Explore every episode of the podcast Final Girls
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah from The Descent | 08 Jan 2025 | 00:36:31 | |
What’s more badass than going feral in a blood-soaked battle for survival? In our debut episode, we’re diving deep (pun intended) into the unforgettable Final Girl of all Final Girls: Sarah from the 2005 horror masterpiece, The Descent. Join us as we break down her transformation from grieving adventurer to primal warrior. We’ll explore the claustrophobic terror and the raw power that makes Sarah a horror icon. Her blood-soaked rebirth is one for the ages. Spoilers lurk in the shadows—proceed with caution, Scream Things! 🎵 Theme by Max Anson 💻 Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Karen from The Grudge | 15 Jan 2025 | 00:33:38 | |
Some Final Girls fight their way to survival, while others outsmart their foes. Karen Davis from The Grudge falls into the latter category, relying on her heightened intuition and resourceful problem-solving to endure a relentless, supernatural curse. Widely regarded as one of the most chilling and unsettling horror films, The Grudge delivers terror at every turn. Join us as we dive into how Karen defies the odds and outmaneuvers a vengeful family of ghosts that destroy everyone in their wake. Spoiler alert: we're breaking it all down, so proceed with caution! Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Selena from 28 Days Later | 22 Jan 2025 | 00:49:52 | |
Selena from 28 Days Later is the Final of all Final Girls. She slashes her way through rage-infected chaos across the English countryside alongside her makeshift family. But Selena’s journey stands apart from most final girls because her redemption arc doesn’t come from simply outlasting the nightmare. Instead, her survival is rooted in something deeper—learning to build a family unit to endure the horrors together. Portrayed with stunning nuance by Naomi Harris, Selena is a powerhouse of resilience . This week, we’re thrilled to peel back the curtain and dive into her story. Please note: We discuss sexual assault and harassment in this episode while covering the film's third act. Spoiler alert: We're spilling the tea on the twists and turns, so proceed with caution. Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Sam from A Quiet Place: Day One | 05 Mar 2025 | 00:54:17 | |
Sam from A Quiet Place: Day One (2024) - brilliantly and expressively played by Lupita Nyong’o - isn’t your typical Final Girl. She’s a woman facing her own ticking clock before the alien invasion even begins. This week, we follow Sam’s unique Final Girl journey through a silenced New York City with her cat Frodo and a British stranger. Spoiler Warning: Stay quiet, tread carefully, and keep your ears open—this episode is packed with A Quiet Place: Day One spoilers. Listen at your own risk! If you enjoy Final Girls, please take a moment to rate and review us—it helps more horror fans find the show, and we’d love to hear your thoughts! Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Christine from Drag Me To Hell | 26 Feb 2025 | 00:57:24 | |
In Drag Me to Hell (2009), Christine finds herself cursed by a vengeful old woman, stalked by a relentless demon, and racing against time to escape eternal damnation. This week, we break down Christine’s Final Girl arc from timid banker to desperate survivor and the fine line between terror and hilarity in the comedy horror subgenre. Spoiler Warning: Cross your fingers, toss some coins, and double-check your buttons—this episode is cursed with Drag Me to Hell spoilers. Listen at your own risk! Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Sally from Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) | 19 Feb 2025 | 01:00:47 | |
A quick detour to check on a family grave turns into a nightmare for Sally Hardesty and her friends. Trapped in the heart of Texas with a family of cannibals, Sally must endure a nightmare chase that will push her to the very edge of survival. This week, we discuss how Sally embodied the Final Girl trope, the raw terror of her performance, and why The Texas Chain Saw Massacre remains one of the most viscerally disturbing horror films of all time. When she finally escapes, drenched in blood and laughing maniacally in the back of a pickup truck, one question remains: Did she really survive, or did she just escape? Find the book Sarah references here: The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker Spoiler Warning: If you thought road trips were bad, wait until you see what’s for dinner. Listen at your own risk! Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Sarah from My Bloody Valentine (2009) | 12 Feb 2025 | 00:51:01 | |
What do you do when the love of your life who bailed right after you survived a collective horror comes waltzing back into town a decade later… just in time for the anniversary of said trauma? That’s the nightmare facing this week’s Final Girl, Sarah (My Bloody Valentine, 2009), played by Jaime King. As a masked killer with a pickaxe and a penchant for carving out hearts terrorizes her town again, Sarah finds herself caught in a deadly love triangle that threatens not just her dignity and relationships, but her survival itself! Spoiler Warning: If you think heartbreak is painful, try a pickaxe to the chest. Listen at your own risk! Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Needy from Jennifer's Body | 05 Feb 2025 | 00:53:10 | |
Your high school BFF is sometimes your biggest downfall. Just ask Anita "Needy" Lesnicki (played by Amanda Seyfried), a Final Girl unlike any other. This week, we sink our teeth into Needy as a Final Girl in Jennifer’s Body, dissecting how the film flips the male gaze on its head and explores the intensity of female friendships. We also dig into Needy’s struggle to understand Jennifer’s newfound demonic hunger and stop her best friend’s blood-soaked rampage. Spoiler Warning: This episode is hella cursed—listen at your own risk. Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Maxine from MaXXXine | 29 Jan 2025 | 00:53:10 | |
Maxine Minx is a final girl with ambition as sharp as her instincts. Played by the incomparable Mia Goth, Maxine claws her way through Ti West’s X trilogy, proving that in 1980s Hollywood, fame is about survival. With dreams of stardom and a ruthless will to succeed, she’ll do whatever it takes to secure her place on the Walk of Fame… even if it means leaving a bloody trail behind. Spoiler Warning: Although we focus on MaXXXine, we discuss all three films, so watch your step! Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Wendy from The Shining | 12 Mar 2025 | 01:11:09 | |
Wendy Torrance, played by Shelley Duvall, is often overlooked in the Final Girl conversation, but she shouldn’t be. In The Shining (1980), Wendy is trapped in the sprawling, snowbound Overlook Hotel with an unraveling Jack and a terrified Danny. Yet despite overwhelming odds and ever-increasing terror, Wendy proves that resilience is just doing whatever it takes to protect your child. This week, we examine Wendy’s role as a Final Girl, the film’s chilling psychological horror, and why her performance deserves more recognition. National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 or text BEGIN to 88788 or chat on the website. Help is available 24/7 in English, Spanish, and 200+ languages. Security Alert - internet usage can be monitored and is impossible to erase completely. If you're concerned you might be monitored, call 800-799-SAFE (7233). Learn more about digital safety here. Spoiler Warning: The halls of the Overlook are filled with ghosts—and spoilers. Listen at your own risk! If you enjoy Final Girls, take a moment to rate and review us—it helps more horror fans find the show, and we’d love to hear your thoughts! Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Brigette from Ginger Snaps | 02 Apr 2025 | 00:58:37 | |
This week, we sink our teeth into one of horror’s most iconic sister duos, Brigette and Ginger from Ginger Snaps (2000). We explore how Brigitte’s quiet loyalty and desperation to save Ginger make her a deeply compelling Final Girl. We also dig into the film’s darkly brilliant metaphor for puberty and how Brigitte’s journey forces her to navigate the blurry line between codependence and survival. Spoiler Warning: This episode is full of transformations, trauma, and Ginger Snaps spoilers. You’ve been warned. If you’re digging Final Girls, rating and reviewing the show helps more horror lovers find us—and keeps us from going full werewolf. Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Naru from Prey | 26 Mar 2025 | 00:37:58 | |
Long before Dutch faced the Predator in the jungle, Naru was already rewriting the rules of the hunt. In Prey (2022), Amber Midthunder brings fierce intensity to Naru, a young Comanche woman determined to prove she’s more than what her tribe expects of her. This week, we track Naru’s journey from underestimated healer to full-fledged warrior challenging the gendered and colonial expectations placed on her from the start. Spoiler Warning: We’re spilling guts and spoilers—so watch Prey before pressing play. If you’re loving Final Girls, help us out by rating and reviewing the show—it helps more horror fans (and aspiring warriors) find us. Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Iris from Companion | 19 Mar 2025 | 00:50:40 | |
In Companion, Iris (Sophie Thatcher) is fighting for survival AND control over her own identity. This week, we explore how Iris’s Final Girl arc challenges ideas of obedience, agency, and self-determination, leading to Iris’s final declaration of total self-control. Spoiler Warning: Freedom comes at a price—and so does listening to this episode unspoiled. You’ve been warned! If you enjoy Final Girls, take a moment to rate and review us—it helps more horror fans find the show, and we’d love to hear your thoughts! Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Dana from The Cabin in the Woods | 16 Apr 2025 | 01:01:33 | |
Never split up!!! The Cabin in the Woods, Dana thinks she’s headed for a weekend of fun with friends, but ends up in a bloody, mind-bending fight for survival where the real horror is who's pulling the strings. This week, we dig into Dana’s role as the archetypal Final Girl in a world that literally demands sacrifice, exploring how the film deconstructs horror tropes and leaves you with plenty of belly laughs along the way. Here is the referenced episode of Who's There: A Podcast About Horror Fans. Spoiler Warning: The ancient ones demand blood and spoilers, so consider this your warning before you descend into the cabin’s basement. Love Final Girls? Leave us a rating or review—it helps more horror nerds find the pod, and might just spare us from global annihilation. Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Ripley from Alien | 09 Apr 2025 | 00:53:49 | |
In space, no one can hear you scream! In Alien (1979), Sigourney Weaver redefined what a Final Girl could be: smart, resourceful, emotionally grounded, and completely unafraid to torch a xenomorph when it comes down to it. This week, we board the Nostromo and break down Ripley’s iconic status and why her legacy still looms large over the Final Girls canon. Content Note: There is a discussion about sexual violence as a major theme in this film. Spoiler Warning: There are some things lurking in the vents—like Alien spoilers. Listen at your own risk. If you’re loving Final Girls, a quick rating or review helps other horror fans find the pod—and it means we don’t have to send a distress signal to deep space. | |||
| Cecilia from The Invisible Man (2020) | 23 Apr 2025 | 00:57:58 | |
You can’t fight what you can’t see, unless you’ve already survived the worst. The Invisible Man (2020)'s Final Girl Cecilia Kass escapes an abusive relationship… only to be haunted by a presence that no one else believes exists. This week, we dive into Cecilia’s chilling Final Girl journey, unpacking how the film turns gaslighting into a literal monster and how Cecilia’s transformation feels real and unsettling, even from behind the safety and comfort of the screen. Spoiler Warning: The truth is visible, especially when it comes to The Invisible Man. This episode contains spoilers. Listen at your own risk. If you’re into Final Girls, a quick rating or review helps more horror fans find the show and reminds the algorithm we do exist. Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Sophie and Bee from Bodies Bodies Bodies | 21 May 2025 | 00:56:05 | |
It’s all fun and games until the bodies start dropping.Sophie and Bee walk into a hurricane party in Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) and end up in a full-blown bloodbath. This week, we break down their Final Girl stories and the messy, brilliant satire of A24’s Gen Z slashe cell phone lighting and all. Spoiler Warning: Someone turned the lights out and the Wi-Fi’s down, so listen at your own risk. If you're into Final Girls, leave us a rating or review—it helps more horror fans find the pod (no TikTok dance required). Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Rosemary from Rosemary's Baby | 14 May 2025 | 01:11:00 | |
Mia Farrow’s iconic Rosemary Woodhouse Iin Rosemary’s Baby (1968), doesn’t scream, slash, or run through the woods. But make no mistake: she’s a Final Girl. This week, we sink into the psychological horror of isolation and bodily autonomy as Rosemary endures the slow unraveling of her life. And we gush over that cute pixie cut she gets halfway through the movie. Spoiler Warning: This episode contains spoilers for Rosemary’s Baby and one very badass Satanic bassinet. If you're into Final Girls, leaving a rating or review helps us keep the coven strong, and helps others find their way out of the gaslight. Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Gemma from M3GAN | 07 May 2025 | 01:06:38 | |
This week, we're covering the glitchy Final Girl story of Gemma in M3GAN (2022). Gemma is a brilliant roboticist AND a cautionary tale wrapped in code, the actual villain and Final Girl of her own story. When she takes in her orphaned niece Cady, Gemma does what any emotionally unavailable tech genius might: she outsources parenting to an AI. Spoiler Warning: This episode contains M3GAN spoilers—and maybe a firmware update you didn’t agree to. If you're loving Final Girls, leave us a rating or review—it helps more horror fans find the pod (no dancing robot necessary). Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Grindhouse Double Feature: Abernathy, Zoë, and Kim from Death Proof | 30 Apr 2025 | 01:08:39 | |
🌟 Final Girls Double Feature (Part 2)! 🌟 Next up: Death Proof (2007) Abernathy, Zoë, and Kim are taking the wheel and fighting back. In Death Proof, Quentin Tarantino flips the Final Girl trope on its head, giving us three fearless women who absolutely wreck the killer. This week, we break down why this trio’s friendship and fury make them some of the most satisfying Final Girls in horror history. Spoiler Warning: Buckle up—Death Proof spoilers (and serious girl power) ahead! Loving Final Girls? Leave us a rating or review—it fuels our need for speed and survival. Theme by Max Anson Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Grindhouse Double Feature: Cherry from Planet Terror | 30 Apr 2025 | 00:55:36 | |
🌟 Final Girls Double Feature! 🌟 First up: Planet Terror (2007) Cherry Darling might have started the night as a go-go dancer with a broken heart, but by the end of Planet Terror, she’s packing heat and leading the charge against a zombie outbreak. This week, we dive into Cherry’s wild, blood-soaked Final Girl arc and how Rose McGowan’s performance and later activism turned fiction into something far more powerful. Spoiler Warning: Things get gory fast—Planet Terror spoilers ahead! If you’re digging Final Girls, a rating or review helps us keep the grindhouse vibes alive and well. Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Tammy from 28 Weeks Later | 25 Jun 2025 | 00:44:44 | |
Tammy may not be the most famous Final Girl, but in 28 Weeks Later (2007), she’s sprinting for her life through one of the bleakest apocalypses ever put on screen. This week, we cover Tammy’s fight to survive the Rage Virus outbreak and her remarkably concise Final Girl arc in the final ten minutes. Spoiler Warning: The infection spreads fast, and so do the 28 Weeks Later spoilers. Proceed at your own risk. Theme by Max Anson Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Dani from Midsommar | 18 Jun 2025 | 01:12:03 | |
Sometimes healing means burning it all down. For our summer Solstice episode, we’re not going it alone. This is our very first episode with guests, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome our friends Cory and Rossa from Broomsticks and Bloodshed to the pod! Together, we step into the sun-drenched nightmare of Midsommar (2019), where grief blooms into ritual and heartbreak transforms into something far more powerful. Broomsticks and Bloodshed’s Instagram Broomsticks and Bloodshed’s Bluesky Broomsticks and Bloodshed’s Rosemary’s Baby episode Spoiler Warning: The flowers are blooming, the fires are burning, and the Midsommar spoilers are plentiful. If you’re loving Final Girls, leave us a rating or review, it helps more witches find the coven. Theme by Max Anson Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Jen from Revenge | 11 Jun 2025 | 00:56:44 | |
Jen starts Revenge (2017) as the sexy, sidelined girlfriend, only to rise reborn in blood as one of the most viscerally unhinged Final Girls of the last decade. This week, we chat about her Final Girl journey in Coralie Fargeat’s neon-drenched takedown of the male gaze. CONTENT NOTE: We discuss a scene of SA from the film. Link to No Bodies’ Good 4 Her: Femme Revenge Films Part 1 Link to No Bodies’ Good 4 Her: Femme Revenge Films Part 2 Unfortunately, the app we referred to is no longer available, but you can find a similar one here. Spoiler Warning: This episode contains Revenge spoilers, Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Sarah from The Craft | 04 Jun 2025 | 00:56:12 | |
SARAH'S BIRTHDAY EPISODE! New girl Sarah Bailey is giving peak 90s witchcore. But once she finds her coven, things go from light-as-a-feather to dark-as-hell. This week on Final Girls, we revisit the iconic teen witch masterpiece that made every girl want to call the corners. Spoiler Warning: There’s magic in these spoilers—handle with care. Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Judith from Demonic Toys | 28 May 2025 | 00:55:16 | |
Undercover cop Judith Gray walks into a poorly planned illegal arms sting in Demonic Toys (1992) and ends up trapped in a possessed toy warehouse with a demon fetus and a bunch of pint-sized murder machines. This week, we salute the bonkers brilliance of Demonic Toys and the sadly ineffective badassery of our Final Girl, who fights her way through it with a gun in one hand and a grudge in the other. Spoiler Warning: This episode is crawling with Demonic Toys spoilers. Proceed accordingly. Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Senator Roan from The Purge: Election Year | 02 Jul 2025 | 00:53:09 | |
For Final Girls' 4th of July episode, we're The Purge: Election Year (2016), and Elizabeth Mitchell’s Senator Charlie Roan. Senator Roan transforms personal trauma (watching her family murdered during a Purge) into a fierce political campaign to abolish the ritual once and for all. This week, we discuss Senator Roan's Final Girl energy, whose platform puts her directly in danger. We also ponder whether she's really the star of this movie, and if Frank Grillo is a Final Daddy. Spoiler Warning: This episode contains The Purge: Election Year spoilers, political violence, and a pulse-pounding fight for democracy. Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| BONUS: Heather from The Blair Witch Project | 17 Jul 2025 | 00:33:30 | |
LIVE FROM GHOULIECON! ✨ We’re lost in the woods with Heather Donahue from The Blair Witch Project (1999), the chaotic queen of found footage and one of the most debated Final Girls in horror history. Is she a control freak? A victim of misogyny? Or just the only one trying to not die in the woods? We recorded this episode LIVE in front of an audience at GhoulieCon on July 20, and it was an extra special one because our Scream Things picked Heather as our Final Girl for this episode. Spoiler Warning: If you don’t know how this one ends, bless your VHS-deprived heart. Theme by Max Anson 💻 Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Julie and Karla from I Still Know What You Did Last Summer | 16 Jul 2025 | 00:54:30 | |
They still know what you did and we still don’t know why this movie exists. This week, we’re talking about Julie & Karla from I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, aka the sequel that proves not every Final Girl deserves a follow-up. We hated this movie (not even in a fun way), but trust: it made for one of our most chaotic, laugh-out-loud episodes yet. White Guy Rasta Jack Black? This movie somehow manages to be moderately offensive and so dumb while trying to be deadly serious. Spoiler Warning: If you’ve seen it, you know. If you haven’t… you’re probably fine. Theme by Max Anson | |||
| Julie from I Know What You Did Last Summer | 09 Jul 2025 | 00:48:54 | |
Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt) goes from small-town golden girl to survivor in I Know What You Did Last Summer, a film that asks: what if your worst mistake came back with a hook? This week, we unravel Julie’s transformation from trembling honor student to one of the most iconic Final Girls of the late ’90s. Spoiler Warning: This episode contains major spoilers for I Know What You Did Last Summer and the sequel that… maybe we all kinda forgot? Visit us at www.final-girls.com If you’re loving the pod, leave us a rating or review. | |||
| Claire from What Lies Beneath | 23 Jul 2025 | 00:55:53 | |
When your house is haunted, but so is your marriage. This week we’re talking about Claire Spencer from What Lies Beneath (2000), the gaslit, ghost-seeing housewife who learns the call is coming from inside her relationship. We get into Claire’s eerie Final Girl arc and why trusting your gut might be the most dangerous thing you can do when your husband’s hiding skeletons in more places than one. We also dive into the film’s Hitchcockian vibes if Hitchcock ever went full ghost story, and why this supernatural thriller taps into gothic horror, gaslighting, and the terror of not being believed. Spoiler Warning: If you haven’t seen What Lies Beneath, go watch it before you take a bath. Theme by Max Anson Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Mia from Evil Dead (2013) | 27 Aug 2025 | 00:59:48 | |
She came to detox. The forest had other plans. Fede Álvarez’s 2013 reimagining of Evil Dead features a Final Girl, Mia, who is fighting addiction AND ancient demons. And the literal fires of hell. This week, we’re joined by two guests and friends, Matt from Getting Offed and Katie from ShElite Showcase, to dig into Mia’s Final Girl arc and all the blood-soaked symbolism it unleashes. Spoiler warning: This episode is raining blood and spoilers. Getting Offed: Youtube Instagram Bluesky ShElite Showcase: Youtube Instagram You can watch our guest appearances here Theme by Max Anson Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Zephyr from Dangerous Animals | 20 Aug 2025 | 00:58:48 | |
OOBIE DOOBIE MOTHERF**KER! Dangerous Animals (2025), Zephyr is a closed-off American surfer chasing freedom on the open Australian water, but when a shark diving boat operator picks her as his prey, she has to battle something far more sinister than what’s lurking beneath the surface. Zephyr’s Final Girl arc goes from self-contained loner to reluctant warrior, and we this week we unpack how the film delivers one of the most feral third-act fights and transformations we’ve seen in a long time. Spoiler warning: This episode contains spoilers and gory details! Theme by Max Anson Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Melanie from The Birds | 13 Aug 2025 | 01:05:59 | |
Let's take a road trip (but not for a dude)! This week we are driving up to Bodega Bay to talk about The Birds (1963) and our sharp-tongued, fur-coat-wearing Final Girl, Melanie Daniels. What begins as a flirty little prank quickly turns Hitchcockian nightmare when birds begin attacking without explanation. We dig into the gender politics of Melanie’s transformation from socialite to survivor and how the film weaponizes nature and femininity in equal measure. Is it horror? Is it camp? Is it a cautionary tale about chasing a man? Either way, Melanie earns her spot in the Final Girl canon. Spoiler warning: We’re spoiling the plot and the pecking. You've been warned. BUY SARAH'S BABY BOOKS! www.oddbirdbooks.co Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Carly from Mom and Dad | 06 Aug 2025 | 00:45:08 | |
Your parents always said they brought you into this world… and in this one, they’re ready to take you out. This week we talk about the unhinged chaos of Mom and Dad (2017) and Carly, our Gen Z Final Girl who’s just trying to survive a sudden epidemic turning parents into murderers. Spoiler warning: This episode contains spoilers! Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Crystal from The Hunt | 30 Jul 2025 | 00:47:14 | |
They picked the wrong girl. This week, we’re heading intoThe Hunt (2020) to talk about Crystal, arguably one of the most calculated Final Girls we’ve ever seen. Crystal doesn’t scream or run. She barely even blinks. And yet, she delivers one of the most cathartic, quietly feminist takedowns in recent horror history. Spoiler warning: If you haven’t seen The Hunt, you might want to pause here and go watch. Theme by Max Anson Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Elvira from Elvira: Mistress of the Dark | 29 Oct 2025 | 00:59:43 | |
How's your head? Well, I haven't had any complaints so far! This week, let's worship at the altar of cleavage and camp with Elvira: Mistress of the Dark! Elvira may not be your traditional Final Girl, but make no mistake, she is horror’s ultimate Final Baddie. Armed with quick wit and zero tolerance for puritanical nonsense, she battles small-town hypocrisy and misogyny and slays while she does. Listen to The Hesh Files (Eric's podcast) Listen to Dead Man's Mic podcast (about Halloween Horror Nights) Spoiler warning: We’re opening the spellbook and the movie vault. You’ve been warned. Theme by Max Anson Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton from Heretic | 22 Oct 2025 | 01:00:56 | |
We’re entering the twisted trap of Heretic (2024), a psychological survival thriller that pits two Mormon missionaries against a villain who tests their belief in God and themselves. We dig into what makes Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton unlikely Final Girls: their young and indoctrinated moral rigidity and eventual transformation from passive believers into active resistors. Plus: we unpack the film’s commentary on obedience and the dangers of not asking questions. Spoiler warning: We’re going full Book of Revelations on this one: expect plot details. Kellie’s 31 Days of Shudder Originals minisode The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Laurie from Halloween | 15 Oct 2025 | 00:52:27 | |
Let's go allllll the way back to where the slashing started (Haddonfield, 1978) to honor the OG Final Girl, Laurie Strode. Played with brilliance by Jamie Lee Curtis, Laurie is smart and responsible… and unknowingly marked. As her friends get picked off one by one, Laurie arms herself with knitting needles and sheer willpower to face down the Boogeyman. We dig into the birth of the Final Girl and why her survival still resonates nearly 50 years later. Spoiler warning: We’re talking all things Halloween — expect major plot details! Theme by Max Anson Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Sarah's Minisode: Season of the Witch(y Movies) | 08 Oct 2025 | 00:26:36 | |
It's the Season of the Witch! For this minisode, Sarah is diving into her favorite fictional witches, both from horror and non-horror TV and film. Witches are far more than just magical beings who cast spells; they fight the patriarchy together and work tirelessly to create a better, more just world for all. Because if she's not using magic for the greater good, is she even a witch? So grab your favorite magical potion or drink and get comfy, because we're about to summon some feminine power together! Keep an eye out - Season Two starts very soon! Visit us at final-girls.com | |||
| Kellie's Minisode: 31 Shudder Originals for October | 01 Oct 2025 | 00:20:52 | |
It's finally October! Kellie is serving up a horror buffet straight from Shudder’s vault. In this minisode, she counts down 31 Shudder Originals from the past decade, one for every night of the spookiest month of the year. Consider this your guide to streaming survival for the season. Grab your popcorn and stay spooky! Visit us at final-girls.com. | |||
| Final Cats Minisode: Jonesy from Alien | 24 Sep 2025 | 00:15:15 | |
In our inaugural Final Cats minisode, our claws are out for one of horror’s most beloved survivors: Jonesy, the orange tabby who prowls the Nostromo in Alien. While Ripley faces down the perfect organism, Jonesy earns his own place in Final Cat history by keeping calm in the face of interstellar terror. From his iconic hisses at the Xenomorph to his safe ride home in the escape pod, we unpack how Jonesy embodies survival, luck, and pure feline vibes. Join us as we purr over his legendary status and celebrate the fluffiest member of the Alien franchise. Spoilers ahead for Alien (1979). Want more? Visit us at final-girls.com | |||
| Season Two Announcement | 17 Sep 2025 | 00:01:42 | |
Scream Things, prepare to sharpen your knives and grab your flashlights, because Final Girls is gearing up for Season Two just in time for spooky season! We're taking a few weeks to enjoy our favorite time of year with friends and family (and, of course, eat/drink all things pumpkin-flavored.) Dropping right before Halloween, our brand-new season of iconic Final Girls will come with fresh frights and plenty of blood-soaked analysis. Until then, stay spooky! xoxo Sarah and Kellie | |||
| Dr. Ellie Sattler from Jurassic Park | 10 Sep 2025 | 00:46:07 | |
Let's go deep into Isla Nublar to celebrate one of the most iconic women in sci-fi horror: Dr. Ellie Sattler. Played by Laura Dern, Ellie is a paleobotanist and major force who critiques patriarchal hubris and rescues the boys when things go sideways. We dig into the gender politics of Jurassic Park, including how Ellie’s intelligence and assertiveness challenge the male egos around her. We also talk about how the film’s all-female dinosaurs mirror the themes of control and reproduction. Spoiler warning: This episode contains spoilers for Jurassic Park! Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Emerald from Nope | 03 Sep 2025 | 01:08:25 | |
This week, we’re spotlighting the one and only Emerald Haywood from Jordan Peele’s Nope (2022) — a Final Girl who rides in late and never lets go of the spotlight. As Hollywood’s skies darken with something sinister, Em becomes the beating heart of a story about spectacle and sibling solidarity. Spoiler warning: This episode contains major plot spoilers! Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Carly from House of Wax | 19 Nov 2025 | 01:01:52 | |
Join us this week to revisit the gloriously grotesque 2005 cult favorite House of Wax, and our Final Girl Carly, played by the scream-worthy Elisha Cuthbert. We dig into Carly’s transformation from fashion intern and Waffle House waitress to one of the grimiest, grittiest Final Girls of the 2000s. We also unpack the heavy 2000s vibes and how the marketing made Paris Hilton the real horror bait. Spoiler warning: We reveal it all! | |||
| Deena from Night of the Reaper | 12 Nov 2025 | 00:56:10 | |
Listener request! This week we are discussing Night of the Reaper (2025), a love letter to 80s slasher classics with a modern twist. Our Final Girl is Deena, a criminology major home from college for what should’ve been a cozy fall break. Instead, she finds herself at the center of a violent, terrifying mystery… and face to face with a masked killer who is dragging the past to the surface. Find our recent guest appearances here Spoiler warning: If you haven’t watched Night of the Reaper, now’s your chance to press play before the body count rises. Theme by Max Anson Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Elvira from The Ugly Stepsister | 05 Nov 2025 | 01:11:14 | |
Glass slippers and fairy-tale trauma abound in The Ugly Stepsister (2025), and this week we want to talk about it. This gruesome, pink cottagecore fever dream reimagines the story of Cinderella from the perspective of Elvira, the not-so-fair stepsister in a kingdom obsessed with perfection. In a world where beauty is currency, Elvira’s transformation arc is a brutal reminder of how far women are expected to go to be “enough.” Spoiler warning: We’re spilling all the tea! Visit us at www.final-girls.com | |||
| Frida from Blink Twice | 07 Jan 2026 | 00:58:48 | |
Let's all just agree now that we should not take shots of snake venom, even if Channing Tatum is giving it to you. K? This week, we're discussing the 2024 thriller-horror film Blink Twice and its Final Girl, Frida (played by Naomi Ackie), who finds herself on a billionaire's private island with a bunch of people she doesn't know. The island looks beautiful and colorful and fun, but is it... really? And is this movie's message that rich white guys get away with literally anything? Maybe. Listen to find out. Spoiler Warning: We're spilling all the tea on this one. Enter if you dare! Content Warning: The film and this episode alike discuss SA. If that is something you are sensitive to, please skip this week. Visit us at final-girls.com | |||
| Erin from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) | 31 Dec 2025 | 00:51:12 | |
Is the 2003 remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre one of the best remakes ever, and is Erin one of the best homages to one of the most classic Final Girls? Half endurance runner, half feral fighter, Erin (played by Jessica Biel) is one for the books. This week, we explore the remake that kicked off a decade-plus of remakes, the elements it added and freshened up (the hitchiker!), and the things it sadly missed (no astrology?!) and why Erin deserves her spot in the canon all the same. Do not listen or watch while you're eating. Don't say we didn't warn you. Spoiler warning: Spoilers for both the original 1974 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the 2003 remake ahead! Theme by Max Anson | |||