- Date of Release: 05 July 2024
- Genre: Crime, Horror
- Language: English
Maxxxine
Introduction
I must admit that I had quite enjoyed the twin thrillers of the X film series namely X and its prequel Pearl. While the first film was a classic tribute to the slasher films from the 70s, namely a psychotic couple hunting down a film crew only for one to survive, the second film Pearl was more of a slow-burn thriller, tactfully tapping into the psyche of the protagonist who would soon transform into a thriller. The production design of both the films did reek of the slasher films from the late 70s, while painting a nostalgic picture of sorts for the trashy cinema made in the past. Come the 80s, often considered to be the pulpy era of Hollywood, the makers of the X franchise return with their final installment titled MaXXXine, a wicked take on the life of the p*rnstar transforming into her new role of a leading lady in a Hollywood film. The twist? A serial killer on the loose again! As exciting as the premise sounds here, the finale of the X franchise just falls hard with a thud, ending up being the most random slasher film ever! And while the tribute to the big bad lanes of Hollywood was rather decent, I couldn’t help but think that the entire drama barely scratched the surface. But then does MaXXXine have any redeeming quality to it, let’s find out.
Story & Screenplay
A direct sequel to the 2022 English film X, and the final part of the X franchise, MaXXXine follows the events in the life of the protagonist who wishes to make it big in Hollywood while a parallel track involves a serial killer being on the loose. Now, I did get that the serial killer angle here was loosely referred to Hollywood, given the functionalities of the big bad world of the movie industry from the 80s, which happened ‘kill’ a starlet while pinning him/her to the ground. And while this metaphor was decent on paper, it did not necessarily translate onscreen. In fact, the sequence of events seemed just so random that it could hardly classify as a serial killer film. This was particularly disappointing given that the pulpy mood of the 80s was captured correctly, be it the audition sequence of the protagonist wherein she is asked to flash her breasts(with an assumption that she was previously a p*rnstar and she would be fine to do so, all in the name of an audition). This though made me wonder on what if the theme of the serial killer was used as a metaphor in the truest sense, with starlets killing themselves rather than being killed by a masked figure. That for me would have added depth to the screenplay which stands at 100 odd minutes here. But sadly, it wasn’t to be, while creating a mess of sorts throughout the narrative.
The drama begins on a decent note with the introduction of the protagonist, who looks to put her past away(of being a p*rnstar and having killed a bunch of people at a farmhouse) while trying her luck in Hollywood while auditioning for the role of a main lead. The subtle theme of the story within a story lies with the fact that the central role that she would audition for is itself a B-grade film, not too different from her previous ‘roles’ while still being recognized as a Hollywood film at the end of the day. Such was the sexist nature of the industry that reeked of double standards while looking down upon the protagonist due to her previous job. But the moment the film deviates from this theme, and introduces the serial killer angle, the entire drama slides.
The proceedings are far too random to be even remotely invested in the drama. The issue lies with the characterization of characters around the protagonist that have hardly anything to do, to a point that you barely feel a thing while they get bumped off, one after the other. Even the presence of the killer is showcased to be a shadowy figure with a rage so much so that he would clench his fists more often than not. But the issue was also with his presence that didn’t quite feel engaging at all, almost doing the bare minimum for a serial killer/slasher film. The difference with the previous films also lay with the setup. While X was set in a farm offering a classic tribute to the 70s even with respect to its intimate setting, and Pearl threatened and took off in its final act, the movement of characters from one location to another while another set of characters are bumped off elsewhere, without any buildup, just fails to engage the viewers.
The drama keeps getting weird and absurd by every passing minute. And even though some sequences work tremendously well individually, like a character been ambushed by a trailer that literally squeezes every ounce of his blood from his body, the transition scenes continue to be an issue. This leads to one of the most flat revelations on the identity of the killer followed by a brainfade of a shootout sequence that was unintentionally funny. Even the concluding moments of the film were just so loose with the staging that the film fell through, and along with it the franchise that didn’t end with a bang but more with a thud and a whimper!
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are corny but weirdly go well with the cheesy and saucy mood of the drama. But the dichotomy of the lines lay in the fact that they failed to build the sprouting tension emerging from the idea of a serial killer on the loose. The BGM is adequate by doing its bit to minutely lift the drama at a few places while also paying homage to the pulpy world of the 80s. I quite liked the cinematography, featuring frames that were gory and unabashed without panning away the camera during some violent sequences. I really wished that the writing would support the technical aspect of the drama that were all doing their bit for the proceedings to work in the film’s favour. The editing was a little choppy and it felt even more random with the killings that were underway. Director Ti West cannot quite replicate his spark from the previous two films of the franchise, while also faltering with the setting that worked as an 80s Hollywood drama but woefully failed as a slasher film. The direction was average at best!
Performances
The performances are a mixed bag given that no one really shines barring Mia Goth. Moses Sumney as Leon, Michelle Monaghan as Detective Williams, Bobby Cannavale as Detective Torres and Elizabeth Debicki as Elizabeth are just about alright and have nothing much to boast of with their respective acts. Kevin Bacon as Labet is decent but always fighting a losing battle. Simon Prast as Earnest is absolutely wasted and doesn’t quite get a podium to perform. Mia Goth as Maxine is impressive, and she definitely puts her best foot forward. She is unabashed and unapologetic in a performance that in a way seemed like a meta-reference to her, and her aspirations. She was quite excellent here and did well to shoulder the responsibility of the film.
Conclusion
MaXXXine will go down as the most random slasher film ever that ensures that the X film franchise doesn’t end with a bang but more like a thud along with a whimper. This was felt like a major disappointment that did get the mood of the 80s right but completely fell through with the slasher ingredient. Some cheap thrills will be served if you choose to watch it but largely a letdown in the truest sense.
