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, the gut-wrenching betrayals, and the raw power that makes Sarah a horror icon. Her blood-soaked rebirth is one for the ages, and we’re here to celebrate every brutal, glorious moment.

Spoilers lurk in the shadows—proceed with caution, Scream Things!

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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!

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Selena from 28 Days Later isn’t just a survivor; she’s arguably the Final of all Final Girls. Armed with grit, resourcefulness, and a machete, 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 trust, connect, and build a family unit to endure the horrors together.

Portrayed with stunning nuance by Naomi Harris, Selena is a powerhouse of resilience and complexity, a character as fierce as she is layered. This week, we’re thrilled to peel back the bloody curtain and dive into her story.

One thing’s for sure: if the rage virus ever broke out, Selena would be the first person we’d want by our side—though let’s be honest, we’d be terrified of slowing her down!

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.

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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, her unexpected and beautiful companionship with a British stranger, and how her quest for pizza becomes something deeper. We also dig into the film’s emotional core, its unique take on linear time, and why Sam stands out in the Final Girl canon.

🩸 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!

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Being a loan officer in LA is tough, but for Christine Brown (played by Alison Lohman), denying a mortgage extension comes with hellish consequences—literally. 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, the many scary movie appearances of Justin Long, 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!

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A quick detour to check on a family grave turns into a nightmare when Sally Hardesty and her friends stumble upon something far worse than vandalism. Trapped in the heart of Texas with a family of cannibals, Sally must endure a relentless, nightmarish 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!

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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—one 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!

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Your high school BFF isn’t just a friend—she’s your bodyguard, your psychic twin, your ride-or-die… and 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, explores the intensity of female friendships, and embraces teenage girl queerness in all its messy, monstrous glory. We also dig into Needy’s complicated relationships with Jennifer and Chip, her struggle to understand Jennifer’s newfound demonic hunger, and her mission to stop her best friend’s blood-soaked rampage—no matter the cost.

🩸 Spoiler Warning: This episode is hella cursed—listen at your own risk.

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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 isn’t just about talent—it’s 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.

This week, we pull back the curtain on Maxine’s journey, with a deep dive into the trilogy’s third film. We explore its rich themes, from saints vs. sinners to the blurred lines between fame and infamy, sex and violence, and the price of chasing Hollywood dreams. 🎥✨

🔪 Spoiler Warning: Although we focus on MaXXXine, we discuss all three films, so watch your step!

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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 isn’t about wielding an axe—it’s about endurance, instinct, and 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.

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🩸 Spoiler Warning: The halls of the Overlook are filled with ghosts—and spoilers. Listen at your own risk!

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Blood is thicker than water—and sometimes it’s also a curse. In Ginger Snaps (2000), Brigitte Fitzgerald isn’t just watching her sister Ginger transform into something monstrous—she’s being pulled into the change right alongside her. This week, we sink our teeth into one of horror’s most iconic sister duos, exploring how Brigitte’s quiet strength, 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. Werewolves, blood pacts, and suburban dread—this one has it all.

Spoiler Warning: This episode is full of transformations, trauma, and Ginger Snaps spoilers. You’ve been warned.

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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, discussing how the film flips the franchise’s macho legacy on its head and celebrates Indigenous resilience, skill, and survival.

We also dive into how Prey honors Final Girl tradition while pushing it forward—because Naru isn’t just surviving the Predator, she’s 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.

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In Companion, Iris (Sophie Thatcher) isn’t just fighting for survival—she’s fighting for control over her own identity. Designed to be the perfect partner, our companion bot Final Girl is placed into a role she never chose, reflecting the way young women are automatically slotted into traditional gender roles by society. But as her weekend getaway takes a dark and violent turn, Iris begins to reclaim her autonomy, proving that survival isn’t just about escaping danger—it’s about breaking free from the expectations forced upon her. 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!

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In 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.

We also talk gods, conspiracy, stoner prophets, and the stakes of Dana’s decision in the final moments.

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.

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In space, no one can hear you scream—but Ripley makes damn sure they hear her survive. 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, how she shattered the gender norms of horror, and why her legacy still looms large over the Final Girls canon.

We also explore the film’s themes of bodily autonomy, corporate exploitation, and fear of the unknown—and why Ripley remains the gold standard for survival when the monster isn't just in the shadows, but inside the system.

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.

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You can’t fight what you can’t see, unless you’ve already survived the worst. In The Invisible Man (2020), 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, explores the differences between seeing and unseeing, and puts control and autonomy back into the hands of its heroine. We also explore the film’s unflinching portrayal of domestic abuse, isolation, and disbelief—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.

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It’s all fun and games until the bodies start dropping. In Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022), Sophie and Bee walk into a hurricane party with secrets, tension, and trauma in their overnight bags 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 slasher: weaponized buzzwords, emotional manipulation, cell phone lighting, and all.

Spoiler Warning: Someone turned the lights out and the Wi-Fi’s down, so listen at your own risk.

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In Rosemary’s Baby (1968), Mia Farrow’s iconic Rosemary Woodhouse doesn’t scream, doesn’t slash, doesn’t run through the woods, but make no mistake: she’s a Final Girl. This week, we sink into the psychological horror of isolation, manipulation, and bodily autonomy as Rosemary endures the slow unraveling of her life, her sanity, and her very sense of self. We dig into the real vs. fake witchcraft and Satanism, and how Rosemary’s journey mirrors the real-world experience of so many women whose fears are dismissed until it’s far too late. 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.

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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. This week, we break down Gemma’s evolution from career-obsessed creator to reluctant protector, her role in M3GAN’s rise, and how the film critiques both grief avoidance, certain styles of parenting, AI ethics, and the capitalistic obsession with innovation at any cost.

Spoiler Warning: This episode contains M3GAN spoilers—and maybe a firmware update you didn’t agree to.

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🌟 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!

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🌟 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, the sheer camp of Robert Rodriguez’s grindhouse vision, and how Rose McGowan’s performance—and later activism—turned fiction into something far more powerful. We explore how Planet Terror became part of McGowan’s real-life journey of reclaiming her power from Harvey Weinstein and how she emerged as one of the faces of the #MeToo movement.

Spoiler Warning: Things get gory fast—Planet Terror spoilers ahead!

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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 delve into Tammy’s fight to survive the Rage Virus outbreak, her dual roles as both caretaker and survivor, 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.

If you're loving Final Girls, leave us a rating or review—it helps more horror fans find the pod before the next outbreak hits.

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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.

We unpack Dani’s earthy catharsis, the film’s lush, unsettling symbolism, and how creepy cult aesthetics make Midsommar one of the most haunting (and unfinished) modern Final Girl arcs.

Broomsticks and Bloodshed’s Instagram

Broomsticks and Bloodshed’s Bluesky

Broomsticks and Bloodshed’s Rosemary’s Baby episode

Our Rosemary’s Baby episode

Spoiler Warning: The flowers are blooming, the fires are burning, and the Midsommar spoilers are plentiful.

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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 delve into the Final Girl journey in Coralie Fargeat’s neon-drenched takedown of the male gaze, Jen’s brutal transformation from victim to avenger, and why this film is a must-watch for fans of rage, resilience, and very creative use of a beer can.

We’re talking trauma, body horror, and full-throttle survival in the desert—with enough symbolism and guts to keep your head spinning and your stomach clenched.

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, graphic content, and one awesome Phoenix.

If you’re loving Final Girls, leave us a rating or review—it helps more rage-filled angels find the pod.

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SARAH'S BIRTHDAY EPISODE! New girl Sarah Bailey is giving peak 90s witchcore: plaid skirts, trauma, magical powers, and a deep desire to belong. 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. We explore Sarah’s natural witch power, her refusal to be manipulated, and how The Craft captured the messy magic of sisterhood, light and dark magic, and goth rebellion.

Spoiler Warning: There’s magic in these spoilers—handle with care.

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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, a satanic prophecy, and a bunch of pint-sized murder machines. This week, we salute the cheesy, 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, demon babies, and cursed plushies. Proceed accordingly.

If you’re loving Final Girls, leave us a rating or review—it helps more horror fans find us in the dark back rooms of horror history.

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For Final Girls' 4th of July episode, we're diving into a character who isn't just a survivor; she’s a force. In The Purge: Election Year (2016), Elizabeth Mitchell’s Senator Charlie 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.

If you’re loving Final Girls, drop us a rating or review—it helps more resistance-loving scream queens find the show before the next Purge night.

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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.

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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. We get into the offensively fake voodoo plotline, the zero chemistry friendship, the paper-thin plot, and why this movie aged like milk. Plus: our bafflement over White Guy Rasta Jack Black, and how this movie somehow manages to be offensive, boring, 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.

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Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt) goes from small-town golden girl to haunted 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 guilt, paranoia, and transformation from trembling honor student to one of the most iconic Final Girls of the late ’90s. We talk about the wave of post-Scream slashers, Y2K fashion, that iconic screaming-in-the-street scene, and why this movie is pure seaside teen trauma.

Spoiler Warning: This episode contains major spoilers for I Know What You Did Last Summer and the sequel that… maybe we all kinda forgot?

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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.

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She came to detox. The forest had other plans. In Fede Álvarez’s brutal 2013 reimagining of Evil Dead, Mia isn’t just fighting addiction, she’s fighting off ancient demons and the literal fires of hell. This week, we’re joined by two incredible 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.

We dissect how Mia’s journey flips the possession trope on its head, reframes addiction through a horror lens, and leads to one of the most cathartic rebirths we’ve ever seen on screen (chainsaw included). Plus: how her arc does/does not echo Ash’s, why the gore works as metaphor, and survival lessons we definitely hope we never need to use.

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

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In 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. This week, we dive into Zephyr’s Final Girl arc from self-contained loner to reluctant warrior, and 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, gory details, and oceanic food-chain dread.

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This week, we're heading 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 violently, relentlessly, and without explanation. We dig into the gender politics of Melanie’s transformation from socialite to survivor, the icy dynamics between the women in Mitch’s life, 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, the pecking, and the psychological warfare. You've been warned.

BUY SARAH'S BABY BOOKS! www.oddbirdbooks.co

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Your parents always said they brought you into this world… and in this one, they’re ready to take you out. This week, we’re unraveling the unhinged chaos of Mom and Dad (2017) and spotlighting Carly, our Gen Z Final Girl who’s just trying to survive a sudden epidemic turning parents into murderers. (And yes, that includes her own.) We dig into the film’s wild tonal shifts and what it says about generational tension and parental rage. With Nicolas Cage and Selma Blair going full feral, Carly has to outsmart, outrun, and outlast the two people who supposedly love her most. 

Spoiler warning: This episode contains spoilers, screams, and one very deranged use of a sledgehammer.

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They picked the wrong girl. This week, we’re heading into the blood-soaked battlefield of The Hunt (2020) to talk about Crystal, arguably one of the coolest, calmest, and 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. We unpack the film’s satire of class warfare and political extremism and Crystal’s refusal to play that game. 

Spoiler warning: If you haven’t seen The Hunt, you might want to pause here and go watch, because we’re spilling blood and secrets.

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This week, we’re worshipping at the altar of cleavage and camp with Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. She may not be your traditional Final Girl, but make no mistake, Elvira 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.

We dig into Elvira’s iconic blend of sex positivity and self-possession and why this 1988 cult classic still stands out in 2025. Elvira outlasts the villains AND she roasts them alive with double entendres and drag-queen-level charisma.

Elvira's Cookbook from Hell

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.

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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, growing doubts, and eventual transformation from passive believers into active resistors. Plus: we unpack the film’s commentary on purity, obedience, and the dangers of not asking questions. 

Spoiler warning: We’re going full Book of Revelations on this one: expect plot details, intense themes, and some side-eye at organized religion.

Kellie’s 31 Days of Shudder Originals minisode

The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker

Theme by Max Anson

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She babysat, she survived, and she started it all. This week, we go 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, watchful, responsible… and unknowingly marked. As her friends get picked off one by one, Laurie arms herself with knitting needles, coat hangers, and sheer willpower to face down the Boogeyman.

We dig into the birth of the Final Girl trope, how Laurie’s character helped define it, and why her survival still resonates nearly 50 years later.

Spoiler warning: We’re talking all things Halloween — expect major plot details, lots of love for Laurie, and some strong opinions about men in jumpsuits.

Theme by Max Anson

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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!

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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!

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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).

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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

This week, we’re heading to Isla Nublar to celebrate one of the most iconic women in sci-fi horror: Dr. Ellie Sattler. Played by Laura Dern, Ellie is more than just a paleobotanist, she’s a feminist force who critiques patriarchal hubris, outruns velociraptors, 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, reproduction, and nature fighting back, and how Ellie holds her own in a narrative obsessed with male legacy.

Spoiler warning: This episode contains spoilers for Jurassic Park, chaos theory tangents, and a whole lot of respect for women who know their way around a T-Rex paddock.

Theme by Max Anson

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This week, we’re spotlighting the one and only Emerald Haywood from Jordan Peele’s Nope (2022) — a Final Girl who rides in late, steals the scene, 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, survival, and sibling solidarity. We break down how Emerald flips expectations as a Final Girl: vibrant, flawed, funny, and fearless. We dig into the film’s themes of exploitation, visibility, and legacy. Emerald isn’t trying to be your hero; she’s trying to get the shot.

Spoiler warning: This episode contains major plot spoilers, alien theories, and Oprah shots.

🎵 Theme by Max Anson

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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: the Interpol and Deftones soundtrack, the roadside voyeurism, the Paris Hilton-era celebrity spectacle, and the cultural moment this movie captured. Plus, we talk about how the marketing made Paris Hilton the real horror bait.

Spoiler warning: We reveal who melts, who shatters, and who walks away covered in wax and ready to fight.

Theme by Max Anson

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We’re heading to the suburbs with Night of the Reaper (2025), a love letter to 80s slasher classics with a modern, blood-soaked 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

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In this episode, we’re slipping into glass slippers and fairy-tale trauma with The Ugly Stepsister (2025). 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, conformity is survival, and every flaw could be fatal, Elvira’s transformation arc is a brutal, bloody reminder of how far women are expected to go to be “enough.”

We dive deep into this film’s feminist body horror, unpacking its commentary on societal pressure, cosmetic violence, and the cost of chasing beauty in a culture that demands it at any cost. We also talk about why we need way more horror films that get real about the psychological and physical toll of being a woman in a world built to break us.

Spoiler warning: We’re spilling all the tea and the beauty serum. You’ve been warned.

BUY SARAH'S BABY BOOKS!

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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.

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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

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