Halloween is just around the corner, meaning that horror film buffs are enjoying their favorite season of the year: slasher season. A key component of any good slasher film is the promise of a "final girl," the lone surviving female character who confronts the monster and lives to tell the tale.
Every classic slasher film has a final girl, but just like any other character, their personalities vary. Some fans prefer a stone-faced final girl, while others like characters who show some vulnerability. Horror lovers have taken to Reddit to talk about the best final girls in slasher history.
Nancy Thompson - Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
About their favorite final girl, Redditor lordbochiflacko writes, "Nancy in Nightmare On Elm Street. She’s really a great character and isn’t helpless and scared the whole time. She actively tries to fight back and basically becomes a hero by the end of the third one."
Nancy Thompson from the 1984 Freddy Krueger film is certainly a fan-favorite, but Nancy-lover and Redditor Lionblaze_03 questions the teen's final girl status. They say, "Unfortunately... [Nancy] does have a history of dying, where other final girls like Sidney do not..." Of course, her death in Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors is not a reason to write Nancy off completely, as the Redditor even adds, "My conclusion on all this is that Wes Craven movies have very good final girls."
Jerilyne - Tales From The Crypt: Demon Knight (1995)
The 1995 forgotten horror film, Demon Knight, tells the story of a demonic struggle for power between the guardian of an ancient key and a demon called the "Collector." Jerilyne travels around the globe, waiting for the moment that the stars on her hands align, allowing her to fight demons like those that came before her.
Demon Knight may not be the first slasher film that comes to mind for horror fans, but a few Redditors are quick to call Jerilyne their favorite final girl, regardless. Redditor eatyourchildren101 says that "Jerilyne from Demon Knight" always comes to mind, to which GrvyrdGhst adds, "Jeryline is such a great pick for this. I was dead set leaning toward Ripley, but this got me thinking."
Kirsty Cotton - Hellraiser Franchise
The Hellraiser franchise would not be the epic story it is without its protagonist, Kirsty Cotton. In both the novels and movies, Kirsty exhibits extraordinary wit and strength, even becoming one of only two characters to ever outsmart Pinhead.
On a thread about the best final girls, Redditor esslesmcgee gets right to the point with "Kirsty Cotton from Hellraiser." Reddit user MangoReward adds some irrefutable substance to the argument, saying, "She outsmarts interdimensional demons and saves herself and others from eternal torment, not once, but twice."
Mia Allen - Evil Dead (2013)
Redditor JeremiahSand gives the honors to Mia Allen from Sam Raimi's 2013 remake of the cult classic, Evil Dead. Reddit user Kazuko_Kitsune agrees, also pinning Mia as their favorite, but follows up by questioning whether she is a final girl. They write, "Not sure if she counts since she was possessed by the monster for a lot of the movie but I thought it was a pretty cool dynamic."
If anything, Mia's possession may contribute to the argument that she is an exceptional final girl. To walk out the other end of the gore fest alive is one thing, to do it after having been possessed is a whole new level of awesome slasher survivor.
Ginny - Friday The 13th Part 2 (1981)
Ginny makes her first appearance in the Friday The 13th franchise in the 1981 sequel to the original film. Portrayed by Amy Steel, Ginny is an aspiring child psychologist who spends the summer of 1984 residing in a lodge near Camp Crystal Lake.
Redditor AtomicPow_r_D advocates for the character, saying, "She impersonates Jason's mom to trick him, wearing her rotten old sweater. That takes nerve! It might have worked if she'd had time to hide mom's head..." Jason Vorhees has had some brutal kills, so Ginny's quick thinking under such terrifying circumstances speaks to her strength of character.
Sally Hardesty - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Series
Redditor vrsick06 makes a compelling argument for Sally Hardesty from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, writing, "I think [Sally] is the realest example of the life of the final girl.. I always wondered what happened to characters after the movies seemingly 'happy' ending... Do you really want to make it at that point? You could tell by how crazy and hysterical she was at the very end that her life is basically over."
There is something very hard-hitting about Sally Hardesty's authenticity at the end of the film. She is in hysterics, as she should be, because the movie is so violent it was banned in the U.K. for decades, likely only making it more popular.
Sidney Prescott - Scream Franchise
On a thread that sings praises of Sidney Prescott from Scream as the best final girl, Redditor yer1 gives their input on why she is so loved. They say, "She might not be the most traditionally 'badass' as a fighter, but at this point that woman has survived multiple murder attempts by SEVEN different people across four separate killing sprees. Those are stats that most Final Girls can’t compete with."
The numbers don't lie. Sidney has some impressive final girl stats. Another Redditor likes how proactive Sidney is, citing Scream 4, "When Olivia is being attacked, [Sidney] races right over there." More fans jumped onto the thread to talk about how they love her level-headedness and no-fluff attitude, but user Nevvermind183 disagrees, calling the final girl "overrated" and "confused."
Laurie Strode - Halloween Franchise
A few passionate fans stand by Laurie Strode from Halloween as the best final girl, like one Redditor who writes, "Laurie Strode because she’s not just any final girl. She’s THE final girl. I also love how even years later, she never stops fighting... I love how much the franchise validates her vulnerability as well as her strength. Basically, Laurie is the queen."
Other Redditors are quick to agree, with FaliolVastarien writing, "Laurie will always be the greatest!" Laurie is one of the blueprints for final girls today, and her being the younger sister of Michael Myers makes her even more interesting. In fact, her character is one of the things fans love most about the 1978 Halloween.
Erin Harson - You're Next (2011)
The 2011 film, You're Next, gifted horror fans with Erin Harson. Redditor Jacob-X-MANIAC is not alone when they say, "She’s my favorite female character from a horror film!" Erin is the survivor in this family-centric slasher, and Redditors are lining up to say just how much they love this underrated final girl.
Redditor amydunnesgaybf says that they love Erin's "backstory and gumption" and that she might be "the most badass of them all." Part of Erin's charm comes from her willingness to learn the skills she needs to survive without making excuses. She adapts and overcomes quicker than most people would in a kill-or-be-killed situation.
Ellen Louise Ripley - Alien Franchise
Ripley from the Alien franchise is one of the most notorious final girls of all-time. Sigourney Weaver's first portrayal of her in 1979 caused the actress's career to skyrocket since audiences adored her character so much, and not much has changed in terms of the public's love for the final girl.
Redditor bydemons does a great job of tracking why Ripley maintains her appeal through the entire franchise. They write, "Ellen Ripley. In Alien, she is vulnerable and scared, but keeps her head on. In Aliens, her maternal instinct is her driving force and she will not stop until she saves Newt. In Alien 3, she has nothing left to lose and won't allow the queen alien inside her to live. I love watching her character grow and shift and harden throughout these three films."