Best in Show: Summer Horror (Pt. I of II)

I don't know where you are but where I am, a heat wave has begun looming over my city. To honor these back sweat-inducing temperatures, this week's list is all about putting audiences in the summer mood. You know the feeling; warm and lazy, ready to lounge in a lake or by a pool and most certainly not prepared to be attacked by a killer or alien creatures. Certain horror movies definitely carry with it, a summery identity that can't be shaken. This list, will *spoiler* feature classic movies at summer camps and some modern, out-there choices (see number 10), so without further ado, here are the top 10 movies to put you in a summer mood:

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10. Thirst

Thirst is a completely selfish pick to kick off this list. In no way is the film an amazing movie. With flaws flying out of every aspect, Thirst is filled to the brim with mediocrity even if it does have its worthwhile aspects (as seen in my recent Overlook article). But, what Thirst did succeed in doing was putting me in a summer mood. Maybe it's the retro troubled-teens-at-camp storyline or the hot desert plateaus, or even the campy low-brow special effects, but Thirst made me feel like barbequing. It's got none of the glitz and glam of better horror movies and all of the overused horror tropes, but through-and-through it was effective in keeping me entertained and preparing me for a heat wave.

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9. The Final Girls

Like other summer camp films that inevitably made this list (come back tomorrow), The Final Girls features everything that makes the summer feel like summer. Shorts, lakes and the slasher tropes of ole, But, what makes The Final Girls worthy of being included on this list is its conveyance of warmth and its on-the-nose comedy that propels it. Every scene of this film is tinged with softer warm coloring and that, paired with some truly funny moments, make it feel like a summer welcoming parade.

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8. See No Evil

See No Evil makes this list for nearly identical reasons to Thirst. Entirely selfish in its choosing, See No Evil is reminiscent of those summer mornings where friends and I would wake up from nights of campfires and movie binges and watch whatever half-baked horror film was on Chiller Network. See No Evil is a relatively simplistic slasher and does offer some scarier parts as well as some pretty ridiculous scenarios. It never attempts to exceed expectations and is a truly easy watch. Scenes in the beginning where Kane's character visits a suburban neighborhood additionally apply the summery feeling this movie left me. So, say what you want, but anyone who had Chiller and watched it frequently on their off months, would recognize this film as deserving.

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7. Zombeavers

Zombeavers leans heavily on camp comedy more than horror, but it's placement on this list is nonetheless necessary. Like many summer horror films, Zombeavers takes place at a cabin on a lake filled with young adults unaware as to what's about to unravel before their eyes. It's the type of movie that is acknowledging bad, but done so with such intention that it's funny. It's a warm and light-hearted romp that'll be sure to win over genre-blend haters and horror fans alike, and similar to The Final Girls, its ability to capitalize on a feeling of warm is commendable.

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6. Wrong Turn

Maybe I'm simply in the mood to rewatch Wrong Turn, but the love for it on this blog recently is definitely becoming too blatant. There is just something so lovable about this horror movie, especially given that it was one of my first forays into the genre, Wrong Turn is like so many other horror films on this list; a group of friends go on vacation and meet trouble. Simple enough? It is, and the resulting film is a pretty easy watch. It's the type of movie that blatantly rips off other cannibal films but backs it with enough entertainment to be watchable. Wrong Turn gets a lot of flak, but for all its ridiculousness, it is pretty fun and sometimes even, scary.

 

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



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5. Elizabeth Shaw (Prometheus)

When I see or hear things about people's dislike for Prometheus I am stunned. From its visuals to its superb acting, there is really not much to complain about. What makes this matter even more questionable is the fact that the majority of the criticism comes from fans of the Alien franchise universe. Prometheus isn't some cheap, rehashed endeavor and it's certainly not bad, those that feel it is should feel equally ashamed that they feel that way. One of the strongest cases for Prometheus is its amazing final girl. Building on Ellen Ripley's archetype, Noomi Raplace's Elizabeth Shaw is stunning. Her nuanced prowess and ability to command every scene is nearly unparalleled. She's intelligent, driven and complicated. Her character is a multidimensional powerhouse that horror cinema should be thankful for. From the opening scenes to her attempts at escaping the mission that's gone awry, Shaw never falters.



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4. Erin Hardesty (Texas Chainsaw  Massacre)

How dare I put a remake so high on this list! And to not include the original? Condemnable, but ultimately true to my opinions. I'm here to declare that Jessica Biel's Erin is not only superior to the original Sally, but also far more believable in the role. Remakes get the worst rap, yet the 2003 remake of the classic slasher, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a rare and shining accomplishment, holding a candle to the 1974 version. Maybe not as revolutionary or stylistically strong, but the 2003 version is an incredibly scary adventure only propelled farther by Jessica Biel's best performance of her career. Jessica Biel's Erin is stronger and more unrelenting than Sally and every moment she's on screen viewers should be gripping their seats. Sorry, not sorry.




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3. Sarah (The Descent)

The Descent is horrifying. By far one of the scariest movies in decades, The Descent has forever been engrained into my brain. And, while I would argue that each of the women featured in this movie are great additions to the stock of strong female characters in horror, the truest star is final girl, Sarah. Her struggles to cope with the loss of family paired with a crazed survival instinct make her beyond entertaining. Her willingness to do literally anything to escape the cave is pretty outstanding (and gory). Sarah is often overlooked on best lists of final girls but I would argue that she is by far one of the best.




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2. Ellen Ripley  (Alien)

One of the original, and most prolific final girls of all time is Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley, This of course is for good reason. Where others may be reactionary in space situations, every move made by Ripley is proactive. She's determined and vicious; an unrelenting character with little flaw. If I was ever trapped in space, I would 100% want her on my side. In fact, I wish I had her by my side at all times. Imagine the security you would feel. Ripley is physically and mentally one of the strongest final girls ever and she is definitely the feminist icon we all need every day.





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1. Sidney Prescott (Scream)

I think if one character beats out Ellen Ripley for the title of final girl, it has to be Sidney Prescott from Scream. I'm sorry to everyone who feels hurt by this statement, but Sidney is not only the first name that came to my head when I thought of good final girls, but is also the only one who knows pretty much the whole time that she is, in fact, the final girl. Her self-awareness and planning skills, one liners and ability to protect or attempt to protect those closest to her is undeniable. Sidney Prescott is the final girl to end final girls and she will never be matched. She is essential to the trope and in every iteration of the trope; she is the one to look to for iconography because Sid is the icon.

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.

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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.


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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.