While 'Maxxxine' boasts impressive cinematography, it ultimately falls short of expectations. The predictability of the antagonist's identity detracts from the suspense, as I discerned the stalker's identity with relative ease early on. Additionally, the film's restrained approach to nudity and gore feels strange given its subject matter centered on the adult film industry! the filmmakers missed an opportunity to fully embrace the provocative potential inherent in their narrative.
My issue with Ti West has always been that he almost never seems to know why he takes his stories in the directions he does. His main weakness is justifying his own narratives, whether that's saying something, or just trying to reach a satisfying conclusion at all. I think X was the one movie he did where it managed to come together into a concise and punchy little slasher movie. Pearl is not a bad movie by any means but I think it struggles to make sense as a prequel. I haven't seen Maxxxine yet but I feel like it's going to do the same thing as a sequel to X.
I believe that every decision was intentional and that’s gonna work for some and not for others. I was never expecting a slasher just because the first 2 had such a different vibe I expected another different vibe here. I think I saw headlines comparing it to murder mystery and giallo over the last few years so I also was trying to imagine what they were gonna do here. To me it perfectly emulated all that they were going for and all the influences that it wears on its sleeve were elements in the movie itself and the movie that she was making as well. I can’t stop thinking about it and can’t wait to see it again to pick up on some more stuff. I agree this style would only work as a third movie because the audience would be aware that Pearl switched it up from X so that this would probably be a different flavor as well.
Interesting , I saw Maxxxine today, and I was unaware it was from a Trilogy. I ought to see the previous two films. I only know Mia Goth from nymphomaniacs film. And because I have not seen them, I loved the film Maxxxine.
It has the good and bad of both the 80s and Gialo. I felt the same about In a Violent Nature. The poor writing and unlikable characters were part of the Jason homage whether we liked it or not. I get the same vibe with this. I don't know how i feel about that approach, but everything people list as a negative, like the lack of depth or evolution of Maxine as a character, is exactly how it would have been in a Gialo film. Every single second was intentional. I wonder how much of the broader audience will understand that. Will they forgive those decisions as artistic license, or will it still be held against the film as obvious flaws. I can see it going either way, and justifiably so.
Personally loved it. Surprisingly, it's my favorite of the 3, which i wasn't expecting. Also, do you plan to see Kill? It's not a horror movie. It's a bollywood action movie. Has a ton of great kills in there.
Oh, wow, really? I thought MaXXXine was literally a P E R F E C T ending to the trilogy and the best out of the three. Nearly every aspect of this movie was executed brilliantly. Yes, I understand not going hard enough. But the [intention] of this movie wasn't that. And I think this is where you guys should evaluate it from. Man, I LOVED this... Best trilogy ever, hands down.
X nailed cameral slasher forumla. Pearl nailed cameral psychological drama/horror. I was expecting/hoping that Maxxine will combine both. And what we got is bigger scale crime drama, which I was not expecting, but I was open for it. The problem is it doesn't nail the convention as well as two previous films. It's still a good movie. But it's bit underwhelming. Besides the fact the crime aspect of the movie was not enough intense, serious and intruiging, I think side characters and side plot threads had too little time to be satisfactorily developed. I for sure will go watch it on a big screen one more time, and I hope second time around I will enjoy it more, having no expectations anymore. Cheers guys!
I went to watch it one more time. I still think it could be better as a whodunit crime drama/thriller/horror, but I enjoyed the hell out of it regardless. I think this movie will only grow on me :)
Saw this last night. It was alright. I didnt love it tho. X and Pearl were great. However, I think Ti West has done a really good job with the trilogy to where I am interested in seeing future installments down the road.
Really interesting hearing how you went into this hoping for a slasher and ended up disappointed. On a similar note, I went in hoping/thinking this would be a whodunit and it's also just not that at all, at least in any effective way. Like you guys point out, you know who the killer is almost immediately. I still enjoyed it but can't lie the more I think about it the more my disappointment grows.
Working in the industry for a few years ive reeeally seen people are heeellllla one note. I try to not even make friends anymore with these people, so many of them are pathological. That sucks it was tame- be excited for Longlegs!
By the time the killer was revealed, I couldn't give a shit anymore lol. That mid-film chase scene was absurd and the final third was unbearably over the top and dumb. Pearl is still the best entry in this series by a country mile. No contest.
@@sinistercinemareviews5420 LoL, she's right though! Pearl is by far the best, most intelligent in the trilogy. Mia Goth had a hand in writing it too. I think West should have collaborated with her on this fucking thing too. Couldn't have hurt..clearly.
The third act is so silly and over the top by design, though, right? The satanic panic was immensely over the top and utterly propagated and exploited by televangelists and evangelical apologists. I don't know if that makes a difference to you, but I feel it was very much intentional to film it that way. After I thought about it for a bit, it totally worked for me. Not liking something doesn't mean it's dumb. It just means you don't like it.
@@entropystings For me it just felt like a big, dumb, easy "shoot 'em up" ending. Like it was some grand spectacle but West couldn't even pull that off. If you liked it, fine. I just thought it was so routine and so dull. We've seen climaxes like that a million times.
@GarganoA you put it perfectly. Big, lackluster, seen it a million times, except that was the point. It was supposed to come off that way. That's the homage, good and bad. It was a risky choice, as evidenced by the mixed reviews, but fits perfectly with the concepts of the other two. But that's what's great about artistic expression. We can see this movie differently and see 5 others the same way.
Spot on. There's a reason why people are saying shit like "I hated Ti West's older movies, but X and Pearl are great!" He's trying to win over people who rejected him in the early 2010s and it's working. I like this trilogy overall, but House and Innkeepers continue to be his best work.
X and Pearl didn't exactly re-define the genre or anything, but MaXXXine could have and should have made more of an attempt to push boundaries. Instead they played it safe with an underwhelming whodunnit and chickened out when it came to the hardcore genre elements. 3/5 for me.
I could tell from the trailer it would be too tame... horror doesn't always have to be in your face, but it should never be tame. Especially if they have labelled this a slasher
Yes but it's nothing to do with this trilogy, He said he needs a break from it to do something different. So a fourth movie involving Maxine or/and Pearl will be in a few years. If he does continue then I hope it's what happened after Howard returned and shows his and Pearl's years together.
I am gutted it wasn't what you wanted but i am glad you thought the film is worth a watch...i am gonna say it has Kevin Bacon in...therefore i shall love it regardless...❤xz
This is disappointing. Was really looking forward to this one. My most anticipated of the year. Seems like a bit of a let down. Really liked X. Pearl was just alright.
I think this movie was setup to lack a certain depth. Both X and Pearl had plots that had been covered in other films; what set them apart was this added touch of depth/messaging with the emphasis of the psychopathy of its characters/villains. Maxxxine (haven’t seen it yet) is also missing its key villain that set the franchise on its trajectory. Maxine is a great character, but without her main nemesis I can see how it could lead to the feeling of it lacking a certain something.
Beautiful film astherically...started strong...ending was underwhelming Collins yorkshire accent (my neighbour County) was aa bad as Keanus Harker and made me laugh...i wish they had made the story stronger xx
@@melindachase5046 Wasn’t being rude at all. I do regret using the word best instead of positive though. Random caps are also unnecessary, I know who they are, I’ve been here a while
I mean, I don’t think most people who loved this didn’t have high expectations. Those were met for them, and mine weren’t. But I would feel the same with any slasher film, plus Ti purposely built up the expectations as did the marketing so it is hard not to have them. I feel I always keep it fair and never let my expectations detract too much from my viewing experience.
@@sinistercinemareviews5420 It’s my second most anticipated movie this year after Longlegs. I wasn’t thrilled with the trailers and already have my concerns going in. But I don’t think I will not like it. I’m also not expecting too much because Pearl was such a curveball (and my favorite) that I’m just willing to go along for the ride. I don’t want anything from it other than to be as entertained as I was with the first two movies. You guys still have the best reviews and are my go to for horror movies nobody else talks about. Looking forward to seeing what’s next.
4:27 divorce her cuz she said Pearl is best of the 3? X is better than all 3. Anyway, sounds like maxxxine should’ve been Netflix exclusive release to be fair.
Like I mentioned in drumdums spoiler video. It’s not a bad movie. It was just too commercial. It didn’t feel like an (X) film. Kills were weak. Reveal and ending was silly. I was there for Maxxxine and kills
While 'Maxxxine' boasts impressive cinematography, it ultimately falls short of expectations. The predictability of the antagonist's identity detracts from the suspense, as I discerned the stalker's identity with relative ease early on. Additionally, the film's restrained approach to nudity and gore feels strange given its subject matter centered on the adult film industry! the filmmakers missed an opportunity to fully embrace the provocative potential inherent in their narrative.
100%
My issue with Ti West has always been that he almost never seems to know why he takes his stories in the directions he does. His main weakness is justifying his own narratives, whether that's saying something, or just trying to reach a satisfying conclusion at all. I think X was the one movie he did where it managed to come together into a concise and punchy little slasher movie. Pearl is not a bad movie by any means but I think it struggles to make sense as a prequel. I haven't seen Maxxxine yet but I feel like it's going to do the same thing as a sequel to X.
I definitely get what you’re saying
I believe that every decision was intentional and that’s gonna work for some and not for others. I was never expecting a slasher just because the first 2 had such a different vibe I expected another different vibe here. I think I saw headlines comparing it to murder mystery and giallo over the last few years so I also was trying to imagine what they were gonna do here. To me it perfectly emulated all that they were going for and all the influences that it wears on its sleeve were elements in the movie itself and the movie that she was making as well. I can’t stop thinking about it and can’t wait to see it again to pick up on some more stuff.
I agree this style would only work as a third movie because the audience would be aware that Pearl switched it up from X so that this would probably be a different flavor as well.
I loved X and Pearl. Looking forward to Maxxxine!
My ranking:
3. Pearl (2022)
2. MaXXXine (2024)
1. X (2022)
Interesting , I saw Maxxxine today, and I was unaware it was from a Trilogy. I ought to see the previous two films. I only know Mia Goth from nymphomaniacs film. And because I have not seen them, I loved the film Maxxxine.
Pearl x maxxxine. The trilogy is perfect with x serving as the crossroads.
It has the good and bad of both the 80s and Gialo. I felt the same about In a Violent Nature. The poor writing and unlikable characters were part of the Jason homage whether we liked it or not. I get the same vibe with this. I don't know how i feel about that approach, but everything people list as a negative, like the lack of depth or evolution of Maxine as a character, is exactly how it would have been in a Gialo film. Every single second was intentional. I wonder how much of the broader audience will understand that. Will they forgive those decisions as artistic license, or will it still be held against the film as obvious flaws. I can see it going either way, and justifiably so.
Yeah
X was pretty good. Pearl was pretty great. I’m interested to see how well they stick the landing with this one.
Drop it…..Buster! Most effective scene in the movie probably. Hands down! 😂
❤️❤️❤️
Personally loved it. Surprisingly, it's my favorite of the 3, which i wasn't expecting.
Also, do you plan to see Kill? It's not a horror movie. It's a bollywood action movie. Has a ton of great kills in there.
Absolutely, as soon as I can.
Oh, wow, really? I thought MaXXXine was literally a P E R F E C T ending to the trilogy and the best out of the three. Nearly every aspect of this movie was executed brilliantly. Yes, I understand not going hard enough. But the [intention] of this movie wasn't that. And I think this is where you guys should evaluate it from.
Man, I LOVED this... Best trilogy ever, hands down.
This movie is mostly Kevin Bacon getting slapped around
👋
X nailed cameral slasher forumla.
Pearl nailed cameral psychological drama/horror.
I was expecting/hoping that Maxxine will combine both.
And what we got is bigger scale crime drama, which I was not expecting, but I was open for it.
The problem is it doesn't nail the convention as well as two previous films.
It's still a good movie.
But it's bit underwhelming.
Besides the fact the crime aspect of the movie was not enough intense, serious and intruiging, I think side characters and side plot threads had too little time to be satisfactorily developed.
I for sure will go watch it on a big screen one more time, and I hope second time around I will enjoy it more, having no expectations anymore.
Cheers guys!
I went to watch it one more time.
I still think it could be better as a whodunit crime drama/thriller/horror, but I enjoyed the hell out of it regardless.
I think this movie will only grow on me :)
Saw this last night. It was alright. I didnt love it tho. X and Pearl were great. However, I think Ti West has done a really good job with the trilogy to where I am interested in seeing future installments down the road.
Really interesting hearing how you went into this hoping for a slasher and ended up disappointed. On a similar note, I went in hoping/thinking this would be a whodunit and it's also just not that at all, at least in any effective way. Like you guys point out, you know who the killer is almost immediately. I still enjoyed it but can't lie the more I think about it the more my disappointment grows.
😥
Working in the industry for a few years ive reeeally seen people are heeellllla one note. I try to not even make friends anymore with these people, so many of them are pathological. That sucks it was tame- be excited for Longlegs!
Longlegs allllllll day
By the time the killer was revealed, I couldn't give a shit anymore lol. That mid-film chase scene was absurd and the final third was unbearably over the top and dumb. Pearl is still the best entry in this series by a country mile. No contest.
I was told to divorce my wife cause Pearl was her favorite so careful 😉
@@sinistercinemareviews5420 LoL, she's right though! Pearl is by far the best, most intelligent in the trilogy. Mia Goth had a hand in writing it too. I think West should have collaborated with her on this fucking thing too. Couldn't have hurt..clearly.
The third act is so silly and over the top by design, though, right? The satanic panic was immensely over the top and utterly propagated and exploited by televangelists and evangelical apologists. I don't know if that makes a difference to you, but I feel it was very much intentional to film it that way. After I thought about it for a bit, it totally worked for me. Not liking something doesn't mean it's dumb. It just means you don't like it.
@@entropystings For me it just felt like a big, dumb, easy "shoot 'em up" ending. Like it was some grand spectacle but West couldn't even pull that off. If you liked it, fine. I just thought it was so routine and so dull. We've seen climaxes like that a million times.
@GarganoA you put it perfectly. Big, lackluster, seen it a million times, except that was the point. It was supposed to come off that way. That's the homage, good and bad. It was a risky choice, as evidenced by the mixed reviews, but fits perfectly with the concepts of the other two. But that's what's great about artistic expression. We can see this movie differently and see 5 others the same way.
What a bummer. Still going to the theater to c it. But i can c how disappointed u r. I trust ur opinion. Thought this could of been the one lol.
Ha
What will it be like if you watch this first and went backwards?
I would definitely watch Pearl, X, and then Maxxxine
Ty west got so popular i think this is him selling out a little
To reach a wider audience
Im just being objective no hate
Hmm… I definitely think you are right that it is trying to appeal to a wider audience
Spot on. There's a reason why people are saying shit like "I hated Ti West's older movies, but X and Pearl are great!" He's trying to win over people who rejected him in the early 2010s and it's working.
I like this trilogy overall, but House and Innkeepers continue to be his best work.
X and Pearl didn't exactly re-define the genre or anything, but MaXXXine could have and should have made more of an attempt to push boundaries. Instead they played it safe with an underwhelming whodunnit and chickened out when it came to the hardcore genre elements. 3/5 for me.
Absolutely
I could tell from the trailer it would be too tame... horror doesn't always have to be in your face, but it should never be tame. Especially if they have labelled this a slasher
Yeah
Someone said it feels more like an 80s crime drama (like Manhunter f.ex.) than a Slasher/ Giallo. Would you agree on that?
No
But I can see the argument. I’d say Depalma is the main inspiration here, not Mann
@@sinistercinemareviews5420 Thank you
It's like a really, REALLY watered down version of Ken Russell's Crimes of Passion.
Ti West is already working on a fourth film so hopefully that will complete this quadrilogy in a much better way
I’m down
Yes but it's nothing to do with this trilogy, He said he needs a break from it to do something different. So a fourth movie involving Maxine or/and Pearl will be in a few years. If he does continue then I hope it's what happened after Howard returned and shows his and Pearl's years together.
I am gutted it wasn't what you wanted but i am glad you thought the film is worth a watch...i am gonna say it has Kevin Bacon in...therefore i shall love it regardless...❤xz
We enjoyed it.
This is disappointing. Was really looking forward to this one. My most anticipated of the year. Seems like a bit of a let down. Really liked X. Pearl was just alright.
I hope you love it and it meets all your expectations
I think this movie was setup to lack a certain depth. Both X and Pearl had plots that had been covered in other films; what set them apart was this added touch of depth/messaging with the emphasis of the psychopathy of its characters/villains. Maxxxine (haven’t seen it yet) is also missing its key villain that set the franchise on its trajectory. Maxine is a great character, but without her main nemesis I can see how it could lead to the feeling of it lacking a certain something.
It already established its true villain, but didn’t give it enough to blossom here
I won't get to see this for a long time
😭
Beautiful film astherically...started strong...ending was underwhelming Collins yorkshire accent (my neighbour County) was aa bad as Keanus Harker and made me laugh...i wish they had made the story stronger xx
Haha
Looks like the best reviews are coming from the people who actually review the movie and not their expectations.
Dont be rude- everyones allowed to have their opinions and this is HIS and HIS WIFES CHANNEL
@@melindachase5046 Wasn’t being rude at all. I do regret using the word best instead of positive though. Random caps are also unnecessary, I know who they are, I’ve been here a while
I mean, I don’t think most people who loved this didn’t have high expectations. Those were met for them, and mine weren’t. But I would feel the same with any slasher film, plus Ti purposely built up the expectations as did the marketing so it is hard not to have them. I feel I always keep it fair and never let my expectations detract too much from my viewing experience.
@@sinistercinemareviews5420 It’s my second most anticipated movie this year after Longlegs. I wasn’t thrilled with the trailers and already have my concerns going in. But I don’t think I will not like it. I’m also not expecting too much because Pearl was such a curveball (and my favorite) that I’m just willing to go along for the ride. I don’t want anything from it other than to be as entertained as I was with the first two movies. You guys still have the best reviews and are my go to for horror movies nobody else talks about. Looking forward to seeing what’s next.
@@ericc4040 oh my genuine apologies. I think I just felt protective, since im dealing with jerks and projected.
I had fun with the movie, but yeah I did expect like over the top gore and sexual stuff.
😥
So disappointing to hear this 😢 it worried me a bit when I saw all the stars in the trailer..
Hope you love it
The house of the devil in my opinion was ti west's best work!!! (One thing leads to another)
Love that film
@@sinistercinemareviews5420 magnificent
X has a good amount of everything. My favorite. MaXXine has the style but lacks everything else. Huge let down.
Love you guys. The coolest couple on RUclips. Thank you 🙏
Why thank you
4:27 divorce her cuz she said Pearl is best of the 3? X is better than all 3. Anyway, sounds like maxxxine should’ve been Netflix exclusive release to be fair.
Pearl is also my favorite. I think we will stay together.
Like I mentioned in drumdums spoiler video. It’s not a bad movie. It was just too commercial. It didn’t feel like an (X) film. Kills were weak. Reveal and ending was silly. I was there for Maxxxine and kills
Yeah
Oh im sorry this didn't hit as hard
😥
What a disappointment. I'm really looking forward to cuckoo and longlegs!!!! I for one loved x, but hated Pearl!
Longlegs all day. I can’t wait