MaXXXine: Movie Review

Cast: Mia Goth, Kevin Bacon, Bobby Cannavale, Michelle Monaghan, Giancarlo Esposito, Elizabeth Debicki, Simon Prast
Director: Ti West

The third installment in West's X series transplants the action into 1980s Hollywood, at a time when the Night Stalker is terrorising and dismembering women. 

Goth stars as adult actress Maxine Minx, who's given the chance to star in a horror film and branch out from her adult entertainment world. Desperate to take the opportunity, Maxine finds she is being stalked by a mysterious man (Bacon) - but she's determined to let nothing stand in her way.

MaXXXine certainly has its moments.

From its fluorescent 80s trappings to its gore quota, there's much here that will satiate fans just looking for a good time with fellow audience members. By ramping up the sleaze elements and expanding Maxine's world into 80s Hollywood, it feels more like West has gone for a vibe, rather than a deeper story and sociological take on her drive and ambition.

Perhaps lacking some of the more subtle edges of the previous films, West's 80s Hollywood is full of stereotypes and imagery of the time, complete with a pitch perfect soundtrack that hits every note throughout.

And while Goth is excellent as Maxine with her swagger and self-belief in full display, the film's script doesn't quite give her the story she needs. Bacon is sleazy and seedy as the investigator on her trail, and Debicki is amusing as a bon mot dispatching film director who crosses path with Maxine.

But these are more fleeting pleasures than lasting feelings and while West carries it all off with reasonable aplomb throughout, there's a feeling that this revenge-led film is more about the moments than a coherent and satisfying resolution to Maxine's story.

MaXXXine is a perfectly enjoyable time at the movies thanks to its lead actress and her unswerving commitment to what is required of her, but it's also a slight conclusion to a series that has always intrigued in its exploitation.