Best in Show: Final Girls (Part I of II)

One of the longest lasting traditions of horror cinema is the "final girl." Just as the name suggests, the final girl is a common trope of the character who is the sole survivor of a horror movie. While the specific identity of the final girl has been held to some contention, typically the final girl is a strong, empowered character with the ability to outlast. For instance, in some horror movies, the final girl isn't the only survivor, but instead just the main character and focus point. The final girl is often a topic of discussion and the identity is still talked about in academic circles to this day, while maintaining a strong hold on many modern movies. Here is a list of the 10 best final girls.

(wikia.com)

10. Max Cartwright (The Final Girls)

The Final Girls is a satirical, on-the-nose type of movie that still manages to provide a new dimension to the final girl trope that is so often talked about. Despite its lack of actual scares, The Final Girls is weirdly funny and entertaining and on top of that, Taissa Farmiga's Max is an awesome addition the final girl class. She's simple, but not perfect; cool, but not too cool; and ultimately willing to take on her role and defend herself and friends. The fact that Malin Ackerman's character, Amanda, is Max's mother and former actress and final girl is just one more bonus. Watching the pair figure out an alternative universe in the imaginary Camp Bloodbath is insanely fun.


(frontrowreviews.uk)

9. Erin (You're Next)

You're Next will continue to infiltrate my blog for weeks to come. There are so many great things about this movie and one of those is Erin. By far, Erin is the most on her game. Her character is equal parts satire as it is serious. Far more capable than she should be, Sharni Vinson's Erin grew up on a compound and knows how to use weapons. Whereas other final girls are indescribably effective at staving off death, Erin has a reason and explanation for her skills. She is powerful and determined and at the end of the day, doesn't care what she has to do to come out of the other end.

(wikia.com)

8. Amanda Young (Saw)

Is Amanda Young a final girl? That's definitely debatable. But, what's not debatable is the fact that she is  one of the most compelling products of modern horror. From survivor to villain (if that was a spoiler remember that the original has been out for more than 10 years), Amanda's survival instincts are pretty unstoppable. She's a viciously twisted character with a surprising amount of depth given the lack of it in the franchise. Her escape from the reverse bear trap is one of the most disturbing things on earth, I mean, other than her later being thrown into a pit of needles (which she also survives). Amanda is a quintessential final girl and deserves a spot on any list regarding this.

(beafraid.cl)

7. Dana Polk (Cabin In The Woods)

Like Max, Dana is kind of a joke on the whole final girl trope. She isn't some holier-than-though character and she certainly doesn't match all of the features of a final girl, but nonetheless she is meant to represent one (they'll take what they can get - fit in a Cabin In The Woods joke!). Dana is such a chilled out and normal character that it's impossible not to feature her on this list. She's a great character because of how normal and human she is. She's not a glorified survivor or even that pure and sweet, she's just a girl trying to make it through a set up world. Her character also scores points for making hard decisions and unsuccessfully betraying friends, something a typical final girl would never do.

(gamespot.com)

6. Laurie Strode (Halloween) & Nancy Thompson (Nightmare on Elm Street)

Part of the iconic class of horror's final girls are Laurie Strode from Halloween and Nancy Thompson from Nightmare on Elm Street. The pair works hand-in-hand as strong-willed final girls with particularly solid acting skills. Unlike some of the more over-the-top final girls of yore, both Jamie Lee Curtis' and Heather Langenkamp's characters are scream queens with purpose.

Jamie Lee Curtis, who later joined the actual show Scream Queens, is by far one of the most legendary horror actresses of all time. Laurie is strong in the face of fear. Her character is the epitome of the babysitter-turned-defender archetype and her (and Curtis') influence is noticeable today.

The second icon on this list, Nancy Thompson, is a complimentary pair with Laurie. Perhaps even more confident that Laurie, Nancy is a strategic and fearless focal point. Her plans to end Freddy's terrorizing are something all horror victims should aspire for. Nancy is impressive for a high school student and most other high school horror characters pale in comparison.