As someone who was dying to see this film, I was… disappointed to say the least. Coming from the masterpieces (arguably) that were X and Pearl, Maxxxine shot the trilogy in the foot. Although I am coming off as strictly negative, this film was still relatively good; however, it greys in comparison to the other two in the franchise. 

It’s the 1980s, and a killer is out on the prowl, known as the Night Stalker. Maxine Minx, played by Mia Goth, is a pornstar who is trying to expand her talents elsewhere—in Hollywood! When her friends start dying and she realizes that she may be the Night Stalker’s next victim, she does everything in her power to survive yet again. The first few minutes of the movie pay homage to the classic “I am a star” trope, which I loved to see on the big screen for the third time. This one is thick with 1980s nostalgia. This is your classic 80s horror movie. If you’re looking for just that, you’ve come to the right place. I, however, was coming to see the end of the X trilogy. The ending had me... disappointed. Spoiler warning, but it was Maxine’s dad all along. That whole plot didn’t really make sense to me. He believes that Maxine has the devil in her, so he starts killing people...? No offense, but that sounds a bit hypocritical to me. The reveal of the Nigh Stalker’s identity and motivation only raises more questions than it answers, in my opinion.

In terms of the genre, Maxxxine kills it; however, in terms of the plot, it was meh. I appreciate the fantastic outfits and 80s vibes, though. I also appreciate the acting. Mia Goth sure knows how to play distinct characters that are vastly different from each other. Her acting in this film was great, and she did well with what she was given. She is also just so beautiful. Also, apparently she kicked someone on set, which I find a bit hard to believe. “Maxxxine Star Mia Goth Being Sued For Allegedly Kicking An Extra On Set” explains the whole situation. Anyway, the acting was overall very good by everyone, except Simon Prast. I found his acting to be a bit over-the-top. 

Although this was the trilogy's weakest link, I still enjoyed the film overall. I still appreciate it for what it is. Furthermore, I love how each film has its own aesthetic. I see a promising future for Ti West. This is just the beginning for him, after all. 

After watching the whole trilogy, I’d recommend watching Pearl first, then X, and then Maxxxine. The films get worse as you move along!