MaXXXine

Capping off an exceptional trilogy, MaXXXine is yet another triumph for A24.

Ti West’s slasher horror series has kept themes, characters, scares and smarts but split across three wildly different instalments. The fact that many a debate will be had about which is the best is the sign of a remarkable franchise.

For me, as much as X’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre homage is gruesome fun and Pearl is a hugely original and disturbing flip of Technicolor classics, this finale just clinches the top spot on the podium.

Why? It’s an absolutely glorious style-and-substance, Easter Egg-filled, Hollywood-set thrilling ending that really works with the character.

It twists the plot in just the right way to keep some scares whilst also closing Maxine’s story in satisfactory style and tying off the loose threads and the stated aims of the previous two.

The move to the eighties enables a banging soundtrack to be thrown into the mix as well as a more natural setting for the graphic ultraviolence that’s become a trademark of the series.

Leaning more into the ‘Satanic-panic’ and housing the film within a ‘serial killer on the loose’ setting keeps the tension high and each set piece is brilliantly constructed.

There’s something of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood… in its love-letter to film and ‘heightened reality’ tone and it’s a hugely fresh-feeling film whilst also leaning into homage.

It’s an absolute winner and has to be considered as an all time great trilogy capper.

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