I've been noticing this a lot lately where filmmakers don't wanna risk being too offensive. House of the Dragon has been going soft on the violence and female nudity compared to the source material and now it seems MaXXXine is doing the same. I miss the days of directors like Michael Winner or Lucio Fulci who didn't give a damn who they pissed off. They made the films they wanted to make. It'll probably be an entertaining flick but not a classic one.

I made the mistake of criticizing A24's output to my movie friends. You'd think I''d told them their children were ugly.

Maxxxine looks like a pastiche of slashers and steamy '80s thillers sanitized for A24 consumers. Toothless, faux nostalgia for viewers who were too young to be have been there and lack the curiosity and fortitude for Ferrera, DePalma, Russell and Fulci's spicer films. "Silver Toes" Hancock, have you seen Fulci's The Devil's Honey?

Your not SICK _ TWISTED. YOU JUST WANT THE REAL FILM🎥

I don't know. A24 is getting more recongnized and more commercialized as a studio. I think its them and not Ti West or Mia Goth that are trying to keep it clean. Much like what has been said based on the recent rumor that they want to play things safer and do IP. This is a trilogy after all and I don't think they want to diminish returns like they felt when Beau is Afraid came out. Let's see what happens.

That last scene In Pearl was the best of the first 2 films easy. I'll be checking out Maxxxine as there is nothing else to see in the theaters this summer, besides DP3?

I thought the first two were above average horror movies. This is the 2nd review saying the same thing you did: doesn't satisfy expectations.

X was great, Pearl was mid, and this one seemed unnecessary

X was a good movie, pearl was underwhelming and over long. I have no expectations for maxxine

I am always here for films that punch out at Satanic Panic and religious fundies, so I will enjoy that aspect of the film. Given some of the crap certain states have been pulling lately, I am all for any entertainment that is bold enough to call out religious fanaticism. That said, Puritans on both sides of the aisle are (have been) the death of provocative entertainment, at least in the cinema. Horror works best when it is hard-R entertainment full of gore, sex, nudity, and violence, not when it is tamed for "modern sensibilities." I was hoping that MaXXXine would be a love letter to giallo in all of the best ways. I am bummed that it is not. Thank you so much for your honest review, James. I am still going to support this one in theaters, but you have helped me lower my expectations. I always appreciate your work, and when I get a little more free time, I will definitely watch your 80's erotic thrillers video. I can't wait!

I agree with everything about maxxxine . My only thing I disagree With us X being better than pearl . Otherwise great review! MaXXXine 5/10

In a violent nature was another one. Talk about a movie that was screeeeeeeaming for a topless or skinny dipping scene. Yet they show over the top, gratuitous violence like you won't believe. There's a reason sydney sweeney is popular with middle of the road acting. And yes I'll say it : they have no problem with gay sex, male frontal or rear nudity. A lame turn of events. Do we wonder why cinema is dying ? Gutless artists.

MaXXXine was definitely one of my most anticipated movies of the year(Long Legs as well). I did enjoy the movie overall, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was pretty tame(save for the ball stomp)😱 I feel like this has been a recurring thing, especially with horror movies or anything with an R/TV-MA rating. It's like their balls have been stomped on😂 I will say this did make me want to rewatch X again. I thought it was ok, I much preferred Pearl, but that is completely based off Mia Goth's performance. She's incredible👍🏻 I'm a fan of Ti West movies, so I'll definitely check out anything he does in the future.

While Maxxxine was one of my most anticipated movies simply because of what was promised overall. The movie for the most part delivered but I do agree the third act and lack of kills or gore hurt the overall film tremendously. Maxxxine is a tame film compared to the other two and just an underwhelming finale to a pretty good trilogy. I really hope we get another Maxine centered movie to really close the trilogy because honestly after watching all three, Pearl really shouldn’t be part of this and should be considered a one off stand alone.

Man, this movie started with a bang, and lost all its steam in the third act with the reveal of the main baddie. It lost all its momentum within literally 60 seconds, and went from “a B movie with A ideas” to “a B movie with B ideas”. It’s unfortunately my least favorite in the series. Just want to say that Kevin Bacon’s character was freaking awesome. He should play more roles like that.

Longlegs is gonna be a runaway success

Mia Goth deserved the cult art version of this film but Ti West always had his eyes set on safe commercial success.

The two horror films that started my journey were 13 ghosts and jeepers creepers. Also nosferatu is my most anticipated film of the year! Mainly because of the historical importance of the original black and white version.

Great review! Good points were made 😮

I loved Pearl, was a bit dissappinted with X, and am bummed that this apparently didnt ramp things up. Definitely taking the kids to Longlegs though. I like to sneak up behind them and do that creepy asss "wooooo" from the trailer.

I kinda, sorta didn't mind the movie for a while but kept thinking too much homage stuff, and Ti NEEDS to stamp home some originality in this that gets real crewpy and disturbing, but NOPE The final.act had a duality for me - Wasn't as bad as I expected based on all the non-spoiler reviews I caught where even those who liked the movie didn't really like the act yet at the same time the whole idea of it was just goofy. While I had a much better movie in my head and even posted some of what I thought could happen, which was WAY off, on a nonspoiler vid last week, I took what was given - It just wasn't effective BUT the performances were ALL great! I feigned a clap after the restaurant scene with Kevin and Mia because I absolutely LOVED Kev's portrayal and the woman to my left who was with her hubby/bf/whoever subtly laughed at it. Giancarlo was my 2nd fave, and then came the cops but one caveat, probably the biggest one, regarding the performances was the LACK of Mia's. The movie is called Maxxxine yet it could have been called "Everybody Else." because while she WAS the focal point of the movie, at the same time, it felt like she wasn't. Her best part, which I had already seen when it was released the qeek prior, was her audition. Her swag level was on 1000 afterward, and she was hilarious, even the way she drove like an absolute MANIAC. I did like how she handled that mime/clown dude in the alley altho I was really wondering if that was a scene she was shooting cuz dude's lines delivery was comically bad. Lol. I also liked how she decided SHE was gunna end the charade once and for all by going to the house. There were logic holes in this, such as the Kevin Bacon scene - Why not find out who he was working for, then?? There were a couple more, at least, that escapes me rigbt now. Also, why did dude have the Maxine's screenmate cut up and sitting in a suit case, conveniently waiting and not securely locked for Maxine to knock it over and the body parts, again, conveniently fall out to show who it was. The face also matched the face ahe made when talking with Maxine at the trailer. Hoooowww convenient. I'll leave it there. I wanted MICH better from this finale as I believe I heard that Ti has an idea for a 4th movie yet it won't have characters from the trilogy, which is a shame. He also said he liked the Maxine character and wanted her to have a happy ending. I thought he could go full circle a bit with Maxine ACTUALLY have the life that Pearl was delusional about having prior to marrying but then Maxine stardom falls off a sudden cliff, sending her spiring into madness because she is blacklisted from Hollywoord. No matter how hard she tries, nobody wants her, and her name is tarnished. Giancarlo and the director of the Puritan movies can carch bad ones because they turn on her too, and she murders them in revenge. There's more, but I'll leave it with Maxine eventially getting old and looking like Pearl and having the same tendencies which leads to her demise. Edits for spelling and grammar.

not seen a single review (purposely) going tonight cause Mia is a fu***** star!

i saw this without having seen the other two movies. i thought it was pretty fun for a slasher movie. or maybe mia goth is just compelling onscreen. but why doesn't she have eyebrows?

where did all the real horror director's go? We need filmmakers who aren't concerned with playing it so safe.

How you feel about “Maxxxine” is how I feel about “Civil War.” When directors have an opportunity to go for the jugular, they should take it. Don’t hold back.

That was weird . Giallos were known to be brutal. This took everything from giallo except for its brutality. Was looking for deep red , manaic , new york ripper , tenebrae etc

Looking forward to this

Not sure why but I an not getting audio

Maybe I should go see Horizon again instead. It was 3 hours long, and not always the fastest paced movie, but I never felt bored. Fully engaged.

The Fear Street trilogy on Netflix would give many of these horror films a run for their money on shock and gore (especially Fear Street 1978). Love those films. Also, A Quiet Place Day One is horror so it is the biggest horror hit of the year. Maybe Alien: Romulus can beat it, which is also horror/sci-fi.

Your voice remains me of David Gordon green

Quick question, but how tame is it in comparison to X and Pearl?

I am going to say it, I really liked it. There was not a shit load of kills but what kills therer were they were great and it didn't need that much T&A given the story has her aiming for the mainstream. Here is the thing while people think it was underwhelming but in my view it hit the sweat spot. I have seen movies that are pastich like this one that over do it and wind being three hours with a story that should have taken 90 minutes. This movir gave me a fun ride with a few amazing kills and it didn't over stay its welcome.

Great review I agree with you perfectly

i thought X was pretty lame. skipped pearl. i might see this one.. but is it just me? or is mia goth doing an impression of charlize theron in monster?

Ah, you see, "Pearl" for me was the outlier -- and I expected this closer to resemble the middling product which was "X." Executionally "Pearl" was simply a different type of film for both West and Goth, hard to recreate that experience.

"If the character payed by Debicki had directed MaXXXine, it would have been a much more interesting movie" OUCH!

Ryan Reynolds mincing as usual, and the ongoing jukebox muzak was a bit much, otherwise it's just another Marvel movie that should be enjoyable enough for most ticket buyers, masturbatory for the fanboys (moreso for the fangirls perhaps), and mostly reliable box-office fare (especially this summer). I don't think it's gonna save any universe though.

Bummer! I was looking forward to this. Now I wont even bother buying the film or renting it. I hope A24 is happy!

it's a beautiful film visually. Kevin Bacon was kind of strange though

Im really looking forward to this movie. Im a huge fan of Mia Goth and the previous two films so I know I'll atleast have a good time but I'm managing my expectations.... I could totally be wrong but they could be toning it down for that zoomer/tick tok audience. 🤷‍♂️ lol

It reminded me a lot of Scream 3.

Doesn't really surprise me that it's mid because I felt like X and Pearl were mid movies. Nothing special at all.

Just watched it. Not impressed. Enjoyed myself, but not what I expected AT ALL. So typical. Plot was plain, with maxxxine jammed into it. Tired of ( let's be honest) Caucasian white male religious / Christian male bad guys in every movie. Shocking lack of porn involved in the plot. Movie was a little sterile. Is A24 going clean n sterile? Finally: felt the movie was very feminine. My daughter loooooooved it.

Dang, that spoiler popped out before i could pause the video 😞

But, her father is elderly old man?

The movie is a vibe. I liked it.

To me X was very overhyped but I loved pearl

Only reason 5 night a Freddy’s made money was because of the young demo and video game following. Awful movie but the young people went.

Shame💚🇬🇧🌱

I never really cared for Mia Goth, she's a bit overrated

All 3 of these Mia goth movies suck. They're not scary. Which I guess would be fine if they were campy but their not. On the plus side, hopefully this new one completes the trilology and Mia goth and ty whatshisname just stop with this franchise

Why spoil the movie so quickly , couldn’t run back to my phone in time . At least put in title fuck

Mia Goth is annoying