Ti West's 'Maxxxine' concludes horror trilogy exploring stardom through 1980s cinema references

Ti West's horror trilogy concludes with 'Maxxxine', set in 1985, following Mia Goth's character Maxine Minx six years after the events of 'X'. The film explores themes of aspirational stardom as Maxine attempts to transition from adult film to mainstream Hollywood. Director Elizabeth Bender describes the work as a B-movie with 'A ideas', though the article questions whether it delivers substantive themes beyond stylistic homage. West draws heavily on Brian De Palma's visual style, specifically referencing 'Body Double' (1984), while also incorporating nods to Paul Schrader's 'Hardcore' (1979) and Giallo films. The murder mystery plot involves Kevin Bacon as a blackmailing private investigator and killings mimicking the Night Stalker. Mia Goth's performance anchors the film, continuing her dual roles from previous installments where she played both Maxine and Pearl. The trilogy began with 2022's 'X', a retro slasher about 1979 pornographers, followed by the prequel 'Pearl' set in 1918. Both earlier films examined the connection between female ambition and violence through Goth's characters. 'Maxxxine' features the Psycho house as a key location, serving as both set piece and metaphorical commentary on horror cinema history. The article critiques the film's reliance on replication rather than innovation while praising Goth's compelling portrayal of complex femininity.