Horror films are loved by many for a number of reasons, be it the general thrill of slashers or the lovable character tropes that viewers have familiarized themselves with over the years. One of the most notable horror tropes is the concept of a final girl, which is defined by Webster as the female protagonist who remains alive until the end of the film after all the other characters have perished.
Often in the horror genre, female characters can be depicted as weak and easily manipulated, so it goes without saying that it’s extremely empowering to watch a woman go through hell and still manage to be the core strength of the movie itself. I don’t know if I would be as confident an individual today if not for my extensive consumption of slashers. There are quite a few notable scary films that highlight the strength, determination and resourcefulness of women in action.
- “Scream”
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Sidney Prescott is a character that paved the way for a new generation of final girls, specifically due to the fact that she broke the stereotype that participating in sexual activity dooms you within the horror genre. She chose to embrace her sexuality during the course of the film until her boyfriend is ultimately revealed as one of the main antagonists. She also proves her strength by consistently besting Ghostface in every chance encounter. Watching Prescott go from the predictable virgin/abstaining teen to a badass, surviving woman certainly makes Scream worth noting.
- “Hush”
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Maddie not only lives alone in the woods, but she is also deaf and mute, making her a seemingly easy target in the eyes of her attacker. However, she is entirely independent and self-sufficient right from the start, so while the villain may view her as someone worth taking advantage of, the audience can see that she is a fighter right away and is not at any disadvantage whatsoever due to her intelligence and instincts.
- “Alien”
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Ellen Ripley is the most rational and resourceful crew member from the beginning of the film to the end, and she consistently manages to stay one step ahead. Even when she’s alone with the Xenomorph and all hope seems lost, her level head and quick thinking makes for a memorable win for final girls all around. I remember loving her character growing up, not only because she was badass, but also because she cared enough to save her cat even in a time of serious danger. I know I would do that for my animals, too, which made her extremely easy to relate to.
- “You’re Next”
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I always question how characters are so capable of surviving in such stressful and difficult situations, but You’re Next actually has an explanation for it! Erin grew up on a survivalist compound, which makes her innate ability to build traps, fight in combat and stay alive make complete sense. She was brought into a situation to be killed, and in turn ended up being the most difficult person for the villains to deal with, proving that underestimating women is always a huge mistake (even in the movies).
- “Happy Death Day”
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Horror movies are often famous for having one-dimensional characters that are easy to kill off. However, Tree is not only a survivor but a character with complexity. Rather than just being lucky enough to survive, she is the main character as well as the final girl of the film. She evolves into a better version of herself emotionally throughout the film, aiding her in finding a way to survive. Women in the real world are anything but one-dimensional, so seeing that depth in a horror movie is certainly empowering.
These are certainly not the only films within the genre that make an effort to empower women, and I would suggest that anyone invested in horror make an active effort to seek out content that puts women in a position of power. It’s truly inspiring, to say the least.