“I’m a star.” It’s a repeated quote that lives up to its name in Ti West’s successful X Trilogy, with Mia Goth taking center and delighting the audience of a show. The three movies—X, Pearl, and MaXXXine—have been released between 2022 and 2024. With the series ending on a high with its final installment, MaXXXine, where does it stand amongst other classic horror movies for the time to come?
The trilogy begins with the movie X, set in 1979 and placed in the middle of the series. It follows actress Maxine Minx (Mia Goth), with a production crew, shooting an adult film on a remote farm. The movie earns its genre of horror with elderly couple Howard and Pearl—unnerving and eerie in their behavior with evil intentions. One by one, characters are killed off, leaving Maxine as the sole survivor of the ordeal. Part of what led to this movie’s success was Goth’s superb dual performance as both Pearl and Maxine. “I think Mia Goth gives distinct performances, none of the characters are too similar, and she gives really powerful performances. Powerhouse performances,” senior Jonathan Castle noted.
Less than six months later came the release of Pearl, the prequel to X. Jumping six decades backward to the end of World War I, young Pearl’s ambition is to become a star. It’s here where we watch the origins of this villain, as she will do whatever it takes to make it to stardom. With a haunting smile to close the film, it stood as a success right next to X.
Naturally, many fans were thrilled to see Maxine make a comeback in the trilogy’s final installment, MaXXXine. With a brand new setting of 1980s Los Angeles, it had high expectations to earn its place next to the past two movies. Upon release, it seemed to be getting different feedback in comparison to the rest of the series. An anonymous Oakdale High School student expressed their thoughts. “Some parts did definitely feel predictable or cliche, which isn’t always a bad thing, but it was just a bit too overdone at times. Especially as the series started to wrap up in MaXXXine. It felt like an unsatisfying ending.”
Regardless, audiences quite enjoyed the refreshing change that MaXXXine brought to the series—leaning into the campier side of horror. “I also really liked MaXXXine for its references and special appearances…Everything just felt really well thought out and I appreciate that in a film,” the same anonymous student stated. MaXXXine proves to be well rounded in its pros and cons, and is a loud and proud final movie.
While the movies are popular with the modern generation of horror, how does it measure up to viewers of an older generation? July Delgado, who grew up with classic 80’s slashers, remarks “Now, it’s totally different. It’s the horror thing, the killing, the violence, and the sex. It’s totally different. And the words, too. Like, before you cannot—movies before [didn’t] have the [f-bomb]. It’s only this generation…it’s still kind of scary, but in a different way. It’s more exposed now.” The series is not one to shy away from realistic wounds or adult themes, nor is it one to lack a well-crafted storyline.
Though it was released over a short period of time, each movie brings something different to the table. Combining talented casts, rigorous stories, and scares to make your heart pound, the X Trilogy takes its seat next to other famed Hollywood horror.
