Hello horror fans, Slick Dungeon here! I’m back to review the third film in the X horror series by Ti West. Once again this stars the living legend scream queen Mia Goth. This is her third turn in the series. While you don’t have to watch both of the other films to enjoy this one, it helps if you have at least seen X. If you want to get caught up quickly, check out my posts for X and Pearl. Do be warned there will be spoilers for all three films in this review. If that’s not your thing, pack up your bags, head out to Hollywood, make it as a star, screen the film in your huge living room, and then come on back here to read the review.

MaXXXine – The Chronology

Things are a little confusing with this series because of how they released. X is the first in the series to be released, but chronologically it comes second. Pearl is a prequel to X but it came out after X and before MaXXXine. While you don’t need to watch these in order, it does help to have seen the other two prior to watching MaXXXine.

In X we watched an aspiring actress named Maxine who wanted to be a sex symbol to the world. Unfortunately for her, there was a mass murder and huge debacle when she and her friends went to make their first adult film. This mass murder was committed by an elderly woman named Pearl and her elderly husband.

Pearl takes us back in time to see the origins of this deadly woman. MaXXXine catches us up to 1985 and focuses once again on Maxine.

Hooray for Hollywood

The film follows the story of Maxine Minx as she attempts to transition from adult film star to legitimate movie star. For her to do this, she has to land a part in a horror film. The film in the film is called The Puritan II and sure enough, Maxine is cast for the movie.

But her past is not far behind. There’s a private investigator, played by Kevin Bacon, named John Labat who knows what happened in Texas and has tracked Maxine down.

While this is happening, the Night Stalker killer is roaming free and has been murdering women in Los Angeles. Maxine and all her friends are in danger. Thankfully, Maxine knows how to take care of herself.

And speaking of Hollywood, this film is jam packed with references to other films, has loads of stars, and absolutely perfects the look of a film made in 1985.

We get shots of Maxine looking at and hiding in the Psycho house while on the the movie set. This echoes the call backs to Psycho we saw in X.

Kevin Bacon looks just like Jack Nicholson in Chinatown, bandaged nose and all. And there are even split screen shots recalling the work of Brian De Palma.

If you love film and film history, you’ll spot a call back in this movie for sure.

Satanic Panic

In the background of the movie we see signs of the so called Satanic Panic. This is when parents, the media, and religious groups all had a collective freak out, finding signs of satanism in everything from movies to music to Dungeons & Dragons.

Add to that the real fear people had of being killed by someone like the Night Stalker, things are boiling over in Hollywood at the time.

The actual news footage played in the film adds not only to the look and feel of MaXXXine but it effectively ratchets the tension up to an intense degree.

And, of course, Maxine is in a horror film which is already being accused of being satanic. She’s getting hatred from Hollywood itself, the people outside of it, and keeps turning up connected to dead bodies.

While all of this does get tied together in the end, I found myself having to guess more than once, which thread here was actually coming for Maxine. It’s a film that keeps you guessing, although, in the end the reveal is nothing earth shattering.

MaXXXine the Survivor

In X, Maxine went through some major trauma. She’s no lost and clueless actress here. She’s a full on badass who has learned to detach herself when necessary. And she’s willing to fight anyone who tries to mess with her.

It’s refreshing to see a character in a horror movie who takes no nonsense from anyone. And it’s a little disturbing to see how far Maxine is willing to go to protect herself, damn the consequences.

Maxine is in a tough world be she’s more than up to the challenge.

You’re a F*cking MOvie Star

I can’t finish out this review without mentioning Mia Goth and her unbelievably good performance. In X she plays a somewhat naive woman who’s looking for fame the best way she knows how. In Pearl she played a woman who was willing to fight the world, even though it was against her at every turn. But in MaXXXine, she plays a woman who will not back down, ever, for anyone. And she’s going to get what she wants.

Mia Goth is surrounded by huge stars. Michelle Monaghan and Bobby Cannavale play detectives in the film. Halsey plays Maxine’s friend and fellow adult film star. Giancarlo Esposito plays Maxine’s agent. And as mentioned above, 80’s icon and legendary actor Kevin Bacon plays the private investigator looking for Maxine.

While Kevin Bacon has some of his best acting in this film in years, no matter who is on screen with her, it’s Mia Goth who draws the eye. She puts in an incredible performance here and shows enormous range with these three films.

In Conclusion

If you’re a horror fan, you need to see this film. I know there are other, bigger budget films out to watch this weekend but as far as horror goes, this one knocks it out of the park.

MaXXXine is a fascinating portrayal, an excellent follow up, and the rare third part of a trilogy that may be the best one.

If you don’t like gore, do be cautioned there is a bit of that here but there are absolutely gorier films out there.

While this one has a different feel and quality from the previous two in the series, this strikes just the right tone and is a nearly perfect follow up.

Slashingly yours,

Slick Dungeon