The stars come out for “MaXXXine,” but the third film in Ti West’s trilogy is hardly a glittering affair. Occurring six years after “X” (the one about gonzo filmmakers shooting a porno in the country), it doesn’t quite have the surprise element of the first or its prequel, “Pearl.” Instead, it rides the wave of “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” recapturing a specific period in filmmaking and leaning in on the threat of a serial killer.
In this one, it’s the Night Stalker offing women on the streets of Los Angeles. This image released by A24 shows Mia Goth, left, and Halsey in a scene from "MaXXXine." Justin Lubin - handout one time use, ASSOCIATED PRESS There’s a suggestion that Maxine (Mia Goth) might be involved but, first, there’s a movie to be made.
It’s “The Puritan 2” and it’s directed by a real stickler (played by Elizabeth Debicki) who insists it’s a “B movie with A ideas.” Maxine is game, but she has others to worry about – including an investigator (Kevin Bacon), two cops (Bobby Cannavale and Michelle Monaghan) and a Buster Keaton impressionist who doesn’t remain silent once the actress gets ahold of him. People are also reading.
.. As Maxine weighs her options, the ranks close in and, soon, she’s forced to walk the mean streets alone.
West conjures plenty of ‘80s horror and manages to reference everything from “Psycho” to “Chinatown” until his day pass on the Universal lot is up. Then, it’s a lot of dark alley.