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. (IMDB)

I must start this post with a warning: If you haven’t seen the movie X, go watch it first because MaXXXine is the follow up. While the movie is easy to understand without its prequel, you may get confused with a few scenes. Actually, following the success of X, Ti West almost immediately directed a second movie that serves as origin, Pearl. So, the correct watch order should be: Pearl, X, Maxxxine.

While X manages to produce a great 70s vibe, Maxxxine succeeds perfectly at creating an 80s ambiance. From the dark night clubs of Los Angeles to the Hollywood studios, the visuals are stunning. I particularly enjoyed the chase around the house of Psycho. The casting is also fantastic with returning Mia Goth joined by Giancarlo Esposito and Kevin Bacon.

The way people act and talk contributes to the movie feeling special and, when the end credits were rolling on the song “Betty Davies Eyes by Kim Carnes”, our first reaction was to say “well, that was different”. And when I say different, I mean good different, excellent even.

In 1979, a group of young filmmakers set out to make an adult film in a rural Texas farm, but when their reclusive, elderly hosts catch them in the act, the crew find themselves fighting for their lives. (IMDB)

It’s definitely an horror movie set around the shooting of a porn, not the other way around. While there are a few nude scenes, X is a slasher with a few well made gore scenes.

However, the gore isn’t what makes X special, the old folks getting horny was far more disturbing and, sometimes, grotesque.

If you’re into slashers but you’re in need of a twist, give this movie a try… The casting is great and the pace of the movie is not too often slowed down. It was nice to see something different without turning into a psychological drama. X remains a slasher, and a good one.