Warning: This article includes MAJOR SPOILERS for MaXXXine (2024).
Summary
The movieMaXXXineincludes one quote that perfectly describes the last installment in director Ti West’s horror trilogy. Two years afterXandPearl, the conclusion to A24’s has released in theaters, bringing a lot of hype. As an avid horror fan, I went intoMaXXXinewith high expectations.Xis one of my favorite horror movies, and Mia Goth has incredible acting skills that can carry even the weakest movie. Luckily, the latest film by Ti West didn’t disappoint. MaXXXine is one of thebest horror movies of 2024so far, alongsideI Saw The TV GlowandAbigail.
The movie explores Maxine Minx’s desperation for fame and name recognition in the acting business outside the pornography genre. Besides the titular main character, one of the most compellingcharacters inMaXXXineis the fictional director, Elizabeth Bender, played by Golden Globe-winning actress Elizabeth Debicki. In addition to giving Maxine a realistic view of Hollywood’s ruthlessness,Elizabeth provides a quote that stuck in my head long after the movie’s endingbecause it perfectly describes the last film in Ti West’sXtrilogy.
Mia Goth received a 2024 Saturn Award nomination for Best Actress in a Film for her role as the titular character inPearl.
How MaXXXine Is A B-Movie With A Ideas
MaXXXine Leans Into The Campy, Pulpy Style Of B-Movies
InMaXXXine, Elizabeth Bender explains that she wants to make a “B-movie with A ideas” – a meta quote that can also describe the movie in which it appears. Traditionally, the term “B-movie” referred to a low-budget, low-quality film that would play during the second half of a drive-in double feature; however, the term is now used more loosely to describesensationalist or arthouse films that often fall into traditional genre tropes. Based on the modern definition, I would placeMaXXXinesolidly in the category of a B-movie.
MaXXXine’s True Crime References Explained: Who Is The Night Stalker?
MaXXXine references two of the most famous Los Angeles crimes of all time, the Night Stalker and the Black Dahlia, helping to shape the narrative.
Ti West seems to understand what horror fans like and want. The visuals in his film are unapologetically titillating, sleazy, raunchy, and gritty. However,MaXXXinealso has well-developed characters and a strong message, exploring societally relevant themes. By combining B-movie elements and A ideas,MaXXXinecreates a story that’s as clever as it is entertaining to watch.
MaXXXine Is An Exploitation Thriller For The Modern Era
MaXXXine Keeps The Salacious Visuals While Incorporating Modern Ideals
Just as much as the movie is an homage to the genre,MaXXXinefits into the category of an exploitation thriller. However, unlike the films from the 80s, the Ti West movie has a more modern spin. While the people protesting in the film don’t support sex work, the messaging inMaXXXineitself is very much pro-sex work. It made me joyful to see Maxine Minx point out to the casting directors that acting in pornography is still acting because she’s right.
In a world where information is more accessible than ever, the message that a person’s past can hinder their chance at fame resonates more deeply than it might have in the past.
MaXXXine’s endingquestions the unethical behavior of religious leaders, making the charismatic televangelist leader commit murder.Moreover, in a world where information is more accessible than ever, the message that a person’s past can hinder their chance at fame resonates more deeply than it might have in the past. Ultimately, it’s exciting to see thatMaXXXinefound a way to modernize the exploitation thriller genre, moving away from some of the more sexist and shallow messaging.
