(Updated 05/10/2024)
Ti West's 2022 movie X instantly minted Mia Goth's character, the ambitious actor Maxine, into a horror movie icon. Maxine is decisive and determined, violent, and characterized by the kind of single-minded sense of purpose that makes for a great movie character. Now, after the prequel exploration of PEARL, West and Goth return with MAXXXINE.
This new movie follows on the heels of X. In MAXXXINE, we see Goth's character land in Los Angeles, the most suitable landscape for her "anything goes" pursuit of screen stardom. Her violent past might be a problem — but everything we've seen from Goth's two spiritually similar characters in these movies tells us that she's likely to solve that problem with more violence.
Check out the trailer for MAXXXINE and we'll tell you more about the new horror sequel.
What's the Release Date for Maxxxine?
A24 will release MAXXXINE in movie theaters on July 5, 2024.
Watch the First Maxxxine Trailer
The whole setup for the movie seems to be here in the MAXXXINE trailer. There's Maxine's new life in Los Angeles, the threat of a killer who may or may not be Maxine, and the authorities who seem to be putting some pieces together with respect to what happened at the farmstead and whose bodies were and were not found there.
What's the Plot of Maxxxine?
First up, a recap of X, which we'll keep as spoiler-free as possible. (But some X spoilers are unavoidable.)
As part of a ragtag film crew producing a porn movie in 1979, Maxine ended up at a remote farmstead the crew rented as a filming location. But the elderly owners, Howard and Pearl (the latter also played by Mia Goth) turn out to be, well, far more unusual (read: murderous) than expected. By the end of the movie nearly everyone is dead and Maxine escapes with the blood of at least two people on her hands.
Six years later, Maxine is an adult film star but still dreams of mainstream stardom. When her big break comes, Los Angeles is being terrorized by the Night Stalker. As new murders are discovered, Maxine's past may be exposed, and her dreams of stardom dashed… or at least twisted into new shape.
Who's in the Cast of Maxxxine?
Clearly, Mia Goth returns as Maxine. There's a powerful new supporting cast for this third chapter, reflecting the series evolution far beyond its modestly-budgeted origins. Elizabeth Debicki is on board, as are Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, and Halsey. Additionally, Lily Collins appears, along with Giancarlo Esposito, and Kevin Bacon. While many of these actors are seen in the first trailer, we don't know too many specifics about their roles.
Can You Watch Maxxxine Without Seeing the Other Movies?
It's too early to say in any definitive way, but chances are good that new audiences will not be shut out of MAXXXINE. Yes, there are two "World of X" movies, as they're sometimes called (because "X Movies" is a little too broad), but storywise they're pretty straightforward. The MAXXXINE trailer suggests that some of the film created by characters in X will play a part in the plot of this film, but we expect any crucial points to be explained in a prologue or flashback.
Is Maxxxine Actually the End of "The World of X" Story?
Probably? But maybe not? We have assumed that MAXXXINE would close out the story, setting it up as a tidy little horror trilogy. But Ti West recently said there's one more idea that could become a movie if audiences respond to MAXXXINE.
"There is this one weird asterisk idea that I have that is kind of um...like if I explained it, it would make sense," West said during an interview. "We'll see what happens. Let's get this movie done first. See if people like it and go from there."
MAXXXINE opens on July 5.
All images courtesy of A24.