Is MaXXXine based on a true story? Night Stalker explained

The MaXXXine is full of horror homages, but one reference stands out: the Night Stalker. Given he’s a real life serial killer, you might be wondering whether the movie itself is based on a true story.

The new horror flick sees the return of Mia Goth as Maxine Minx in the final entry to Ti West’s X trilogy, following on from X and Pearl.

As we said in our four-star review, MaXXXine is “bloody, it’s sleazy, and it’s a riotous good time, blending a noir-esque crime caper with the over-the-top violence of video nasties.”

The film takes place in 1985, focusing on Maxine as she seeks to make it big in Hollywood. But there are numerous threats lurking in the background, including the dreaded Night Stalker. Warning: spoilers ahead!

Is MaXXXine based on a true story?

Although there are certain elements that are real, MaXXXine isn’t based on a true story.

As you’ll likely know from the previous X movies, Maxine is a fictional character, portrayed by Goth. The same can be said for the rest of the characters, who are played by a roster of Hollywood stars, including Kevin Bacon, Elizabeth Debicki, Giancarlo Esposito, Bobby Cannavale, and Halsey.

One of the big moments within the plot is Maxine bagging a role in an anticipated horror movie sequel titled The Puritan II. Although it might seem like a real-life flick, this isn’t the case. It’s actually a film-within-a-film, with Emily in Paris star Lily Collins taking on the meta role of The Puritan’s lead star Molly.

There are also some references to other genre films that exist in real-life, the most notable being Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, which comes up when Maxine visits the Bates Motel set.

MaXXXine Night Stalker explained

MaXXXine is set in 1985, when the threat of Richard Ramirez, aka the Night Stalker, caused fear on the streets of Hollywood.

Although the trailers suggested the serial killer might have been tied into the plot in some way, potentially even being the shadowy figure stalking Maxine, this was nothing more than a red herring.

As is revealed at the end of MaXXXine, Goth’s character was really being hunted down by her evangelical father, whose killing spree is initially believed to be associated with the Night Stalker.

In real life, Ramirez was an American serial killer and sex offender who terrorized Southern California from 1984 to 1985, committing a series of brutal home invasion murders, sexual assaults, and burglaries.

A self-professed Satanist, his calling card was a pentagram, which he often left at the crime scenes. Ramirez’s reign of terror ended when he was captured by a mob of civilians in East Los Angeles on August 31, 1985.

During the first court appearance, Ramirez famously turned up with a pentagram drawn on his hand, which he revealed while saying, “Hail Satan.”

In 1989, he was convicted of 13 counts of murder, five of attempted murder, 11 sexual assaults, and 14 burglaries. Ramirez was sentenced to death and died of complications related to B-cell lymphoma in 2013 while on death row.

The choice to use his crimes in MaXXXine is bold, as Ramirez was particularly well-known for his extreme cruelty. However, he’s only mentioned in passing in the horror film in a way that makes sense to the setting.

MaXXXine is in cinemas now. You can also check out other new A24 movies, the best Neon horrors to watch before Longlegs, and new movies coming out this month.