Movie Review: 'Maxxxine' is One of the Best of 2024

Maxxxine (2024)

Directed by Ti West

Written by Ti West, Mia Goth

Starring Mia Goth, Kevin Bacon, Halsey, Elizabeth Debicki, Lily Collins

Release Date July 5th, 2024

Published July 2nd, 2024

Ti West has directed three incredible horror movies in a row with Maxxxine capping what must be considered the greatest horror trilogy in history. The style, the violence, the sex, the simple essence of film language and modern transgression. X, Pearl, and Maxxxine show a director at the peak of his powers and a star who understands her role in so much of an innate fashion that it bleeds through the screen.

On the set of Maxxxine, star Mia Goth, who stars as Maxine, a continuation of her character from X, was accused by an extra of stepping on him to hard for a scene. After seeing Maxxxine, I can't help but wonder if this story is true or a myth created by Goth and West themselves as an extension of the character of Maxine who must go to extremes to achieve her dreams of stardom, taking on stereotypically male qualities, arrogance, method acting, and so on, to achieve her desires.

It's notable that when Dustin Hoffman smacked his co-star Meryl Streep on the set of Kramer vs Kramer in an attempt to achieve a desired emotional response, the outcry didn't come until years later. Meanwhile, a female star, Goth, does something similar to a male co-star and the Hollywood outrage machine spills ink everywhere to paint Goth as a maniac, and an out of control diva whose star power was going to her head. Which happens to be quite similar to the arc of the character Maxine.

Underlining the point, the movie quotes legendary movie star, Bette Davis as saying, "In this business, until you're known as a monster, you're not a star." Taken bluntly, the movie is referring to Maxine's crimes as her 'monster' qualities. But in subtext, the story about Goth's on set behavior would be a great bit of myth building and guerilla marketing that plays perfectly into Maxxxine where Maxine's monstrous qualities are what make her so compelling as she is striving to become a movie star. The story could be true and Goth did hurt someone in a scene out of carelessness. But's also perfectly in character for the character of Maxine, hence my delighted skepticism over the veracity of the story. It's a delicious piece of lore for the character and the actor playing her.

In Maxxxine, our anti-heroine, Maxine, is on the verge of achieving her dream as a movie star. Having survived the world of pornography, literally and figuratively, Maxine has earned an audition for a real Hollywood movie. It's a horror sequel called The Puritan 2, but the role is the starring role and that's certainly more than just being known for being a porn star. This holds true even as part of her audition involves flashing her breasts. Hollywood would not be Hollywood without some mild degradation in exchange for a chance at fame.

Maxine wins the role with an absolutely stellar audition, one that incredibly impresses the steely director of The Puritan 2, Elizabeth Bender (Elizabeth Debicki). Bender is all icy glamour while Maxine is searing hot sex. and the alchemy of these two women pops on screen. It's just a working relationship but the chemistry of Goth and Debicki is a stand out part of Maxxxine. The two actors elevate each other and their scenes together crackle with a tension that is mutual respect in the face of constant disrespect from the rest of the world, particularly men.

That brings us to the men of Maxxxine, a grotty assortment of grossos led by Kevin Bacon. Bacon plays John Labatt, a private investigator who turns up in Los Angeles with a piece of Maxine's past in tow. Labat knows what Maxine did back in Texas. He knows that she was the only survivor of the massacre in X. And, Labat has a secret benefactor whose history with Maxine drives the plot. This mystery man is using the killings done by The Night Stalker as cover for a series of killings of sex workers that is leading back to Maxine.

This subplot in Maxxxine is reminiscent of the alternate universe energy of Quentin Tarentino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The plot involves a second set of killings hiding behind The Night Stalker murders carried out by real life serial killer, Richard Ramirez. I won't go any further into spoiler territory. I will only say that it's an exceptional bit of savage satire. Ti West is taking aim at a particular group of pearl-clutching culture warriors and doing so by taking their antics to their most logical conclusion, the kind of conclusion we are asked to scoff at, even as you have to wonder what other conclusion could they be talking about?

Brutal murders are carried out. Bloody violence is enacted. And all the while, Maxine, as played brilliantly by Mia Goth remains laser focused on her goal of becoming a movie star. The path to get there is bloody and violent and requires just the kind of cunning and moral flexibility that has come to define Maxine as a character across X and now Maxxxine. It's similar to the madness of Pearl, but with a slightly less psychopathic bent. Pearl and Maxine are definitely related, but Maxine is the pure evolution of Pearl, leaving behind the total insanity, in favor of laser focus and determination where violence is a tool but not the only one.

I adore everything about Maxxxine. I could enthuse for pages about the soundtrack, the filth, the neon, and the grime of the production design, and numerous other aspects. But I don't want this review to go on forever. I will save some of my enthusiasm for the I Hate Critics Movie Review Podcast. I will say this, director Ti West has absolutely blown my mind again. He's both a visionary artist and a brilliant technician.

The film language of Maxxxine is striking. West, along with cinematographer Eliot Rocket, and West's own editing, leads you around, encouraging you to assume what's coming next visually over and over again, all so that he can defy your expectation in a more effective manner later. It's so simple and yet it's genius. You'd be surprised how many filmmakers fail at this seemingly logical way to direct a movie. Truly great directors understand how to create visual expectations and the power of defying expectations at the right moment.

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