Plot: What’s it about?
I’m reminded of a line from Scream 2 in which a character says “…part of a trilogy.” He was referring to Star Wars, but the concept is the same. Well, we’ve arrived. Yes, here we are. What started a few years ago with X and then Pearl has now come to fruition with the 80’s homage – MaXXXine. I’ve got to give writer/director Ti West a lot of credit. Who’d have thought that there’d be a cult following to a trilogy of films dedicated to the adult film industry? Certainly, in these films, West speaks to our society’s long-standing fascination with sex, violence, and show business. It succeeds as a genre picture, yet there’s a lot of substance running underneath. Blow the dust off those VCR’s because we’re taking a trip back to 1985.
We meet Maxine Minx (Mia Goth) after she’s escaped the events of X. She’s managed to establish herself as one of the top adult film actresses of the 80’s, but realized that her “shelf life” is rapidly approaching. As such, she wants to break into mainstream entertainment. An opportunity is presented to her when she auditions (and gets) the lead in a horror sequel, The Puritan II. The director, Elizabeth Bender (Elizabeth Debicki), takes Maxine under her wing. However, just as things are going her way, a private detective from New Orleans, John Labat (Kevin Bacon) shows up, making her life miserable. Maxine’s friends and “co-workers” start turning up dead and the LAPD (Michelle Monaghan and Bobby Cannavale) are always lurking about. Together, with the help of her lawyer (Giancarlo Esposito), she’s trying to shake off the cops, figure out the murderer and become the biggest star in the world.
This isn’t exactly The Godfather with regard to trilogies (that’s the best I could come up with on short notice), but it does serve as a fitting end to the series of films. Mia Goth nails her role. She’s in nearly every scene. And I was impressed by the supporting cast as well, in particular Kevin. Bacon who not only looks like Chinatown’s Jake Gittes, but seems to chew on every line of dialogue he’s given. The film might be a bit harsh for some, though fans who have seen the first two will certainly know what to expect. I’d say that this is my favorite film of the trilogy, though there is something about the first one that stick with me. Likely I’m preaching to the choir and I know I’ve repeated myself – this is a fitting end to the series.
Video: How’s it look?
Each installment has had its own look and feel. The first had a very muted, 70’s color palette and gave off Texas Chainsaw Massacre vibes. The second gave us the glorious Technicolor look made famous by films from days gone by. With MaXXXine we’re fully immersed in the VHS era of the mid 80’s. West and his crew even used vintage cameras for this movie. How’s that for dedication? The 2.39:1 AVC HD image looks great, however. Yes, we even get some of the infamous “tracking” shots. If you remember VHS, then these will send shivers down your spine. Detail is top notch, colors are a bit on the extreme side, then again they were supposed to be. It’s a great-looking and accurate look for the film.
Audio: How’s it sound?
Thankfully we don’t need to spring for the 4K to benefit from the Dolby Atmos soundtrack. While I’m always a fan of a Dolby Atmos track, I found it a bit lacking here. That’s not to say it’s bad, rather…wasted. The film is very dialogue-driven, so unless you’ve been yearning to hear “Man in Motion” from St. Elmos Fire in full uncompressed sound, you’ll be fine. There are some nice atmospheric sounds present though, such as some of the background Los Angeles traffic noise and whatnot. Vocals are sharp and crisp – that southern twang that Maxxine has is on full display.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- The Belly of the Beast – Actress Mia Goth is profiled as she gets some reaction for the first two films. Nothing mind-blowing, but nice to have nonetheless.
- XXX Marks the Spot – If you’ve wanted to focus on the mid-80’s in Los Angeles, this is for you. The vibe of the film even down to the cameras used, is profiled.
- Hollywood Is a Killer – We get a look at some of the special effects used in some of the murders.
- Q&A with Writer-Director Ti West – Pretty self-explanatory. We get a fairly lengthy (25 minutes) session with the director.
- Teaser Trailer
- Theatrical Trailer
The Bottom Line
MaXXXine makes fitting end for this trilogy and what a ride it’s been. Gritty and exploitave, this might be my favorite of the three. Did it make me long for the days of VHS tapes? Not exactly, but there’s passion here. The disc looks and sounds great and will make a nice bookend to this trilogy.
