MAXXXINE
(director/writer: Ti West; cinematographer: Eliot Rockett; editor: Ti West; music: Tyler Bates; cast: Mia Goth (Maxine Minx), Moses Sumney (Leon Green), Elizabeth Debicki (Elizabeth Bender), Kevin Bacon (John Labat), Lily Collins (Molly), Michelle Monaghan (Detective Williams), Bobby Cannavale (Detective Torres), Halsey (Tabby Martin), Giancarlo Esposito (Teddy Night), Simon Prast (Ernest Miller), Chloe Farnworth (Amber), Zachary Mooren (Buster Keaton Drag); Runtime: 101; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Mia Goth, Jacob Jaffke, Kevin Turen, Ti West, Harrison Kreiss; A24; 2024-USA/UK)
“Mia Goth kicks ass.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Ti West (“Pearl”/”X”) is the maverick American filmmaker for this franchise cult classic psycho-sexual horror trilogy that included X and Pearl.
The 30something Maxine Minx (Mia Goth, Brit actress) is a country-raised preacher’s gal with street smarts. She resides in Hollywood in 1985 and works as an adult film star, but yearns to act in mainstream slasher films. However, her ticket to stardom is jeopardized by a serial killer targeting starlets in Los Angeles, who is known as the Night Stalker. There’s also the ‘Moral Majority’ to contend with, who want to clean-up the film industry that they believe is influenced by the Devil.
Maxine attends numerous auditions and gets hired by the soulful Brit filmmaker Elizabeth Debicki (Elizabeth Bender), a dreamer like her, to be in a B movie with A ideas–a demonic possession thriller. She snags the lead role in “The Puritan 2.”
When Maxine’s two friends from the world of porn (Chloe Farnworth & Halsey) are killed, she receives a home visit from Detective Williams (Michelle Monaghan) and Detective Torres (Bobby Cannavale), but tells them nothing. But she gets pissed when the annoying gumshoe Labat (Kevin Bacon), hired by a shady client, shows up and begins following her around.
Turning to her sweet and loyal fatherly type of agent Teddy Night (Giancarlo Esposito) for advice and support, he tells her to just concentrate on making the film and things will work out.
Film buffs, fans of black comedy and nostalgia freaks have much to like here, including the tracks from groups like ZZ Top, New Order, and Judas Priest.
It’s a trashy pic that captures a bygone era in an America that loves porn, slasher films, video stores and celebs who can bring it.
Mia Goth kicks ass.
REVIEWED ON 7/2/2024 GRADE: B