Max recently added the Mia Goth horror movie,MaXXXine, to their catalog, and it is definitely worth checking out, despite its mixed reviews.MaXXXinewas released in July 2024 to a notable amount of fanfare, as it is the final installment inTi West’sXtrilogy.The movie centers on Maxine Minx, an adult film star who finally gets her big breakafter auditioning for a burgeoning horror franchise. However, Maxine’s claim to fame hits a roadblock when her past, as showcased in 2022’sX,comes back to haunt her. Ultimately, it is a gory homage to 1980s horror.
One of the biggest strengths ofMaXXXineis its lead actress, Mia Goth. Throughout the late 2010s and early 2020s,Goth has become a standout in the horror genre, taking on roles in notable scary movies such asSuspiria, A Cure for Wellness,andInfinity Pool.With her expressive eyes and unique voice, Goth embodiesthe stereotypical scream queen, but that doesn’t mean she is predictable. Goth can be the doe-eyed girl-next-door or the psychotic mastermind. In this way, any project with Goth in it is worth checking out, especially for those who love horror and its history.
For Fans Of…
Did You Know? - Mia Goth is set to appear in Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming adaptation,Frankenstein,also starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi.
MaXXXine
Cast
In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx lands her big break, but her rise to stardom is jeopardized by a mysterious killer targeting starlets. As the body count rises, secrets from Maxine’s past threaten to surface, intertwining her quest for fame with a deadly game of survival.
Now thatMaXXXineis streaming on Max, audiences who never got the chance to see the movie should definitely add it to their watchlist. First and foremost,MaXXXineis worth checking out because it is a well-liked movie. With a Certified Fresh 72% onRotten Tomatoes, critics praised the film for its strong performances and its over-the-top atmosphere of a violent and dangerous 1980s Los Angeles. The movie sucks you into its gruesome and colorful world.MaXXXinemay not be the best of theXtrilogy, but it still offers up an entertaining story and moments that are undoubtedly dark.
From stupid jokes to oblivious Hollywood execs,MaXXXinepaints a strong portrait of its world that feels both realistic and bombastic.
In fact,one of the greatest parts ofMaXXXineis its ability to balance darkness and light. As a horror movie,MaXXXineis obligated to provide scares and gore, and it most certainly delivers. There aredeaths inMaXXXinethat are absolutely astonishing and will make audiences cringe in their seats. Yet, the movie isn’t entirely doom and gloom either. There is an element of levity toMaXXXinethat makes it fun and energetic. From stupid jokes to oblivious Hollywood execs,MaXXXinepaints a strong portrait of its world that feels both realistic and bombastic.
Another aspectthat is particularly exciting for viewers isMaXXXine’sreferences to classic horror. The entireXtrilogy is a sort of homage to horror movies, yetMaXXXinemay be the most far-reaching of the three movies. The 2024 film uses cameos, dialogue, and visuals to reference iconic horror movies. For example, Maxine’s roommate, Leon, watches aKiller Crocodilemovie and compares Maxine herself to stars like Jamie Lee Curtis. A more broad example would be the fact thatMaXXXine’sNight Stalker villain is reminiscent of killers like Ghostface or Michael Myers.
Goth is not carrying the project on her own, however.MaXXXinefeatures a host of perfectly cast talent, each of whom does their part to flesh out the glitz, glamour, and greed that defines the era. -Tatian Hullender,Screen Rant’sMaXXXineReview
A final strong point ofMaXXXineis its visuals and style. These days, countless movies are set in a different time period and craft a world that showcases that. However,MaXXXinedoes a good job of walking the line between the glitz and glam of Hollywood and the dark depthsof the city’s underbelly. In one scene, Maxine will be wearing a chic denim jumpsuit, and in the next, she’ll be putting on a sexy nurse costume for her job as an adult film star. Ultimately, from the beautiful to the horrifying, there’s plenty for the eyes to feast on.
MaXXXine Is The End Of Ti West & Mia Goth’s Horror Trilogy
MaXXXine Is The End Of An Era
MaXXXineis also notable because it is the final film in theXtrilogy. Since 2022,Ti West has been at the helm of three unique and colorful horror moviesstarring Goth in a vast story about fame, sex, and getting what you want. All three movies garnered significant acclaim and are definitely worth the watch, butMaXXXineis particularly important. This is the movie whereall ofX’stimelinesfinally merge. Although the setting is entirely different from its predecessors, the movie finally sees a solid conclusion for Maxine and the treacherous world she lives in.
$22 million
72%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
77%
Some audiences may have been hoping that anotherXmovie would be on the horizon, but it seems as though West himself is putting a pin in the franchise. In aRedditthread where viewers could ask West questions, he noted that although he would love to work with Goth again, he feels good with howMaXXXineended the trilogy. In this way,MaXXXinetruly is the end of the line for Goth in this character, which makes it all the more significant.It is the end of an era for Goth; an era that ultimately led to her rise as a scream queen. Hopefully,MaXXXineis not just an end, but the beginning of a long and successful career for Goth.
