and the rising trend of Satanic panic.

Because fans are already well acquainted with Maxine as a character, the film wastes no time establishing where she is at in her career. She’s still the same bombshell with that same unflinching confidence and determination that is sure to skyrocket her to stardom. We also get to see a slightly different side of her in the wake of the massacre she survived many years ago. We see her struggling to suppress the lingering trauma from her past. There are two sides to Maxine: what she shows the world and what she is willing to do to survive. The killer stalking her forces those two worlds to collide. The result is an edge-of-your-seat, tense thriller that might be a bit predictable at times, but still grabs you by the neck and doesn’t let go.

While West captures the look and feel of this era of filmmaking beautifully, the story and many of the characters feel very surface level. This is most apparent with all the new characters introduced. Most fans of X love the film because of the wonderful ensemble cast, each with their own uniquely lovable personalities. In Pearl there are fewer characters, but audiences still get to know them through strong character development. In MaXXXine, the various new characters come across as cannon fodder for the killer, or tools to move the plot forward, rather than fully fleshed out individuals. Having these characters better developed would have greatly improved the overall story, because the audience would have cared more about their fates. Similarly, the film could have further explored the underlying trauma beneath Maxine’s cool facade. There is only one major scene that showcases the PTSD she tries so hard to bury. It’s a suspenseful scene, and having more examples of this would have allowed for more depth to Maxine’s current state of mind.

Because there wasn’t enough character development, it’s difficult to discuss many of the performances, as they’re quite fleeting. That being said, there are a few truly memorable performances to delight audiences. First and foremost is, of course, Mia Goth (X, Pearl) reprising her role as Maxine. While Goth didn’t have as much room to show her acting chops compared to the two previous films, there is still an electricity to her performance. Whether Maxine is nailing an audition or grappling with all manner of perverts, Goth gives the character tenacity that is unmatched. Another standout performance comes from horror fan favorite Kevin Bacon (Tremors, Hollow Man) as John Labat, private detective. Bacon delivers the most delightfully sleazy performance, making Labat the kind of character audiences love to hate. Other standouts are Giancarlo Esposito (The Mandalorian) as Maxine’s lawyer/agent, Moses Sumney (The Idol) as Maxine’s best friend Leon, and one surprise actor as the mysterious killer giving a delightfully unhinged performance at the climax of the film.

As with every film in this trilogy, the visuals in MaXXXine are superb. West clearly took great care on recreating the look and feel of similar films from this era. I was able to see the film in 35mm, which also added to the look and texture of my viewing experience. The lighting, the hair, the makeup, the wardrobe, and the sets easily transport audiences to 80’s Hollywood. It perfectly captures the glittery extravagance and the grimy underbelly of LA that feels true to the era. There is also plenty of great cinematography that lends to the giallo subgenre, especially with the frequent shots of the killer’s black leather gloved hands. Most importantly, MaXXXine has plenty of gory practical effects sure to make some viewers squirm and cover their eyes, while others will undoubtedly cheer with glee. Even these practical effects, while often quite realistic looking, have a certain exaggerated flare reminiscent of practical effects from the 80’s. All these visual elements combined are stunning and make up for some of the shortcomings in the story itself.

MaXXXine delivers the glamour and sleaze of 80’s Hollywood with all the neon-soaked gore of a giallo flick. While there is a missing depth to the plot and the new characters, West does a great job bringing his iconic trilogy to an exciting conclusion. The visual elements are the definite standouts of the film, alongside brilliant performances from the likes of Goth and Bacon. While MaXXXine is surely the weakest entry in West’s trilogy, it’s still an enthralling watch that packs quite a punch. X, Pearl, and MaXXXine will surely be viewed by many as one of the few truly great trilogies in film history.

OVERALL RATING: 7/10