A Final Girl is a common trope found in many horror movies, particularly the slasher genre. The archetype refers to the only heroine left alive that stands up against their adversary and manages to survive.
Usage of the term[]
The term "final girl" was coined by American professor Carol J. Clover in 1992, in her non-fiction book Men, Women and Chainsaws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film. Clover studied slasher films and defined the final girl as a female who is the sole survivor of a group who are chased by a villain. The final girl is the last one standing who gets a final confrontation against the villain where either she kills him, or she is saved at the last minute by someone else.
Examples of Final Girls[]
- Doris Page (The Sadist)
- Mari Collingwood (The Last House on the Left)
- Jess Bradford (Black Christmas)
- Sally Hardesty (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre)
- Sue Snell (Carrie)
- Suzy Bannion (Suspiria)
- Laurie Strode (Halloween)
- Jamie Lloyd (Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers)
- Rachel Carruthers (Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers)
- Kara Strode (Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers)
- Ellen Ripley (Alien)
- Alice Hardy (Friday the 13th)
- Ginny Field (Friday the 13th Part 2)
- Chris Higgins (Friday the 13th Part 3)
- Sarah Mercer (My Bloody Valentine)
- Courtney (Final Exam)
- Alison Parks (Chopping Mall)
- Trish Jarvis (Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter)
- Nancy Thompson (A Nightmare on Elm Street/Dream Warriors)
- Megan Garris (Friday the 13th Part 6: Jason Lives)
- Vanita Brock (Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2)
- Karen Barclay (Child's Play)
- Kirsty Cotton (Hellraiser)
- Tina Shepard (Friday the 13th Part 7: The New Blood)
- Rennie Wickham (Friday the 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan)
- Sidney Prescott (Scream)
- Rowan LaFontaine (Jason X)
- Lori Campbell (Freddy vs. Jason)
- Whitney Miller (Friday the 13th (2009 Remake))
- Tree Gelbman (Happy Death Day/Happy Death Day 2U)
- Dana Polk (The Cabin in the Woods)
- Victoria Heyes (Terrifier)
- Leigh Cabot (Christine)
- Clear Rivers (Final Destination/2)
- Kimberly Corman (Final Destination 2)
- Wendy Christensen (Final Destination 3)
- Skye Rotter (My Super Psycho Sweet 16)
- Brooke Thompson (American Horror Story: 1984)
- Donna Chambers (American Horror Story: 1984)
- Erin Harson (You're Next)
- Mia Allen (Evil Dead)
- Jay Height (It Follows)
- Max Cartwright (The Final Girls)
- Maddie Young (Hush)
- Grace Le Domas (Ready or Not)
- Cecilia Kass (The Invisible Man)
- Jessie Adams (Spree)
- Maxine Minx (X)
Gallery[]
Sandra Peabody as Mari Collingwood, Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, Olivia Hussey as Jess Bradford, Heather Langenkamp as Nancy Thompson, and Amy Steel as Ginny Field
Ginny Field (the Final Girl in Friday the 13th: Part 2)
Nancy Thompson (the Final Girl in A Nightmare on Elm Street)
Laurie Strode (the Final Girl in Halloween)
Dana Polk (the Final Girl in The Cabin in the Woods)