MaXXXine is the third movie in this series (after X and Pearl) brought to us by Ti West. A24 and Ti West really have something with this X movie series. I had very high hopes going into this, the trailers looked fantastic. The fact it was set in the 80s and name-dropped The Night Stalker ensured that MaXXXine was a movie that I knew I had to see on opening weekend.
How to Download MaXXXine
MaXXXine was released on July 5, 2024. You will be able to download or stream it from Max or other digital platforms about two months later. Click on the Where to Watch & Stream button below.
The Movie Review
A Direct Sequel to X
I will say that MaXXXine is made for people who have already seen both X and Pearl. I guess you could watch this on its own, but you would probably not appreciate this as much if you did. Mia Goth once again plays starlet Maxine Minx. Mia Goth is so awesome in this role, just as he was in X, where she pulled double duty as she also played the role of Pearl.
The 80s Vibe
There is something so very 80s about MaXXXine. The way the movie looks, the lighting, and just the whole vibe in general has a very authentic 80s feel to it. It is very hard to explain, but if you grew up in the 80s or have a love for 80s cinema now. You are going to well and truly appreciate just how authentically 80s this movie looks and feels.
Standout Performances
I know that everyone who talks about these movies heaps praise on Mia Goth and it is honestly impossible to talk about any of the X movies and not. Mia Goth is 100 percent the star of this franchise and once again she shines here. I do though want to give a special mention to Kevin Bacon who is fantastic here! It is kind of funny that I watched MaXXXine just a few days after I watched Axel F and Kevin Bacon was clearly having a blast in both these movies.
A Complex Plot
The thing with MaXXXine is that I do not want to go into too much detail about what the plot is. Young Maxine manages to secure the role in an actual movie, a sequel to a horror movie. This is the big break she has wanted and it may be a way for her to move on from her risqué XXX past. However, Maxine still has to work at a XXX peep show to pay the bills, but this movie could allow her to put all of that behind her.
Tension and Terror
However, 80s LA at this time is being ruled by terror thanks to the Night Stalker who is slaying people all over the city. Adding to the horrors of the Night Stalker, Maxine’s past has come back to haunt her as a tape of the porn movie she made during X, which the police had, has shown up.
A Must-See for Fans
Who is stalking Maxine and why has her past come back to haunt her? At the end of the day, if you like X and Pearl, you have to watch MaXXXine, it is a direct sequel to X and if you liked that, you will like this. I will go a step further and say that MaXXXine is my favorite movie in this series so far.
Before I sign off with my final thoughts, I do want to address something about A24 horror movies that a friend of mine says. I am a huge fan of most of the stuff A24 has done, especially with their horror movies. But, I will admit, I can see how my buddy and some others feel that these are a tad on the pretentious and artsy side. I do not see them that way, but at the same time, I would not have a solid argument for someone who did.
Final Thoughts
Ti West has said that he would like to make a fourth movie and I would be all for that. I had a great time watching this in the theatre. However, I cannot wait for this to come out on 4K (A24 does great work with their home releases) so I can watch all three of the X movies back to back!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does MaXXXine conclude Ti West’s X horror trilogy?
Written and directed by Ti West for A24, MaXXXine (2024) serves as the third and final chapter after X (2022) and the 1918 prequel Pearl (2022). Set in 1985 Los Angeles, it follows sole Texas massacre survivor Maxine Minx as she lands a breakout role in a mainstream horror sequel while the Night Stalker terrorizes Hollywood.
Who stars alongside Mia Goth in MaXXXine?
Mia Goth reprises her role as ambitious starlet Maxine Minx alongside Elizabeth Debicki as demanding director Elizabeth Bender, Giancarlo Esposito as slick talent agent Teddy Night, Kevin Bacon as private detective John Labat, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Lily Collins, Moses Sumney, and Halsey.
Do you need to watch X and Pearl before seeing MaXXXine?
MaXXXine plays smoothly as a standalone 1980s neo-noir slasher thriller set on Hollywood studio backlots, though watching X first deepens the reveal behind the mysterious stalker haunting Maxine’s past.
Where can you stream or digitally download MaXXXine in 4K?
A24’s MaXXXine streams on HBO Max and is available to rent or buy for 4K Ultra HD digital download on Apple TV, Prime Video, Fandango at Home, Google Play, and YouTube.
