“Maxxxine” is a disappointing end to a remarkable series – The Crimson White

“Maxxxine“” is a rather disappointing end to a brave and electrifying trilogy.

The acclaimed slasher film of 2022, “X,” captivated audiences with its over-the-top brutality and profanity as it followed a young woman named Maxine who, along with a group of other filmmakers, attempts to film an adult film in a farmhouse. When the couple who own the property find out that the group is filming an adult film, the couple attempts to kill the group. A prequel called “Pearl” will be released later in 2022 and follows the origin story of a villain in “X.”

“Maxxxine” begins with a grayscale clip of a child dancing in a style reminiscent of “Pearl.” The eerie video features none other than protagonist and namesake Maxine Minx.

The film then opens to the world of the ’80s, full of nostalgia and an eminently familiar atmosphere, and reveals that Maxine, now known as Maxxxine, is a hugely successful porn star. Given the nature of the film and the events of the previous films, it is to be expected that Maxxxine would follow this career path. In fact, the entire opening sequence of the film reflects the ultra-Southern evangelism of the 1950s that its predecessors spawned.

Mia Goth’s reinterpretation of the title character is, as expected, phenomenal. Goth successfully convinces audiences that the character will stop at nothing to achieve her dream of global fame.

Within the diverse tonal range of the “X” trilogy, “Maxxxine” takes on the look and feel of a classic ’80s slasher film, where an unknown killer stalks Hollywood figures. The world of “X” is still as bloody and gruesome as ever, relying heavily on thrills and violence to drive the plot. Although bloodshed is present and strong in the previous films, “Maxxxine” fails to capture the transgressive, hypersexual atmosphere of the first two films that made them original and worth watching.

The producers of the film wanted to achieve something bigger by incorporating larger themes such as religious trauma throughout the film. Unfortunately, this is difficult and perhaps even impossible to do in the setting of an 80s slasher film, as this type of film comes across as frivolous and too stereotypical to convey a strong sexual atmosphere.

It’s obvious that “Maxxxine” is trying to build on the rewatch value and internet success the series has had before, particularly with “Pearl.” The cinematic choice of murder and bloodlust shows this attempt to appeal to a young adult audience and achieve viral success. This is also evidenced by various “Pearl” quotes throughout the film, including the viral line “I’m a star.” While these quotes provide brief comic relief, they don’t contribute anything substantial to the film itself.

The climax and resolution of the film are satisfying but downright predictable.

Debut with a 75% Critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, “Maxxxine” is statistically a successful film, but compared to the rating of 92% With “Pearl,” its shortcomings become increasingly apparent. 2022’s “X” and fan favorite “Pearl” brought a shift in the horror genre, featuring a cheesy and over-the-top production style that “Maxxxine” cannot replicate.