MAXXXINE (2024) Movie Review | Does it live up to the anticipation?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- Maxxxine has been everyone's most anticipated movie this year, so how does it hold up in the trilogy? What do you think of the continuation of Maxine Minx's story?
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I feel like, of the trilogy, this one definitely had the least unique identity. Also, I didn’t realize this until the movie was over, but I think it’s exceedingly weird that we never actually saw Maxine filming any of her scenes for Puritan 2! Let us see her become a star!
Exactly! The whole movie is was waiting for her to some acting. How are we supposed to know that she’s a star? Cause she says so every chance she gets? I call some bulls***
@@_monamono_2382I think she isn't and was just having delusions of her being extremely famous and loved
I want Ti West to make the Puritan II, it would be a clever way to expand the universe but not really.
That could be fun, I'd totally be down.
If the 4th movie is just Puritan II, I'd be down.
that would be great lmao
Omg yes that would be perfect
That’s what I was thinking the next installment might be. Kinda legendary idea to create a movie titled “Puritan 2” without the first part even existing
Saw it opening night. I was a fan of everything but the ending. Pearl is unquestionably my favorite of the trilogy.
I didn’t hate the ending or where the story went! I didn’t think we needed that added on scene tho 👀
@@PossessedbyHorror
***Spoiler***
I hated that it ended with what felt like a generic shootout. I wanted something more unique and menacing to tie it up. Also realistically Maxine would have been shot or arrested for taking the shot after being warned to drop the gun. Really dug everything about the film before that.
@@pesky716Barbie got arrested twice last summer. And Maxine is on a set with no handcuffs? WTF.
@@pesky716THAT'S what I thought was gonna happen! Especially after the "thin line between famous and infamous" line and her dad saying she looked like a star in the searchlight. I thought she was gonna be happy to die famous as a killer and the murders were gonna be pinned on her.
@@oliversedgwick7236I would’ve loved to have seen the ending being all a delusion she had and her saying “I’m a f’in movie star “
I very much enjoyed this trilogy but I do not want to see it expanded. With you on that. My critique of Maxxxine was that... "West didn't make a movie set in the 80s, he made an 80s movie." For all the good and bad that comes with that.
Very this! The movie felt like a homage to 80s B-movies in the worst way… the pure cheese and mediocrity of many of them.
You hit the nail on the head here girl! The characters were not developed enough, and the whole thing just felt....lazy. One of the major things that irked me was seeing Halsey on all the promos, making you think she's another major character and she's in the film for maybe...5 minutes max. Not that I was seeing the movie for her, but it felt like they were trying to do a Drew Barrymore in Scream situation with her that just did not work. All in all I remember walking out of the theater thinking "I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed"
I mean sometimes that’s a good thing. But funnily that’s similar to A24’s other movie Hereditary, all the trailers & tv spots had Charlie in them & then the first 10 minutes she gets killed off which shocked my whole theater. It’s cool when they hide these spoilers but yeah it did feel a little abrupt in this movie.
@@packedentertainment2866yeah but Charlie did fit and she was a memorable character, also her death scene was shocking
her scenes got cut alongside other 20 minutes of scenes according to West
@@sappyzap ughh that sucks
Just FYI, directors usually have no say in the marketing and the departments are quite independent from each other.
Why didn't Maxxxine end up like Pearl but on the reverse side when she IS famous but kills to STAY famous? That would have suited the opening text too, and called back to the 'first' of the trilogy. Instead it was just like, scenes put together, and weird pacing with no clear idea of what to expand on beyond Pearl and X. If they had gone with the aforementioned idea, it would have been a perfect mirror to where the story began.
Honestly I thought that was gonna be the case! I usually avoid trailers and especially wanted to go into this one blindly for a fresh experience, but was ultimately disappointed by the ending. I think the first half of the movie was cool, but I did feel like some areas were dragging and Maxine was sitting there as a backdrop. I agree that the story would’ve been better as a whole if they put more of Pearl’s attributes into Max, since she had more of an impact than her father did story wise, which is why I feel like it falls flat by the finale. I suppose her blowing off his head is a callback to running over Pearl’s in the original, but I wish they would’ve explored that murderous side a little more, it would’ve been a nice spin on the final girl trope especially of the 80s
That would have been perfect. I feel like that would have been perfectly set up. Such a misfire
I really thought they would have had her killing for fame too. Some would say that’s predictable but they set that up in the first 2 movies so it was like all this set up with no pay off in the end
@@NikkieTwix that’s actually what I theorized when they announced this film! I do agree that some would think it’s predictable, but I would have preferred that route than the one we got here. Would have wrapped up the trilogy better imo
But she is like Pearl. She got fame, sure, but she is just as cut throat. She has and does kill for fame. Maxine is Pearl. Maxine could have let her father live, she damned him with her gun, right in the face. With zero remorse or guilt.
That Ally scene was NUTS! Probably the most gruesome part of the movie for me.
HAHAHA
this comment 🙌🙌
No pun intended 🫣
💃🏽🦶🏼🥜
@@GG_ADHD 👠 🥚🥚💁🏼♀️
I wished they would've mirrored Pearl's life with Maxine's in this movie. There's a line in X when Pearl tells Maxine that they are a lot alike, that should've been an easy prompt for this movie, have Maxine meet an end like Pearl's seeing as they were both chasing a dream that would cost them their lives.
YEP especially because they also showed Maxine doing the same dance as Pearl like it was all RIGHT THERE
Also, I thought that was supposed to be the point of the "X Factor." Like it's a double edged sword.
Although I think they didn’t do that because Maxine had changed her last name & died her hair blonde in the movie to escape her previous life. Pearl says in X that she always hated blinded & in the movie Pearl, Pearl believe that Mitzy got the Broadway part even though Mitzy made it clear that she didn’t, Pearl says to her that she always gets what she wants implying that she gets this likely cause she’s a blonde which is likely why Maxine died it to get on a similar path which would’ve went against the whole Pearl thing if she didn’t get the part. I think the point is that blonde woman get what they want no matter what. But idk
Why do y’all just want a pearl movie 2.0? Like jist watch pearl if maxxxine would’ve been another pearl 2.0 I’m wouldn’t be gagging
the whole point of the entire thing is that maxine is the complete opposite of pearl. maxine could've gone down the same path but she did everything pearl didn't - didn't give up. that's literally been the point since X 😂
It left me with more questions than answers
Me too. Primarily why??
@@PossessedbyHorrormaybe because they are planning on making another installment of the franchise? A tetralogy?
There is going to be a fourth film....
@@DrOz-007okay? What is it about?
@@DrOz-007oy vey, cash grab alert
"I'm curious if other people consider this a slasher."
It's actually funny that you brought that up because I have been contemplating that myself, since seeing the movie. To me, I feel like X was definitely a slasher, Pearl was more of a character study, and Maxxxine was both mixed into one. And I actually think that's where the movie kind of fell short for me: it couldn't decide what exactly it wanted to do, and, because of that, it didn't feel as focused as the other two.
Also, you hit the nail on the head regarding Maxine herself because I thought the same thing. The part where said "I intend to" in the trailer had me SO hyped because I thought she would be unhinged from that point, forward, and take down everyone who was targeting her. Especially after that alley scene. So to have gotten what we did felt a tad bit off because the Maxine at the end of X, like you said, didn't need anyone's help to do what she felt she needed to.
But overall, I really did enjoy the movie. I'm conflicted on whether I like X or Maxxxine more, but Pearl is also my undeniable favorite. One of my top 10 favorite movies of all time.
I'd say it's a drama with some thriller hints at best
The 👠🥎🥎 scene made me gasp 😭
I was like OKAY WHAT
That scene was crazy
It made every man gasp and close their legs, including me 😅
It was so cool
The zoom in on the busted 🥎s tho
Keep that honesty and realness. You are one of the best reviewers. Please don't stop! (Proud of you!)
the only new instalment i'd like to see added to the X universe is how Howard and Pearl's relationship developed after he came back from the war at the end of Pearl. I'd love to see a movie about them growing old together and both matching each other's freak and killing people that came their way
I’d like something on that too like wtf he came home and his sister was dead too and he was just cool with it ?
@@NikkieTwix exactlyyyyy I want his POV on the whole thing
I really wanted to love it but I was disappointed. I had rewatched X recently while showing it to some friends for their first time watching, and I realized that Maxine really isn’t that compelling of a “final girl” and I think those flaws were compounded in Maxxxine. She just wasn’t a compelling enough lead, ESPECIALLY coming off the heels of Mia Goth as Pearl. You hit the nail on the head by saying it seems like things just happen to her. The plot just sort of fell apart to me in the end. I expected some sort of rug pull or surprise and it was just “meh”.
Bobby Lynn deserved to be the final girl in that movie.
@@GenZealous Go watch 80s horror movies, many final girls didn't deserve to be final girls.
@@GenZealousagreed, Bobby Lynne was far more interesting and deserving of final girl status
@@GenZealousfor SURE
But also, the biggest issue is that the inclusion of the whole Night Stalker plotline feel pointless by the 3rd act.
Honestly, a better movie would either see this being alternative timeline where Maxine hunts for the Night Stalker to avenge her friends even attempting to save Molly Bennett. Basically a female version of Taxi Driver, but just like that movie, instead of being seen as some righteous vigilante, she's a blood thirsty psychopath, almost like Pearl was. The movie can either see her either confronting and/or killing the Night Stalker, only to see herself a bit in him. Or, even better: Don't even show the Night Stalker at all and leave it more ambiguous of who's killing people.
OR... maybe the movie could've seen Maxine getting the roles she wanted but never can earn. And no amount of blonde hair and perky breasts will ever get her the fame she believes she'd be entitled to. This lead her to become unhinged and take desperate measures like Pearl does in the last movie. Maxine ends up murdering people so it can convince those to hired her, even her own friends/castmates, despite not doing anything to her to deserve it. Maybe have her be the person they suspect for the Night Stalker murders, and it's only a matter of time before she's either caught or killed.
Also, I feel like you could've cut the dad and PI character John out of the movie. Perhaps, for a short cameo, like Maxine calling him or something, but maybe after a few years of him try searching for Maxine, he gave up, especially after she changed her number and identity. Maxine tells him that this is on her, not him, and whatever will happen to her, she'd face the punishment herself.
8:40 , Great point. I also wanted Maxxxine to end up like Pearl. It would have been poetic.
I'm personally done with Maxine's story, but I do want to see a sequel to pearl. I want to see how Howard deals with everything Pearl has done, (She killed his sister after all). How Pearl eventually convinces him to become like her (maybe she uses his traumas on the war cuz in the movie he seems like a "normal guy in love" unless I missed something). People coming to the house to check up on them only for Pearl to kill them and Howard cleaning up after her out of love until he's driven mad just like her... maybe end it with him killing his own mother for Pearl and then it leads to X.
I looooove your warm hair! So pretty!
honestly i loved it. i agree that the ending/villain weren’t strong but the VIBES WERE SOOOOO GOOD
I loved Maxxxine but the only thing i did have to complain about was the ending feeling rushed.
Agreed. When she got to the Hollywood sign and her father was already lying there bleeding out, my cousin and I were like ??? That’s it?? We waited two years for this 💀
Honestly. It could’ve had a bit more in it
The whole thing is rushed. Everything happens in 3 seconds
I played it back I thought i missed something lol
Love to see the red back! Red hair is such an amazing color on you✨️
It sucks that you‘re getting bad comments, I love your videos and never skip them. Been watching you since way back (like 2010ish, probably an old acc), I found you because I was looking up mac face and body reviews💀 You‘ve been such a comfort person/creator for me!💜💜
I was so dissatisfied in this movie. The difference between this, X and Pearl is so crazy. Like what happened!?
An easy cash grab, not inspired anymore
Deliberately trying to do something different, for better or for worse, instead of a total rehash.
Exactly my thoughts.
This has a bigger budget, cast of big name actors Kevin Bacon Giancarlo Esposito Lily Collins, great production quality shot in retro film grain and nice 80s backdrop, attention to detail is top notch. But the story is mundane and predictable. Whereas first two despite a small budget limited cast and single location the story was unpredictable.
I really thought that X and Pearl were leading to something very different for the character of Maxine. Honestly... almost like her becoming an Aileen Wuornos in the end. I thought the parallels between her and Pearl would manifest more...but triggered by the industry cutting her down. Less self-induced like Pearl but ultimately gnarly tragic and unhinged.
Nope. Once Maxine went blonde in this new movie, she was likely gonna get everything she wanted because of it like Pearl believed for blondes.
This is what I was hoping for. Maybe that would've been too obvious, but I think it also would've been more interesting.
Been waiting for this one and knew you’d agree it should have been left as a two film series. Now I can’t wait for your longlegs review
Omg I’m seeing it tomorrow and trying to be cautiously excited haha
@@PossessedbyHorrorme too I can’t wait but I’m really trying not to big it up too much lol
@@sefonthemoonfr, it looks really good & the advertising for it has been amazing. But I don’t want to overhype it either & then end up disappointed. So imma keep my expectations low or at least grounded.
@@PossessedbyHorror@PossessedbyHorror it's already proclaimed as one the most traumatizing horror experiences of the decade. Mmkay, we'll see haha it's still Martyrs for me!😱💥
@@PossessedbyHorrorJust saw it tonight! Highly recommend!!!
I’m gonna be honest I wasn’t a fan of this one. Absolutely zero tension the entire movie to the point of it being boring in spots. It’s shot and acted very well, but the script was noticeably weaker than both X and Pearl. My least favorite of the three for sure.
Facts! Incredible let down
Pearl was simply way better. I imagine a lot of people like myself only checked out this trilogy because of Pearl. Honestly not expecting much more from these guys after this.
Literally this! I'm a huge Pearl fan, probably watched it at least 7-8 times so far, and so I went into Maxxxine with very high expectations because of that. Unfortunately I found so many parts throughout the movie to be incredibly boring to the point where towards the end I was struggling to stay focused and kept gravitating towards my phone. It felt super underwhelming and there were so many opportunities to draw amazing parallels between Pearl and Maxine which were completely missed. Just really disappointing overall :(
saw it a few days ago and every time I went on youtube I was checking to see if this had been uploaded haha
Maxxxine wrapped up the trilogy. Another installation is just a money grab.
Exactly what I think… we don’t need any more at this point.
At least wait a few years and give us something to miss!
@@PossessedbyHorror I saw someone say that Maxxxine had off screen deaths on Twitter and it put me off.
No one is hiring Shia Lebeauf so his girlfriend is pulling double duty
Supposedly, the fourth film (if he does make one) is going to take place after Pearl and explore why her husband goes along with her in X. @@PossessedbyHorror
Ngl as someone who follows horror news a lot, I was kinda surprised just how little Halsey‘s part was in that movie!
I was also (happily) surprised to see Lilly Collins on screen!! Didn’t know she was part of the movie! And they kind of made her a bit unrecognisable! Had to do a double take to make sure it’s her.
i was also so burnt out on 80s nostalgia, but i absolutely LOVED all three of the movies you mentioned, i felt like they all kinda had their own unique take on it
Yes I agree!!
One of my biggest issues is the Night Stalker felt like a missed opportunity. He was mentioned all throughout the movie but didn't have ANYTHING to do with the plot line whatsoever. I was hoping for him to play a big role in Maxine's story (maybe even rewriting history like Tarantino did with the ending of Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood)
I was hoping the villain would be the twist. That it is the night stalker but maybe her daddy was pulling the strings.
She was pretty passive for most of the movie with just flashes of badass.
When the cop said you could save the next one I thought it was going to shift into gear but nope.
I was kind of hoping she would be more like Pearl, doing whatever it takes to get the star role or at least be a badass final girl antihero but it didn't do either.
More style than substance. Definitely missing the umph that would have closed the trilogy with a bang.
This Exactly!! I was waiting for her to go crazy (just like Pearl) and it never happened.
This Exactly!! I was waiting for her to go crazy (just like Pearl) but it never happened.
I truly appreciate your honest feedback. I find I agree the majority of the time with it. I think we can feel the sincerity and just thank you for that
X was a horror movie. Pearl was a character story drama. Maxxxine was a thriller… and we do need to bring back the thriller… I loved this so much. X is still the best. But this movie was just FABULOUS
X is def my favorite too.
I was hoping the thriller elements would be more like the shining and less literal or just be a full on slasher
I always appreciate your honesty in your reviews! ❤
If there is a fourth, since all three are kinda different subgenres already, I think it’d be cool to see a prequel for Maxine that’s more folk horror of her escaping her father’s cult. I think if we see her in a traumatic gruesome situation before X, it might explain why she didn’t seem very affected by the trauma during X but is starting to be affected by it later on
I would LOVE a fourth one following Pearl again. Could do the 1930s/40s period piece vibe
I was really confused with how little we saw of Halsey and Lily Collins considering how much promo they were involved in, and overall just felt very “meh” about the movie. I hope the franchise stops at three 😅
I could've appreciated more gore, but I loved it anyway. And they did a great job on 80s branding. Even the product labels were perfect. I think some (all) of the attention focused on Ramirez should've been spent on her background/family experience.
I agree about the “in your face” 80s elements 😭 I promise I didn’t need A “1985” text, Ronald Reagan clip, or references to Prince & St Elmo’s Fire to know it was the 80s
For real, the people who liked it always say "it was inspired by the 80s" and reminded them of some 80s Director but like what else is good about 'Maxxxine' (plot wise)? like I don't gaf about the 80s💀😭
Every movie of the trilogy has a title card of the year it’s set in
Pearl had a 1918 title card
X had a 1979 title card
And maxxxine 1985
So yes it is gonna have a 1985 title card if it’s set in 1985
Then you missed the whole point of this trilogy. Each one has its own style.
@@CursedBarbieoh good catch! thanks for the pointer because I forgot about that in the rest of the trilogy. I more meant to say that the 1985 text, along with the awesome costume design, colors, and music was enough for me to get the idea where the time was set
I actually appreciated the montage in the beginning. It felt like it was trying to show that this isn't the glorified 80s that most people look back on, but I also feel like it fell flat in bringing the corrupted 80s to life. The only hint at how bad the 80s were, after the montage, was the bumbling cops looking to beat their chest at Maxine instead of actually finding out who did this.
I feel very similar about Maxxxine. I think it’s totally fine - I can’t even put a finger on anything that I disliked. I was just a bit underwhelmed and I thought they were gonna do more to thematically bookend the trilogy
The ode to Theda on the Hollywood star. Chef’s kiss
I love that they did a whole trilogy tbh.
Pearl was unhinged,
I liked X (not my genre at all but still),
And this one I was waiting for because I just like the actress a LOT.
She’s pure talent.
I had the same feeling about this one...I missed that artistic connection between Pearl and X, and how different they are and how well connected they are at the same time.
had a blast watching this movie with a friend really appreciate the talent and creativity to put film together thought maxxxine was a great lead
The soundtrack and sound engineering was spot on I thought
thanks for review too nice to hear others thoughts ;)
tragic story though about what happened at that time ( Richard Ramirez) feel for the families of the victims
I did like it a lot. The ending wasnt great but the rest of the movie was really fun. Visually it was beautiful. Pearl will always be my favorite. I wouldnt mind a 2nd Pearl movie for the 4th installation of the series.
Actually, connected to your anecdote at the end, I kinda wonder if I would have enjoyed it more as a stand alone?
I feel weird cause for me the one i don't really love is 'X' (still think is great just not for me)
My rank is: 1 - Pearl,
2- Maxxxine, 3 - X.
But agree with many of your views on Maxxxine! I feel like something is missing, and Max feels with less... Rage, when you would expect to be the oposite, but still enjoyed it (bessides the horrible alley scene) and LOVED the end at the Hollywood letters, i think is such an iconic way to close a saga really cinema-related.
I just hope theres NOT a 4th movie, i think that would be too much... Unless they do 'The puritian ll' or something like that, that would be fun.
I actually loved this movie and its probably my favorite in the trilogy. But I 100% agree with the fact that it was a disappointment with how tame it kinda felt throughout, even I was expecting more kills and moments with Maxine being a badass.
I still wonder how the "killer" had the recordings of a lot of stuff that he would not be supposed to have.....
And the dropped what would be Easter eggs but they didn’t seem to lead anywhere. Like the mystery figure in the Bates House window.
@@gijanetexas5770I think the mystery figure in the window was old Pearl, but it was created by Maxine's ptsd. 🤔
I was surprised by Maxxxine in some ways, but I also think I wanted more from it. The ending felt rushed to me and I wanted more from the side characters, I feel like they didn’t get enough screen time. Anyway, Pearl is definitely still my favorite of the trilogy. Looking forward to seeing Longlegs this weekend though.
What I loved about X was the supporting characters and their personalities, without detracting from Maxine as the central character. Yet in MaXXXine, side characters were introduced briefly only to be killed shortly after offscreen.
I really enjoyed your review and thoughts on Maxxxine, thanks for sharing them!
I liked it, especially that Ti West formed a trilogy of films that occupy different genres.
X- 70s grindhouse slashers (specifically TCM)
Pearl- 40s and 50s technicolor like Wizard of Oz meets Hitchcock
Maxxxine- late 70s-early 80s noir a la Paul Schrader, Brian DePalma, and William Friedkin.
One on the worst things horror franchises do is become overly repetitive in the name of fan service. With these films, they each stand on their own.
Pretty certain this is the fastest I’ve ever clicked a video notification of yours 😅 I agree!! I went in with such low expectations that I was pleasantly surprised by the movie itself, but it was marketed as a slasher and what we got was more of a mystery/thriller. I’m also glad there was less of a focus on the night stalker. My biggest critique is how the writing needed to be tighter, characters more focused, storyline better fleshed out etc.
tbh i think maxine could have been one of the most compelling characters of this decade had the story stopped with X. i love her so I'm def excited for the 4th movie but i'm not hopeful 😭
some of the side characters acting really took me out of the film & i think the only thing that made it an R-rating were the slasher elements to it but the film felt disjointed & in two halves for me!
I agree! Also just the characters introduced to obviously be killed off later…
@@PossessedbyHorror this !!! I always hope for some writing that’ll make me think “ wait … maybe they won’t be ? “ - hard to pay attention to a character who’s clearly gonna die in a couple of minutes 😅
Keep sharing your honest opinions, even if some people disagree, more people appreciate the genuine content
also hated that maxxxine was basically the opposite of a girls girl here after all she went thru. she LET lily collins die 😭
So agree with 8:00. This movie doesn't feel like it's about Maxxxine at all to me. "X" was a casual slasher horror movie with a little twist that the killers were old people, and she is the only survivor. "Pearl" was great for the character, even though I don't really like movies set in old times Mia Goth played Pearl so perfectly, and that end monologue just chef's kiss. With "Maxxxine" it felt she is just a side character, the alley scene showed her character the best then everything was just going around her.
I loved Pear and liked X, Maxxine is fine, I don't think it's a terrible movie, it's just ok.
I liked the music and Mia's acting, as well as the gore scenes.
(Minor spoilers ahead)
I totally agree with everything you said about Maxine as a character and the lack of development.
I have to say I had a problem with the tone, I felt like it tried thriller and slasher and comedy(?), and the mix didn't work for me.
I didn't like the ending, It felt kind out of place. I know at beginning they mentioned the satanic thing, which is also a very 80s thing, but it felt weird, I don't know.
Also, I found the acting of the cult leader at the end kinda bad, too exaggerated and even funny, I guess it was intentional but it just clashed with the tone.
Also I would have liked a bit more blood, like I know there are some shocking scenes, but they felt kinda isolated in a way, maybe is the tone thing again.
Maxxine was like a paint by number horror film. The safe route.
Cannot wait to hear your thoughts on Longlegs 👀
"Try to hang on, Maxxxiiiiine"
-Donald Fagen lyrics, 1982
I would not be here at your channel if it wasn’t for MaXXXine . I really like the film having no clue the “ trilogy “ existed when I saw the film last night. Thank you for your video !
It’s so strange because, in all honesty, I didn’t know this was a trilogy, I came in thinking the title was referring to the main character’s profession and I left the movie theatre feeling like this might genuinely be my fav movie of 2024!
That alley scene was delicious fun! I needed a great laugh that day😱🤣
Maxxxine was Xellent!😉
And a killer soundtrack!
A superb close to this xtrodinary story. If there's more story, great! I'm always looking forward to what mia does next🥰
For me expectation was high, but execution was just perfect. Nothing bad to talk about. yes maybe i would want something more there and there but the way it's made it's just as perfect as it is and it's a complete package. So in the end it goes to the personal taste for others. Loved it and really hope we will see more of Mia Goth in this kind of style of movies.
Nah
Maxxxine is such an over-the-top, on the nose pastiche of 80's horror and cop tropes. It was so ridiculous but such a blast.
when will decade movies start focusing in the 90s? 😭
This is my movie of the year so far, I think the whole trilogy is masterpieces and in my favorites list but this may be my favorite of them
I think Maxine would definitely have those PTSD moments(she was a final girl and has had to keep it to herself all those years) especially since they start happening after the tape is dropped off she has a total attitude change for a bit after that happens. Which is exactly why I think the alley scene works fine she came out nd was like “uno fukkonmi I fukkonyu!!” falls asleep like a baby then is smacked with the past, reminder of her dead friends and who she was before all that. I think the events of X made her ruthless, the reminder of the past stripped her of that for a bit and she had to do whatever to get it back to reach stardom. I also really like how it’s not stand alone I feel like it would feel too much like it’s trying to be like Pearl if it went that route and didn’t heavily tie in X and obviously if you go into a movie not knowing it’s a sequel that’s more on you than the quality of the film if you leave not understanding.
I do wish it was more violent though and Pearl is perfect!
Pearl is life. Pearl is love. And Pearl is kind.
Completely agree with your review. I loved everything about Pearl and was really excited to see where the story was going. Did leave the cinema a bit underwhelmed
An amazing portrayal of the 80s is the show Halt and Catch Fire! They emphasize the tech of the time bc it’s focused on home computers becoming popular, and the start of the internet. But it never feels cliche and feels very grounded in the time
I haven’t seen it yet but I loved X and Pearl and I’m a big halsey fan so I’m excited to see her performance!
They took the safe route with who the villain was. Yes, her past should pop up, but I was hoping the villain would be a twist.
I definitely agree that this is the weakest in the trilogy. And I also was expecting it to be my #1 fave movie of the year. Def didn’t love it immediately like I did X and Pearl. I still give it a 7/10 and will own it on physical media lol. Went it with lower expectation which was good. I agree with you about Maxine being a bit different in this one character-wise. I REALLY wanted some more of her yelling in this (not the Pearl kind of scream, but the Maxine from X kinda scream/shout). There’s were moments but I felt her character would’ve yelled more like in X. Also I was hoping for a bit more gore (specifically the Night Stalker killings) but like what we got was good but was also hoping/expecting more. I enjoyed the soundtrack and the cinematography was excellent as always. And the reveal in the third act was obviously predictable if you’ve seen X so wasn’t as surprising but still interesting. And the ‘climax’ of the movie wasn’t my fave and a little easy/convenient for me. Halsey was good but I didn’t really like her accent😅 Elizabeth Debicki’s character (Liz Bender) was surprisingly one of my faves in the movie. I’m hoping they don’t make a fourth movie but IF they do, I’d rather see more of Pearl in her middle aged years and what kind of shenanigans she got up to then. Like if they had any military men or or farm helpers or someone staying in that bunkhouse and how Pearl would act in those situations and see when Howard starts getting into the killing like we see in X. We can take a break from Maxine’s character now😂 I need some more unhinged Pearl in my life😂🤩
It was giving Halloween ends lowkey. With how that trilogy went.
Lol @ the lady not seeing the other movies beforehand 😂😂😂 also I completely agree with your review. It was a nice wrap up pf the trilogy and that’s about it.
Definitely feels less inspired than the other two, and I really don’t know it was trying to say with the ending. Especially since to me with pearls character it felt like a critique of obsession with stardom and vanity. However something I really enjoyed was how it portrayed puritanicalism and Christianity. How the people who often hate sex are enjoyers of it and are obsessed with it
the theatre i saw it in actually improved the experience significantly. a lot of laughs and reactions from people helped to keep the pace and make things more interesting. not my favorite but its clear ti west can sell tickets and i hope it can lead to more films from him.
Can I just say I LOVE your new hair!!!
At the very least I look forward to inevitable future Ti West-Mia Goth collabs
So my ranking of this trilogy, X > Pearl > Maxxxine. I know most people were obsessed with Pearl but I think I saw the promo for it too many times and a lot of the tension was taken away from some of the best scenes. However it’s still a work of art and I think it works really well as a prequel or standalone. To me, Maxxxine doesn’t seem like as much of a work of art unfortunately and doesn’t work as a stand-alone obviously. I still liked it enough, and I think it’s pretty difficult to make a stellar 3rd movie in a franchise ( I can’t think of any that are done excellently). If ti west does choose to continue this franchise I hope he picks it back up with the next one and stays away from tropes. I’m not sure if Maxxxine was meant to appeal to wider audiences or be more mainstream, but if that’s the case I’d like to franchise to go back to being outlandish lol
I honestly liked this movie the most of the entire trilogy. Mostly because it was very different for me than the other 2.
I’m low key hoping if there’s a fourth installment that it’s about what comes after Pearl. Like how Howard becomes involved and things escalate into an operation.
i’m so MAD they fumbled so hard
Will definitely watch love lies bleeding, thx for recommendation
My main problem with this movie is that the media said it was going to be a mix between Giallo and Scream (two of my favorite things), so I was super excited and had lots of expectations. But sadly it was none of those two things.
There was no mystery since the killer's identity became obvious in the opening scene (even the trailer hinted at it), and there were no plot twists at all, almost as if the writer was counting on the viewers to be stupid enough to not put the pieces together despite all the "in your face" evidence. As for the gore element, there was hardly any. The kills were few and nearly all of them off-screen.
I didn't hate the movie, but I was very disappointed.
Pearl was my favorite of the 3.
I love this movie. It is my all of the trilogy.
It's the period (80s) a lot of current filmmakers grew up in. Ti West feels like a guy who would love to teach a film history class.
I didn’t know this movie was part of a trilogy! I watched it as a stand alone movie and liked it. To me it was a noir film with social commentary about the Hollywood industry and morality. I did feel like the main character was a little flat though, since she doesn’t talk much and kinda has the same emotional tone throughout.
Unrelated but I just saw that Kate Siegel and Mike Flanagan are going to direct some of the next V/H/S installment? I'm super excited about that! Wasn't sure if you had seen that announcement.
I saw an interview with Ti West a while ago, and obviously, Maxxxine was a big topic. He was asked if he was planning another movie in the franchise. He said that he didn't have anything planned, but it wasn't off the table.
Personally, I wouldn't hate a story that let's us see some of what Pearl's married life is like sometime between the end of Pearl and the start of X.
One thing you have to realize about Love Lies Bleeding is that it takes place in 1989. The tail end of the decade. Whereas MaXXXine takes place in 1985. The heart of the decade. I was an 80's kid so I can decipher the difference. I love both films. Thanks for your review!
So so pleased to see this review. And so delighted you liked the 80snesss of it! Probably the most entertaining of the trilogy to me, but Pearl will always have my heart. She’s THE star in my eyes!
If we’re getting a 4th film, I’d like to see what happened with Pearl between the ending of her film & leading up to X
Absolutely agree with everything you said! Some of the side characters (like Kevin Bacon) took me out of the film…His performance felt over the top and not in a good way. Also, I’m from the south and it irritated me hearing his fake southern accent. Mia Goth does a decent job with it though. Overall, it was an okay movie. Definitely the weakest in the trilogy.
I’d say the movie overall set itself very well, with the opening showing Maxine setting up her own plot of trying to be a star, her trauma from X, and the alley scene showing off how she’s a threat to those who appose her. Her big break with her being casted for it was done well, but the problem was it failed to sail at the rate it was going after that.
With Maxine not really being much of a character after said events, she becomes more of a normal person if this was real life and feels like watching a bystander in some moments. Her refusing to talk to the police when people she knows die then switching up when another person she knows die, we watch her go throughout her life just dealing with the consequences in the last film (with the guy played by Kevin bacon with the blackmail) more than dealing with the new ones in this film (the “Night Stalker” who turned out to be her dad). It doesn’t make it too interesting when the protagonist doesn’t have a problem they’re looking to overcome.
Idk these are my critiques and I kind of write this on a whim so sorry if I got something wrong (plus my memory fades very easily after a while and I saw this on the 13th). Overall though I did enjoy it and rate it a 7.5/10. Definitely the worst in the X series, but that’s not to say it was bad.
I think this movie shouldn't have dealt with PTSD, and just gone into mirroring Pearl and Maxine as individuals. In a way, Pearl was a lot more controlled by emotion, and Maxine was not, hence why she survives and goes on to follow her dream of being a movie star. It was weird seeing her scared and traumatized for half the movie, especially considering that the movie starts with the alley scene, in which we see she's just not afraid.
I thought the pacing was weird, the 80s news flashing was badly placed, I felt like the movie was trying to be Pearl and X at the same time and it didn't work for me. There were lots of unnecessary characters, while the movie mainly focused on Maxine, but then there's no development of either/or, and the ending just sucked for me. It was fairly predictable, characters dropped hints all the time, and there were a lot of bad flashbacks to chew the story for the audience. And the "villain" motivation was just so weird for me and it didn't fit the reality at all. I think Maxine deserved a better ending than that.
I loved "Maxxxine", because it gives imo a good closure to Maxine after "X", in which there was this material still unsolved with Maxine's father who is a religious cult leader btw (remember there was some kind of emphasis with shorts or audios of him preaching and talking about his daughter lost in sin😆). It was a fun trilogy, not supposed to be something to think "deep" stuff out of it. Maxine is so focused on being a "star" that all problems around were only shaping her adult version, I feel first movie she could be more brutal because it was only her against 2 really old psychos isolated in the middle of nowhere. But your review is highly appreciated, everyone has a different perspective 🖤✨️