Final thoughts on "Final Girl"

I found this article to be kind of funny. It's so ridiculous to me how women are portrayed in horror flicks. Coincidentally, I had never seen any of the horror movies that they talked about but one that came to mind from my adolescence was "I Know What You Did Last Summer". The plot of this movie is victim to the "Final Girl" archetype. Jennifer Love Hewitt plays "Julie" who is amongst several of her friends that are being stalked and subsequently murdered by an unknown killer.

All of the friends die off and the end of the film nears and you think she will be the survivor. But- within the last 5 minutes we are lucky enough to witness her being attacked in the shower and her scream fades off as the movie ends. I can't stand horror movies for this reason- not only do they make women out to be total victims but they make them look stupid and vulnerable every time.

I too also notice the violent imagery that is used towards women in horror films as the article depicted. When ever a man in a horror movie is faced with a similar horrific fate- it is rarely shown and if it is it is not all that sexualized, gruesome or otherwise disturbing (other then the fact the man is murdered- it is not done in any unique way and he usually dies fighting for life). It is hard for me to watch rape scenes or scenes in which a male is dominating a woman as he kills her. It is suggestive and rude and provocative- and especially daunting because men are never dominated in horror films by women to be killed (not that it would make it better- but at least there would be some equality to the plot thus offering more insight?)

Another interesting horror movie from my adolescence was "What Lies Beneath" Michelle Phifer plays a strong woman who investigates into suspicions of her husbands infidelity. She soon finds out that he killed the woman he was having an affair with and her ghost was coming back to invade Michelle Phifers body and act out her aggression from the grave. However, the ghost that invades Michelle Phifer has to be totally hot, sexy and seductive- that's the only thing that would make for great ratings right? So offensive. A lot of the scenes take place around water- bath tub, shower, lake. Additionally, color plays a large role. Red is used to symbolize the ghosts anger and vengence. I suppose the movie was well done- but the gender implications are ridiculous. However, Michelle Phifer ISN'T the "Final Girl"- she lives, husband dies and the ghost is put to rest after her soul can be released through the truth.

In both "I Know What You Did Last Summer" and "What Lies Beneath" the women are physically weak- leaving them defenseless in that regard and they are just never quick enough. Not quick enough to grab the phone, not clever enough to run away... etc. The female character always has lessons that should have been taught and the audience often finds themselves yelling at the screen to direct this poor female to saving her own life. Very interesting.