Protagonists
If you were to search for "final girl" in the dictionary, you'd see this heroine's picture (or at least, you should). Her debut in this meta-slasher came after decades of the genre's reliance on the sole survivor trope. This protagonist combines qualities from all the greats which came before but with a more modern and empowered edge. She possesses all the traits of the classic final girl. She's intuitive and smart, but she knows how to handle herself right from the beginning. She throws more than a few punches and also knows how to mouth back straight to the killer. It has been, and always be this protagonist's story. Whether she's dealing with the turmoil of lost family or tackling a new generation's hunger for fame she's always up to the task. She nearly always delivers an effortless performance, offering up whatever raw emotion any given scene requires.
Sidney Prescott - Scream Franchise (1996-present)
Prop - Gun
Alison Loham - Christine Brown
Justin Long - Clay Dalton
Lorna Raver - Mrs. Ganush
Dileep Rao - Rham Jas
David Paymer - Mr. Jacks
Adriana Barraza - Shaun San Dena
Drag Me to Hell (2009)
"Congratulations. You are still alive. Most people are so ungrateful to be alive. But not you. Not anymore."
Saw (2004)
Who Said It: John Kramer (aka Jigsaw)
This film is considered one of the best horror movies of all time, and possibly the best remake ever. Its chilling storyline, methodical terror, and groundbreaking special effects endure decades on. Most filmmakers are lucky to have a single true masterpiece under their belt. Alongside "Halloween," Carpenter has two. It's a repulsive yet strangely endearing work, and frequent Carpenter collaborator is remarkably good as our protagonist, the movie begins with a helicopter pursuing a sled dog, a chase that ends in the destruction of the helicopter and the death of its pilot and passenger but with the dog safely finding its way into the research station. This, as it turns out, is the worst possible outcome for all parties concerned. At first, the members of the research station can't wrap their heads around what's happening, but once they know, paranoia runs rampant — as does bloodshed. Never knowing who is truly on your side, this film is evelvated by an echoing and haunting soundtrack by Ennio Morricone.
The Thing (1982)
This unique horror film has spawned a franchise consisting of all films centered around the concept of violence, laws and social stratification. The first in the franchise focuses on a wealthy family, who have to decide to survive together when a stranger breaks into their house. This film definitely boasts the topics of morality and survival instinct. It wasn't too loved by critics, but without this film, we wouldn't have the rest of the dystopian franchise to marvel at.
The Purge (2013)
We have a reluctant hero in this cult favorite, the writer-director buys into the usual narrative of the sole survivor, positioning this man as a hero by circumstance. While vacationing at a remote location, the protagonist and his friends stumble upon a dreaded grimoire. The cursed object conjures up the darkest and most diabolical of entities. The next entry in the acts as an alternate version of the first film before pushing into sequel territory. This time around, the hero is quicker on his feet as he actively battles the entities. When he becomes possessed, he must make a decision that will give us this iconic prop! From which we get one of the most infamous one liners and weapons used against evil to date.
Ash Williams - Evil Dead Trilogy (1981)
Prop - Chainsaw Hand
Noomi Rapace - Elizabeth Shaw
Michael Fassbender - David
Charlize Theron - Meredith Vickers
Idris Elba - Janek
Guy Pearce - Peter Weyland
Logan Marshall-Green - Charlie Holloway
Prometheus (2012)
"How's this for a wet dream?"
Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
Who Said It: Freddy Krueger
Looking back, it's ironic that John Carpenter almost couldn't helm this adaptation of a novel because it looked like it was going to interfere with his work on a different adaptation as well. The producer, who'd previously worked on other films following novels had purchased the rights to this film and had envisioned Carpenter as director from the get-go. Thankfully, when production on 1984's Firestarter — for which Carpenter had been adapting the screenplay — was delayed, and the producer was able to secure his first choice, Carpenter, after all. With this film, Carpenter didn't bother casting famous faces in its leading roles. Despite the studio lobbying for Brooke Shields as the female lead, the director and his cohorts opted for relative unknowns, and it worked out particularly well. The main protagonist's performance was creepy way he descends into his obsession is what drives the film. Unpopular nerd finally gets his dream, which he quickly names. The protagonist develops an unhealthy obsession to the alarm of his jock friend. After a bully is disrespectful to the protagonist's new interest, this begins the killings of the bully and his friends. Determined to stop the deaths, the protagonist and his friends team up to save the day.
Christine (1983)
Blumhouse has released a lot more scarier movies than this pick, but it hasn’t released any movie more fun than this. This film tapped into modern technology, and an ultra-intelligent and deadly friend who sings original songs, plays piano, and will take care of you. And somehow it all works! This movie became a cultural phenomenon before the film ever hit theaters. Once it did, audiences loved every minute of the film. With the voice of an angel and kills Michael Myers would be proud of. This girl may be capable of harm, but she was also capable undying loyalty. This horror film was boosted by a strong marketing campaign, going viral with a clip from the trailer. While the film doesn't offer too many of the scares and much gore you might expect from Blumhouse, the entertainment value of watching the slaying was enough to make it a hit, prompting an announced sequel.
M3GAN (2023)
If you subtract the time spent suspended between movies, this protagonist lives through the events of three films all within the span of six weeks. That's an intense tour of duty in humanity's war against the unknown lifeforms. But even when she's frustrated because no one is listening to her warnings about the severity of the threat — indeed, one of the biggest lessons to take away from the movies is to listen to women. The character was originally written as male, and several people, including the director, have taken credit for the fateful decision to change the heroine into a woman. But over the course of the series, she develops from a mere gender swap into an all-rounded symbol of womanhood. She's fierce, compassionate, intelligent, tough, and protective.
Ellen Ripley - Alien series (1979-1997)
Prop: Flame Thrower
Tiassa Farmiga - Max Cartwright
Malin Akerman - Nancy/Amanda Cartwright
Alexander Ludwig - Chris Briggs
Nina Dobrev - Vicki Summers
Alia Shawkat - Gertie Michaels
Thomas Middleditch - Duncan
The Final Girls (2015)
"I've seen enough horror movies to know that any weirdo wearing a mask is never friendly."
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)
Who Said It: Lizabeth
Based on Ray Nelson's 1963 short story Eight O'Clock in the Morning, this film is one of those Carpenter films that's never really gone out of vogue, in no small part because it delivers social commentary that remains all too relevant. This protagonist is a drifter who makes his way into Los Angeles in search of employment, only to first stumble onto a street preacher talking up the idea that an unnamed and is co-opting the rich and powerful of America. Then, after finding a job and meeting up with fellow construction worker, he happens to stroll past a television broadcast where a hacker starts talking about an alien signal that's enslaving the population of the planet through the use of subliminal messages. Fast-forward a little bit more, and the protagonist finds an everyday accessory that shows who people truly are. Viewers can still see how the premise of the film remains relatable even decades after its initial release. Carpenter really took a risk by hiring an untested actor, to serve as the lead of the film, but he handily holds his own against his known costar, particularly during the pair's absurdly long but wonderfully choreographed fight scene, which lasts for almost six minutes but remains enthralling throughout.
They Live (1988)
This film is a lesser known, but beloved Blumhouse film that is absolutely worth your time. When a man dying of cancer hires a videographer to film him for 24 hours to create a video diary for his unborn son. When the two meet at a remote cabin in the woods, things start innocently enough. But their dynamic gradually becomes more awkward, as a white lie leads to an inappropriate joke which spirals into a bizarre confession. The result is a super stripped-down, ultra-weird movie that makes you so uncomfortable it's almost hard to watch. The found-footage format gives the film an inquisitive vibe; meanwhile, the part of the antagonist is ingeniously played well, with both playfulness and tenacity. You can't decide if you want to hug him or run away as fast as you can. The two lone actors also wrote the film, and explained their inspiration, saying "We're big people-watchers, and we started talking about how much we loved strange human dynamics, and then we started talking about making films which were a two-hander together. We were led to this concept of a Craigslist adventure gone awry."
Creep (2014)
The actress's performance in this film is remarkable for how compelling it is, despite our heroine not having much dialogue. This character has retreated to an isolated house in the woods to get away from society and try to focus on her work. She has a major disadvantage through the film that is quickly turned into her strength. What the killer assumes should make her easy prey, spends most of his time demonstrating just how wrong that assumption is. This protagonist is tough, and we have no doubt in her ability to survive even when the director uses her disadvantage as a device to ramp up tension.
Maddie - Hush (2016)
Prop - Corkscrew
Judah Lewis - Tommy 'Eats' Eaton
Graham Verchere - Davey Armstrong
Caleb Emery - Dale 'Woody' Woodworth
Cory Gruter Andrew - Curtis Farraday
Rich Sommer - Wayne Mackey
Tiera Skovbye - Nikki Kaszuba
Summer of 84 (2018)
"The devil exists. God exists. And for us, as people, our very destiny hinges on which we decide to follow."
The Conjuring (2013)
Who Said It: Ed Warren
Forget what you’ve seen in the movies or what you’ve read in the books, according to renowned self-assured smartass protagonist, there’s only a few specific ways to kill evil creatures. He’s been doing this gig ever since the day that he lost his parents to these creatures, but even as the years pass and his death toll raises into the double digits, it seems that it only gets harder, and his losses always seem to outweigh his gains. That’s why when one of the creature's plows through and rips his entire crew to shreds, the protagonist takes it upon himself to hunt the ghoulish devil down once and for all. Despite some of its flaws. this is a fun movie. People are quick to dismiss this rough-around-the-edges trek, but the fact is the actor is hilarious, constantly jabbing at priests, and it’s utterly exciting watching the carnage unfold. The head honcho baddie is one of the most effortlessly cool and frightening imaginings of the creatures to ever exist on film. This is an entry which should rank higher on most people’s lists.
Vampires (1998)
It's rare for a prequel to surpass its predecessor, but that's the case with this film. The original film may not have hit marks with critics or audiences, but the follow-up film, weaves better storytelling into a quality piece. Set in Los Angeles in 1967, a widow and her two daughters' run a business out of their home. Their goal is to help grieving family members move on, but once they add a game to the scam, all hell breaks loose. She unknowingly lets in an entity into her family's life. The use of a real-life toy really propelled the film to scarier heights, since audiences knew they could get their hands on such a powerful and scary object. The imagery and scenery of the film is also a standout, and it really gives off the 1960s feel.
Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)
An author first introduced this protagonist in his 1897 novel. The protagonist called upon by a former student to attend to close friend who has fallen ill with a mysterious sickness. He surmises she is the victim of an ancient creature and instructs his compatriots on how to kill the creature. In the decades since, this protagonist has been portrayed onscreen numerous times. A few of the most famous depictions includes the years of 1931, 1958 adaptation, and the year of 1992. This protagonist has been seen in parody films but always has the same role of vanquishing evil. This heroine is the light to the creature's darkness — a sliver of hope standing in the way of humanity's destruction. He is as unrelenting and merciless in his mission, as he typically has an arsenal of weapons. He typically has one primary prop that is simple, easy to make and yet very effective against his primary evil.
Professor Abraham Van Helsing - Dracula (1958)
Prop - Wooden Stake
Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz - Jen
Kevin Janssens - Richard
Vincent Colombe - Stan
Guillaume Bouchède - Dimitri
Jean-Louis Tribes - Roberto
Revenge (2017)
"We don't feel like relate to L.A. anymore, like that stage is our home, and the fans are our family for sure."
V/H/S/99 (2022)
Who Said It: RC and Charissa
With the illustrious effects work and an Oscar-nominated turn from the star, this John Carpenter film is a marvel of science fiction filmmaking. It was also a decisive and noteworthy turn in the director's blood-soaked career up to that point. While its box office gross was a disappointment, it endures as a classic template of '80s science fiction, a deeply moving, romantic, and awe-inspiring tale of lost love and space spectacle. While is difficult to rank among his filmography by its genre, it's not terribly unlike the other work. No different than his late contemporary Wes Craven, John Carpenter is a remarkably humanistic filmmaker, and this movie best conceptualizes his fondness for vulnerability in its tale of human romance. As a story of a humanoid coming to Earth, is a delightful science fiction film underscored with dramatic elements. This would make the only John Carpenter film to be nominated for an Academy Award.
Starman (1984)
A group of conservatives wake up in unfamiliar woods, dazed and confused. Within moments, bullets fly past their heads as they are picked off one by one by woke, elites hiding in a bunker, hunting for sport. Believing they will need the weapons perhaps for their survival, a large number of them begin to believe that they are involved in Manorgate, a story that went viral on the Internet: a group of elitists in who hunt man for sport, and the weapons provided to them are just to give them a sense of a fighting chance. Some of the group are able to escape what they believe is the game area, but they still have to determine what/who is friend or foe among those and the situations they encounter "outside". But it is one, who may be the outlier among the twelve, that may have the best chance of survival in assessing the situation. As such, she may actually come to discover what is going on and that the twelve were specifically chosen for this exercise. This film is a political satire film that almost didn't make it to the big screen, with Universal Studios pushing the release date thanks to its controversial theme. Luckily, Blumhouse doesn't shy away from social thrillers. This horror movie offers in-your-face action and brutality mixed with tongue-in-cheek dialogue that will have you laughing, despite your best efforts not to. From climate change to online conspiracy theories, this film roasts hot-button issues from our world today.
The Hunt (2020)