MaXXXine (2024)★ 6.3/10

I can't say exactly why, but this was my favourite of the trilogy. I think I liked the VHS vibe, the LA setting. Even if the ending isn't my favourite, it's still a really fun movie. I loved the inclusion of the Psycho set.

There's not a lot to dig into deeply when it comes to the plot. It's mostly about Maxine, who's all grown up now, dealing with potential problems and trying to win over audiences even more. The movie's main goal is to make Maxine's character stand out and likable in this third movie. Instead of a typical horror movie, this one is more like a commercial movie with horror and suspense added. Overall, the movie is just like what the trailer promised and doesn't disappoint.

I don't think this one is as good as the first two movies, "X" and "Pearl." But Mia Goth's performance is really well-received. She plays a character who starts out small and becomes a Hollywood star, and she does it with a lot of determination. The movie mixes horror with the dark side of Hollywood and gives viewers a unique and emotional experience.

5 out of 10. This movie feels more like Mia Goth's take on "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." It lost the weird, cult-like feel of the other two movies of the trilogy and turned into a more standard, even a little bit cliche, story. Even Maxine is a little softer now as a person. But it does a good job of capturing the retro vibe of 1980s Los Angeles, and it has a good supporting cast, and the song "Bette Davis Eyes" is a nice tune. By the way, one of the classic lines from the trilogy is, "I will not accept a life I do not deserve."

Maxine and Pearl are totally different. Pearl is wild and makes decisions without hesitation, while Maxine is just more determined to survive than most people. That's why Pearl wouldn't think twice about hurting her sister-in-law, but Maxine stopped escaping because she felt a little bit of kindness from her friends. It's sad to see all the innocent people get hurt in the movie even though they're not the main characters.

This one is definitely the weakest out of the trilogy. It's mostly just Mia Goth's flawless acting that keeps it going. The first movie was really clever, focusing on the porn slasher thing and doing it well, even though it's a niche subject. The second one was really good, too, kind of mirroring the pandemic and having great quality overall. But this one tried to do too much and wasted many plotlines and characters. What's really disappointing is that Ti West's directing wasn't as good as it could have been. It might have been better if he had made the movie more critical.

This film is definitely the worst of the trilogy. It's got a boring plot and stereotypical characters. It keeps referring back to the other movies in a way that doesn't really add anything, and it's mostly just gory stuff for the shock factor. The characters don't grow or change at all. And the final showdown between the cult and the police is a bit silly. The only thing that's really good about it is the visuals, which capture the 80s vibe with a mix of film and neon. If you had just seen the trailer, you'd probably think it was amazing.

Overall, this film is just okay. It's trying to be a cult classic, but it's not bold or wild enough to really pull it off. It had the chance to hook viewers with more interesting details, but the plot is too complicated, and the mystery that starts out interesting fades away.

Out of the whole trilogy ("X," "Pearl," "MaXXXine"), "MaXXXine" is definitely the most polished and well-rounded. The pacing and the music are excellent, and they capture that 80s vibe. It's not super scary, but the violence is kind of funny, and the sexy parts are done in a tasteful way that doesn't make you feel uncomfortable. The "artist's statement" at the end feels like a nod from the filmmakers that even horror movies can be works of art.

"MaXXXine" has some serious problems with its scriptwriting and themes. The characters are flat, and there's not much depth to them, especially the main character, who doesn't grow or change. If the film had gone deeper into the psychology of the characters, it could have been really interesting. Instead, the ending is just kind of lame, with some forced messages that feel awkward.

I'm just not feeling this film. The bad guy reveal is so predictable that it's not even original. It's just a bunch of talking heads going on and on about their motivations and backstories. And "Pearl" barely has anything to do with the movie. Maxine's character is just kind of bland and not fleshed out. Yeah, there are some nods and Easter eggs in there, but "Pearl" is still the standout of the trilogy, no question about it.