Horror is known for its many tropes and iconic characters that comprise the genre. One such trope is the famed final girl archetype. A phrase coined by Carol J. Clover in 1992, the final girl is the sole female survivor in a slasher film—relying on their wit and resilience to outlast the calculated attacks of the killer. Characterized by their intelligence and willingness to fight back, the final girl has become a defining component of horror.
From Sidney Prescott (Scream) to Laurie Strode (Halloween) to Ellen Ripley (Alien), many final girls have cemented their legacy in the horror genre. Today, these iconic characters are some of the most recognizable faces in slasher films.
As horror continues to evolve over the years, so does the definition of what a final girl looks like. In no particular order, here are some of the most iconic horror characters of the 2020s that exemplify the modern final girl archetype.
Grace Le Domas (Ready Or Not)
In a list full of badass women, Grace Le Domas (Samara Weaving) is as badass as they come. I mean, outrunning from a psychotic family’s bloody, age-old tradition—all while in a wedding dress?!
Ready Or Not follows Grace on her wedding night as she marries the love of her life at his family’s luxurious estate. Grace quickly discovers the eccentric family’s way of “inducting” new members is a little unusual. At midnight, she must randomly choose a game for them to play—what could go wrong?
Things take a sinister turn when she draws “Hide and Seek.” According to the rules, Grace must hide from the family until dawn—that is, while they hunt her down with guns and crossbows. Once Grace uncovers the sinister truth behind the game, she must fight for her life, using her wit and resilience to last until morning. Her determination to survive is what defines her as a final girl. The film ends with Grace smoking a cigarette in a blood-soaked gown, marking her transformation into a hardened survivor.
Deena Johnson (Fear Street Trilogy)
Played by Kiana Madeira, Deena Johnson comes from Netflix’s highly acclaimed, gory Fear Street trilogy. Deena lives in the cursed, unforgiving town of Shadyside. When you’re a Shadysider, death and misfortune seem to follow.
The series, adapted from the R.L. Stine books, begins with Fear Street Part One: 1994. Tormented by an ancient curse that has plagued the small town for centuries, Deena and her friends must outrun the sinister killers of Shadyside’s past. The trilogy follows the group as they work to uncover the origins behind the murderous curse and free Shadyside once and for all. The sequels, 1978 and 1666, dive deeper into Shadyside’s bloody history.
Determined to outlast the supernatural batch of killers and protect her girlfriend and brother at all costs, Deena is a prime example of a modern final girl. Being a woman of color and part of the LGBTQ+ community, Deena is a unique example of the trope.
Emerald “Em” Haywood (Nope)
Em Haywood (Kiki Palmer) is yet another character who redefines the final girl trope. Not only does her quick wit delight the audience, but her intelligence and heroism ultimately save the day.
Nope follows siblings OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and Em Haywood as they attempt to obtain evidence of an unidentified flying object that’s terrorizing their Californian ranch. Objects fall from the sky, and people keep disappearing. Stopping at nothing, Em successfully destroys the otherworldly force, simultaneously capturing the proof they need to prove its existence.
In most horror situations, the funny, Black, queer character is the first to go. Being all three, Em defies traditional expectations, truly making her a standout in the genre.
Sam Carpenter (Scream, Scream IV)
From Sidney Prescott to Gale Weathers, the Scream franchise has had its fair share of historic final girls. Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) is no different. A prime example of resilience, cunning, and relentlessness, Sam is willing to stop at nothing to protect her loved ones. Not only does she battle against the wrath of Ghostface, but also against her own villainous nature.
In Scream (2022), Sam plays the protective older sister as she and Tara (Jenna Ortega) are hunted by the cunning masked killer. Narrowly surviving the gruesome attacks, the two become intertwined with the killings as danger follows them in Scream IV.
What makes Sam’s character interesting is that she is the biological daughter of Billy Loomis, the original Ghostface killer. In order to save herself and her sister, Sam must embrace her dark legacy. Her character arc over the franchise truly makes her stand out as one of the greats.
Tara Carpenter (Scream, Scream IV)
After Sam, it is only natural to give an honorable mention to Tara Carpenter. Fierce and unrelenting in her own right, Tara fights alongside her sister to overcome the grisly attacks of Ghostface. Portrayed by Jenna Ortega, Tara’s genuine screams of fear and ability to fight back give her the perfect mix of vulnerability and strength.
In Scream (2022), Tara becomes the first target of the Woodsboro Legacy Murders. In atypical slasher fashion, she lives through the attack. Throughout the films, we see her transform from a victim to a survivor. She endures the relentless attacks of numerous crazed killers, making her a pretty memorable example of the final girl trope.
Maxine Minx (X, MaXXXine)
This list would not be complete without the iconic scream queen herself, Mia Goth. Appearing in the slasher film X and its sequel MaXXXine, Maxine Minx is not your traditional final girl. Uninhibited and determined, Maxine is an adult film star and aspiring actress looking to make a name for herself.
X follows a group of young adults as they create an adult film on an isolated farm in Texas. Unbeknownst to the crew, the farm is owned by a homicidal couple who begin to pick them off one by one. Straying from the characteristics typically associated with the final girl archetype, Maxine frequently does drugs and isn’t always the most likable. Still, her drive and determination to survive have made an impact in recent years.
We see Maxine get her big break in MaXXXine, where she is stalked once again as a mysterious killer threatens to unravel her sinister past. The film serves as the final installment of the X trilogy.
Naru (Prey)
Much like the others on this list, Naru (Amber Midthunder) exhibits strength and cunning. Oftentimes underestimated, Naru is a skilled healer and hunter for her Comanche tribe. She faces imminent danger when she encounters the Predator, a highly intelligent alien creature that hunts humans for sport.
Headstrong and determined to protect her people, Naru confronts the creature in a vicious battle. She eventually outsmarts and defeats the extraterrestrial predator, proving herself to be a fearless warrior. She then becomes her tribes’ new war chief.
Sienna Shaw (Terrifier 2)
Infamous for having some of the goriest, most gruesome deaths in recent horror history, Terrifier 2 quickly became a box office hit for horror lovers. It also introduced one of best final girls of the 2020s. Coming face to face with a murderous clown and surviving? That takes some grit.
In Terrifier 2, Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera) is terrorized by the nefarious Art the Clown on Halloween night. With the expressive antagonist anxious to extend his bloody spree, the teenager must take matters into her own hands to protect herself and her brother from their own torturous end. Enduring the brutal attacks of Art, Sienna defeats the immortal clown through supernatural forces of her own.
Arguably being pitted against the most wicked villain on this list, Sienna has definitely earned her spot as a memorable modern-day final girl.
Beth Bixler (Evil Dead Rise)
The fifth installment in the franchise, Evil Dead Rise, centers around two estranged sisters as they fight against sinister flesh-possessing demons. Forced to battle for survival, Beth Bixler (Lily Sullivan) encapsulates the fearlessness and resilience of a classic final girl.
When her sister becomes possessed by the nightmarish entities, Beth does everything in her power to protect her nieces and nephew. She faces difficult choices, ultimately using a chainsaw and shotgun to put an end to the hellish nightmare.
Beth’s resourcefulness and willingness to protect her family at any cost mark her as a standout in the final girl trope. After all, battling bloodthirsty demonic entities is no easy feat.
The post The Best Horror Movie Final Girls From the 2020s appeared first on Nerdist.
This articles is written by : Nermeen Nabil Khear Abdelmalak
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