Maxxine certainly isn’t the type of movie that I would actively seek out. Horror never really was a genre that spoke to me. However, this whole process has very little to do with my own personal taste and deals with whether the third installment of this trilogy from director TI West is worth your time. For starters, the mark of a good movie in my opinion is one that can cause you to become invested regardless of personal preference. TI west’s latest project accomplishes that. It’s edgy, fun, bloody, and little bit tongue and cheek. Mia Goth shines in this third installment, surpassing her efforts in Pearl and X.
Perhaps the reason for the film coming together so well is the plot more solid in this film as opposed to the other two. Personally, I felt those films were more of a slasher meets shock and awe, which is fine, but the plot felt very disjointed in those projects. Maxxine makes use of a very real tale of the Night Stalker terrorizing Hollywood during the 1980’s. Felt more plausible and West adding his wrinkle by having there be a connection between this killer and Maxxine was the right call.
The unsung hero for me was Kevin Bacon’s character in the film. Bacon plays a private detective who was hired to track Maxxine down. His slicked back and greasy hair, the gold teeth, the toothpicks, and oversize suits provided just enough levity in the midst of this madness. I also did appreciate West’s tip of the cap to many of those horror classics. Staging a chase scene which ended up at the Bates Motel (which was located on the lot) was a nice touch. The death scenes in the film matched the over-the-top nature of Maxxine. Goth certainly does sell her desire to be famous at all costs. The film is certainly an upgrade over the last two, but I worry that it will get lost in the shuffle this weekend.
Dewey Singleton has been reviewing new releases in television and film for many years. Dewey's reviews have been heard in multiple markets (Houston Atlanta, Tampa). Dewey's past work has been with awardswatch.com, awardsradar.com, and bleeding cool. Dewey is a proud member of the CCA.