In 2022, A24 and writer-director Ti West delivered the one-two punch of X and Pearl, a pair of horror films about cinema, sex, violence and our cultural lust for fame. Produced back to back on a shoestring budget, the films’ box office success quickly prompted a larger-scale follow-up in MaXXXine, presumably the final chapter in the X trilogy. Though each movie stands on its own, together they create a loose sketch of the evolution of American cinema and its relationship with its audience, with each chapter painted in a style befitting its place in time. X is set in 1979 and follows an unexpectedly ambitious porn production, while Pearl is an origin story for the first film’s villain, a wannabe movie star in 1918. MaXXXine directs its lens at 1980s Hollywood, paying homage to both steamy adult-targeted thrillers and VHS “video nasties.” Though it’s a neat throwback that features a few memorable performances, MaXXXine imitates its period setting a little too well, prioritizing style and adding little substance to the series.
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MAXXINE ★★1/2 (2.5/4 stars)
Directed by: Ti West
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