As "MaXXXine" (2024 release; 104 min.) opens, it is "1985" and Maxine Minx, the now 33 yo star of adult entertainment, is doing a screen test for "Puritan II", a horror film which Maxine hopes will get her the fame she desperately seeks. In a parallel story, a serial killer nicknamed the Night Crawler is terrorizing Los Angeles... At this point 12 are less than 10 minutes into the movie.
Couple of comments: this is the latest from writer-producer-director Ti West and the last of the "X" trilogy of movies. Please note that you can watch "MaXXXine" as stand-alone movie (as I did). The movie turns out to be a strange mix of a horror film and a Hollywood homage at the same time. I must admit I liked the Hollywood homage part better than the horror part. Mia Goth is great in the title role, but for me Kevin Bacon's juicy role as the private investigator stands out even more. Be sure to keep an eye out as well for Lily Collins as the lead in the first "Puritan" movie.
"MaXXXine" was released in US theaters in early July but I missed it. The movie is currently rated 73% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. It is now showing on HBO and streaming on Max, where I saw it the other night. If you are a fan of horror movies or of Hollywood homage movies, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.
