COLLECTOR'S CRYPT - MAXXXINE (A24-LIONSGATE 4K UHD)
Being the third film in a franchise comes with a lot of expectations. The first sequel benefits from having to outdo the first one in terms of action and scope, but the third film has the weight of the previous two films to account for. Perhaps it is why we don’t have that many horror trilogies and a lot of sprawling franchises. Maybe it is easier just to abandon ship at a certain point and go your own route with a series, much like the trend of retconning story arcs to squeeze in legacy-beholden sequels. It is reasonable to assume that most filmmakers do not set out to make trilogies but happen into them because of their success. Ti West certainly falls into that category with his “X Trilogy” which wasn’t intended to be a three-parter, but thankfully is. The third installment, “MaXXXine” once again has Mia Goth reprising her role as Maxine Minx now under the glossy neon-lit stars of Los Angeles. Is the third film in West’s trilogy a fitting end to our favorite femme fatale, or is this third entry a swing and a miss?
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally gets her big break. But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.
HOW IS IT?
The conclusion of Ti West’s “X Trilogy” is overflowing with style. It traffics in the same kind of excess that the decade it takes place in is known for, which stands in contrast to the lo-fi dusty farmhouse production design of “X”. The cast is stacked and the fan base is rabid to see how Mia Goth’s Maxine Minx will end her story all against the backdrop of Hollywood’s glitz, glamor, and gravitas. “Maxxxine” is very much a victim of its own success, much like the titular character, it has high expectations and will not accept a life it does not deserve by being one of the best-looking movies of the year with some truly outstanding scenery-chewing performances. It also feels somewhat lacking, even if it does right by the lead character with a satisfying arc, on account of some plot meandering and a hurried, uneven third act.
The cold open in “Maxxxine” is easily one of the best parts of the film, and epitomizes what Ti West’s trilogy-ender does best; watching Mia Goth serve as Maxine. The way she wraps the casting team around her fingers, and confidently tells the other actors to “go home” is the perfect example of the fruits this collaboration hath wrought. As Maxine seeks greater stardom, a serial killer known as “The Night Stalker” is killing young women, and at the same time, a sleazy cajun detective played by Kevin Bacon is threatening to expose Maxine’s lurid past. It is decidedly less horror this time around and more thriller, but the change is a welcome one as “Maxxxine” still packs in a decent amount of gore. The performances from Bacon and Goth, alongside the outstanding practical effects, work, and production design to recreate a lived-in and authentic version of the 80s are certainly the high–points of the film. West and Director of Photography Eliot Rockett are meticulous with their ability to transport you to the neon-washed streets of Hollywood and Vine while capturing the grime and the decadence all at once. It’s a shame then, that the story and pacing falter along the way.
While “Maxxxine” is amazing to look at, it does suffer from some unevenness in the storytelling. The first two-thirds of the film are methodical in their pacing which helps with the immersion, but by the time all is revealed at the start of the third act there isn’t much of a surprise, or at least not the kind the film was leading you to believe was coming. Sure, it wraps around nicely to the first film, but it also rushes itself to the finish line in the short span of roughly 15 minutes before spending the last 10 on a character epilogue. Granted, that epilogue is satisfying, but it comes at the cost of what could’ve been a more pronounced and extravagant conclusion. Maybe that wasn’t the intention, and it isn’t as if the filmmaking is bad, it just feels as if this conclusion isn’t as definitive or dramatic as it could’ve been.
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
“Maxxxine” is a stunning film. The camerawork from Eliot Rockett and the Production Design from Jason Kisvardy exude the 80s in every pore of digital film stock. The darker scenes look majestic due to the Dolby Vision and HDR which also presents a nice contrast to the brighter scenes taking place in Hollywood. Included is both a 4K 2160p UHD disc and a 1080p Blu-Ray disc both with a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The presentation of this film couldn’t be any better and looks gorgeous on more modern OLED screens. Images from this release can be seen throughout this review and below.
HOW DOES IT SOUND?
Not to be outdone in the sound department, the Dolby Atmos audio track included is a delight! The film makes good use of the precise sound placement that Atmos affords and shines brightest in some of the nightclub and back lot scenes. The balancing of dialogue, music, and organic sound is done to perfection so nothing is overpowering and fighting for your hearing. In addition to the Atmos track and a 5.1 DTS-HD track, there is also a 5.1 Spanish language track as well as subtitles in both English and Spanish.
ANYTHING SPECIAL?
The special features included in this release include a mixture of featurettes, trailers, and an interview. The featurettes themselves are around 10-15 minutes in length each, and we took a look at XXX Marks The Spot which was an 11-minute feature including interviews with cast and crew about capturing the look of 1985 LA. The actors all commented on how exciting and surreal it was to be in LA present pretending to be LA past, and the crew spoke about their efforts to ensure authenticity. Like making sure that car models weren’t those of brand new cars, but slightly older to provide greater realism. It was an interesting, albeit surface-level insight into the production design as well as challenges filming in Los Angeles.
The other feature we took in was the Q&A with Writer-Director Ti Wes, which was a live stream recorded from an Alamo Drafthouse premiere for fans. The 25-minute interview was highly informative as West spoke about collaborating with Goth and how so much of what transpired in “Pearl” was on short notice. In essence, he and Goth were working on “Pearl” for a total of 2 weeks so they could film it simultaneously while making “X”. It was also great to hear from West on how he approached authenticity and realism, referring to how furniture shouldn’t be of the year but 10 years older to give it a “lived-in” feel. West genuinely seemed humbled by the reception, and also someone who clearly has a lot more stories to tell so here’s hoping we get a director’s commentary at some point. A full list of special features included in this release is listed below.
Bonus Materials
The Belly of the Beast
XXX Marks the Spot
Hollywood Is a Killer
Q&A with Writer-Director Ti West
Teaser Trailer
Theatrical Trailer
LAST RITES
“Maxxxine” is a fitting, albeit uneven, conclusion to West’ “X Trilogy” that gives Goth’s Maxine a great conclusion with great production design and style, even when the story stumbles on the way there. If you’re a fan of this series, this is a must-add to your collection!
THE GORY DETAILS
Thank you to the fine fiends over at Lionsgate and A24 for providing a review copy for the crypt! MaXXXine is available NOW and can be purchased via DIABOLIK DVDor other physical media retailers!
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