MaXXXine (2024)

I was confused how this third movie fitted with the previous two, confused who was who, and confused how exactly the message here fits with what came before - something like: since Hitchcock's 'Psycho' Hollywood stardom for women has required them to have sex or be murdered - but as this Hitchcock homage set in the 80s kicked into its 'Body Double' denouement with 80s electric guitar slides accompanying an outrageous shoot-out under the Hollywood sign, the one thing I did know was how much of a good time I was having!

★★★★☆

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Pearl (2022)

A monologue at the two-thirds mark finally gives this slasher (prequel to the underwhelming 'X') the depth that sets it apart - up to this point, Pearl, the eponymous crazy, was a mere sicko not much set apart from a Michael or Freddy or Jason except for her gender and age, but suddenly she has a more detailed than expected backstory and a tragicness that juxtaposes sensibly with the cheeky The Wizard of Oz stylings, the technicolour of a 50s melodrama,, and the cartoonish flourishes like irises-out and -in.

★★★☆☆

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