MaXXXine (Ti West)

[WorldForgot]

In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally gets her big break. But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.

A fun night out at the movies. It has a stellar cast. Unfortuantely I didn't love any one piece of this trilogy. A De Palma inspired 80s flick ought to be easy-gravy to my tastes, but Ti doesn't have the gall or punch to leave a mark.

The Alamo Drafthouse played the RELAX Frankie Goes to Hollywood music video and it had people more squeamish than any of MaXXXine's scenes. There's a titillation that Ti West is afraid of, or has no interest in. One could argue that, considering House of the Devil and The Innkeepers, he has a sense and purpose toward restraint.

I would say, I ache for movies that are as confrontational as they are entertaining. MaXXXine feels more akin to the pastiche work of Edgar Wright than the sexy metalove of contemporary genre fare like KNIFE + HEART.