MaXXXine (2024) – Written Review

Mia Goth returns as Maxine Minx, and with Pearl in her rear-view, so comes the question if Goth can find a way to justify the latest entry of this franchise as she did in “Pearl?”

Plot Summary

It’s finally time. Maxine Minx, adult film star, is about to transition to the mainstream by starring in the sequel to the hit (fictional) movie, “The Puritan II.” The producers may not believe in her, but the director, Elizabeth Bender, does, and that’s all Maxine needs. Well, that and to deal with this pain in the behind private investigator named John Labat who keeps harassing her to see some guy who knows too much about Maxine’s past – specifically the events of “X.”

Noted Cast and Characters Of “MaXXXine”

Character’s Name	Actor’s Name
Maxine Minx	Mia Goth
Elizabeth Bender	Elizabeth Debicki
John Labat	Kevin Bacon

Maxine Minx

Maxine Minx is an adult film star looking to be a star without any prefixes. Her goal is that, through the burgeoning horror genre, she will obtain that long-time goal, and it’ll be all thanks to Elizabeth Bender.

• The actor is also known for their role in “Infinity Pool.”

Elizabeth Bender

A relative newcomer in the industry, Elizabeth Bender has had a hit, and with that comes respect. However, to keep that respect, Elizabeth runs a tight ship. She is very much about loyalty, and when it comes to Maxine, she expects her to adapt and catch up quickly to how things are done outside of stag films.

• The actor is also known for their role in “The Tale.”

John Labat

John is a private investigator with a pristine reputation for finding targets. He is currently tasked with finding Maxine and bringing her to someone with a vested interest in the two being reunited.

• The actor is also known for their role in “Live In Front of a Studio Audience: ‘All In The Family’ and ‘Good Times.’“

Content Information

• Dialog: Cursing
• Violence: Gun Violence, Gore, Blood, Torture, Notable Fight Scenes
• Sexual Content: Nudity, Sexual Situations (Implied)
• Miscellaneous: Depiction of Corpses, Body Horror, Drinking, Drug Use, Smoking

Review

Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)

Similar To This

1. X: X is everything you expect as you go from sex scenes to watching people get mutilated and then find yourself immensely uncomfortable.

Who Is This For?

•  People who want to see the end of Maxine Minx’s story.

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On The Fence

It Feels Like It’s Missing Something

Each entry of the “X” trilogy had something that compensated for what it lacked. “X” had minimal character development but had notable names, gore, and sexual content to drive it through. Add in unexpected humor and how uncomfortable it could make you, old lady Pearl especially, and you understand why it was a hit.

“Pearl,” while it wasn’t as financially successful as “X,” still made a profit, and it honed in on Mia Goth’s talents. It pushed many to question why the horror genre is so neglected regarding mainstream accolades. In addition, it made Mia Goth into someone far more than the latest Scream Queen but a notable talent who has a solid niche in unstable characters.

With “MaXXXine,” there isn’t that special hook. Yeah, it’s violent, but none of it is inventive. Yes, Mia Goth delivers a monologue for Elizabeth that reminds us of her talent, but that’s the only scene she really gets to use that muscle in a notable way – and it’s early on in the film. Then, when it comes to the sex? There is some nudity, but nothing worth noting. I would even add, in terms of the new faces to the franchise, they feel as muted and subdued as Maxine often comes off, even as she deals with some form of PTSD due to the events of “X.”

All of this leaves “MaXXXine” as either the end of Maxine’s story or at least a movie that is supposed to close a chapter on her ascent. But, unlike “Pearl,” it doesn’t present anything notable to justify its existence beyond how incredibly cheap (the first two films were done for a reported million dollars) the films are to make, which makes it easy for them to gain a profit.

The End Twist Fell Flat

Throughout the movie, there is this serial killer on the loose, and it’s pushed they have a vested interest in Maxine. What we see is them focusing on women, with two sex workers, one of them played by Halsey, amongst the victims. This pushes the idea that maybe that’s their focus, but that isn’t entirely the case.

Rather, it is someone who makes sense to be the serial killer, yet because of how much time has passed since “X,” the reveal falls flat. Add in the build-up to who it is, and what they do after doesn’t really go anywhere and gets squashed rather quickly. It just adds to the need to question what this movie’s goal was and whether it exists because each franchise entry has been so cheap to produce?

General Information

Film Length	1 Hour 44 Minutes
Date Released	July 3, 2024
How To Watch	Theatrical
Distributor	A24
Director(s)	Ti West
Writer(s)	Ti West
Genre(s)	Crime Drama Thriller
Content Rating	Rated R

Ending Spoilers

How Does “MaXXXine” End?

It is revealed that Maxine’s dad is the serial killer, and he has been riding the wave of people, especially parents, believing Hollywood and the entertainment industry as a whole has been influencing kids into worshipping evil. Using the private investigator, Maxine’s dad antagonizes her, and as Elizabeth starts to see something is off and she pushes the idea that it could affect the production, which means Maxine being cut, she decides to confront

Sequel or Prequel Potential

Ti West noted if “MaXXXine” does well, a sequel could be produced, and one could submit, considering who Maxine is, seeing how she handles fame, especially when you note what she did in pursuit of it, could lead to an interesting story.