Free Essay

Final Girl

In: English and Literature

Submitted By bab036
Words 1732
Pages 7
Bronson Best
Steven Hedgepeth
Composition 1
15 November 2014

Final Girl
The article “Defeating the Male Monster in Halloween and Halloween H2O” wrote by Kelly Connelly, introduces a new idea about women in slasher films. In the article, Connelly states that women in films dealing with slashing, will have to learn and be able to face the masculine traits of the killer to be able to surive and be the “Final Girl” (13). Kelly uses the movies Halloween, Halloween 2, and Halloween H2O to describe the relationship that is used in each of these movies. The relationship she describes is the female-male relationship, which would be considered the male killer and the Final Girl (13, 14). A few traits that Connelly describes that the “final girl” has is that she is never sexually active and she often acts more like a boy than a woman. If she sees something that is not normal or is out of the ordinary then she is automatically assured to go check to see what it is which causes her to receive the traits of being smart and attentive of her surroundings (14). Clover has come to see that Laurie achieves empowerment as the final girl based on her ability to stay alive long enough to be rescued in the first film, Halloween (14). But twenty years later in Halloween H2O Laurie had become of age as the true final girl” by assuming the male characteristics of her attacker, which would be a necessary step in defeating the slasher film monster. The lessons Laurie learned in Halloween and Halloween 2 will permit her to finally triumph as the final girl by defeating the male monster in Halloween H20 in addition to her acceptance of her relationship with Michael, which is the male monster in the films (14). The significance of the final girl is more than the development of a new cinematic character that possess each of the characteristics and because of who she is or how she acts but what she represents is the most important thing. She represents a move toward the empowerment of the female victim (14). Connelly states in the article that Clover explains that the final girl’s assumption of the active/male gaze results not in her annihilation in the manner of classic cinema, but her triumph which depends of her assumption of the gaze (14). The female is able to survive and empower herself through the adoption of the gaze of the male monster in addition to the other masculine traits the monster has. The significance of the gaze, in the light of the patriarchal society reflected by the male dominated credit sequence, suggests a reinforcement of the dominance of the male gaze, Kelly states. The opening scene of Halloween further reinforces the destructive and incredible power of the male gaze (15). As the scene goes on, the viewers can see a couple kissing through the living room window as they hear the distant voices of the couple. The boyfriend finds a mask, puts it on, kisses his girlfriend and suggest they go upstairs. As the camera is viewing the house, it shows a hand going in the drawer and getting a knife. As the killer goes up the stairs he grabs the mask off of the boyfriend and puts it on, which is the first scene of the movie viewed through the eyes of the killer. As the killer is standing there looking at the Judith brushing her hair as she is naked she turns and looks at him while covering up her breasts. But it’s too late then, the killer had already started stabbing her. This will result in her falling to the floor with blood on her right breast where she had been stabbed. The blood will represents a scarlet letter. As in many horror films, Judith had permanently been marked by her engagement in illicit sex (15). Laurie, Michaels surviving sister has many of the physical and personal attributes such as intelligence described by Clover as belonging to the final girl (15).Laurie’s best friend Annie, unwatchfulness and ill-timid usurpation of the male, sexually aggressive gaze that has resulted in her death. Bob, who was Laurie’s boyfriend, death will begin a new trend. The reason Bob’s death is so rare is because after Michael kills him, he stops and looks at him with his head turned sideways, admiring his killing, which he has never done before. Bob’s death signals that women may still be objectified, but now men will be also. Now Michael has took the time to disguise himself before he enter to kill Bob’s girlfriend, Lynda. Lynda thinks that it is Bob and starts flirting with him showing him her breast, but with Michael not flirting back she gets suspicious and puts her shirt on which is pulled open as he chokes her with the phone cord while she is on the phone with Laurie.
Unlike Michael, Laurie is not in control of the violence, she is about to face with the discovery of her friends dead bodies that reveals to her with the full extent of the threat she now faces. Laurie survives her struggles with Michael, but is still unable to adopt enough of his characteristics to defeat him. With the first attempt to kill the monster, Laurie uses a knitting needle to stab him in the neck, but he easily removes the needle as he falls to the ground. Laurie had the chance to kill him when she found his knife laying on the floor, but she rejects the opportunity, showing that she has not yet mastered the masculine violence to defeat a psychokiller. With the second attempt to kill him also shows Laurie’s inability to unhuman Michael through meaningful use of the male weapon. She attempts to use a female tool, nylon stockings to keep the closest door closed that she is hiding in. As Michael tries to open the door she grabs a close hanger and straightens it out to stab him in the eye. After she stabbed him, Michael falls to the floor, Laurie grabs his knife stabbing him in the chest and then she walks out the room.
Unlike Laurie, Dr. Loomis never lost sight of the danger posed by Michael. Dr. Loomis happens to be in the street in front of the house Michael is stalking Laurie. He enters the house, in which he will take on the masculine prerogative of shooting Michael. As he investigates Michael’s death after six gunshot wounds, he looks out the window to see that Michaels’s body is gone. Laurie is unable to achieve the total empowerment as a final girl in “Halloween”. It is Dr. Loomis who is eventually able to subdue Michael, temporarily however. Twenty years later, Laurie will finally have her chance to become the symbol of active empowerment in “Halloween H2O”. Unlike “Halloween”, “Halloween H2O” will feature the close association between Laurie and Michael. The first few scenes remind the viewers of the power Michael has had over Laurie. Every step Laurie takes, she is faced with and must come to understand her own relationship with the monster who has haunted her life and dreams. These early scenes show that Laurie’s familial relationship to Michael and the violent history they have shared are ever present for her and have permanently distorted her view of the world. She reminds the viewers that she is a good final girl, as she stands in front of the stained glassed window reminding her students to uphold the high standards of Hillcrest by avoiding sex, drugs and alcohol. Her watchfulness also reappears in the form of protectiveness of her son, John. Laurie has retained the characteristics of the final girl, but they are characteristics that have been complicated by her history and by the passage of time.
Halloween H2O features two young girls, a brunette who talks fondly about the possibility of a roaming orgy, and a blonde who is embarrassed by such talk. Molly, the blonde girl, remind s the viewers of Laurie, and Molly, as John reminds the viewers, “a sterling example of what’s right.” Like Laurie, Molly is able to answer complicated questions during English class. Also like Laurie, Molly will struggle valiantly against the male monster, smashing Michael in the head with a rock, allowing John to escape. I agree that the movie ties into the article really well, by talking about scenes that happened in both, just like the first murder where Michael kills the boyfriend of the couple in the house that is making love. Also, the final girl characteristics are almost the exact same by being watchful, dominant, and protective. Lastly, I believe that all slasher films have a character with theses kind of traits and ability’s. Halloween and Halloween H2O are of the most prime example of this type of movie, like Connelly explained. A movie series I think of that can relate to the Halloween series is “Scream.” The last person standing against Ghost Face is also a girl who holds the final girl traits. Another set of slasher films that I believe have the same kind of traits is the Friday the 13th series. In this series, there is always a girl just like Laurie, which is aware of what is going on, careful on her decisions, and does not do anything sexually related. Most of the slasher films I can think of are almost always the same, with a group of friends that is getting haunted with this one girl who has the final girl characteristics and has the ability to survive. Alice in Friday the 13th series, the heroines of part two Ginny Fields, and part three, Chris Higgins. Both Ginny and Chris are cationic at the ends of the respective films, and Alice survives the monster in the first film only to fall victim to "him" in the second. The final girl in part two is carried away on a stretcher, calling out for her boyfriend. Moreover, Ginny's adoption of the monster's own strategy, in part two, brings into question whether the final girl image is in fact a wholly positive one.
Works Citied Connelly, Kelly. "Defeating the Male Monster in Halloween and Halloween H20." Journal of Popular Film and Television 35.1 (2007): 13-20. Web.
Halloween. Dir. John Carpenter. Perf. Laurie Strode, Michael Myers. 1978. DVD

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Girl with a Pearl Earring - Final Draft

...Feature Article Forbidden Love The novel Girl with a Pearl Earring should definitely be included on the Novel Ideas book club reading list. Elyshia Hickey reveals why this fascinating, historical and romantic story will appeal to an adolescent audience, as it explores the theme of sensual awakening. Set in 17th century Delft, Chevalier’s novel explores the deep but forbidden love between a young maid and her master. The author’s clever combination of an intriguing story, remarkable characters and descriptive language allowed her to explore the themes of forbidden love, predators and sexual desires. For hundreds of years people have wondered who is the girl in the portrait Girl with a Pearl Earring, painted by a Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer in the 17th century and what is the connection between them. This fictional love story by Chevalier explores the sensual relationship between the young lady and the painter. Griet, a seventeen year old girl, narrated the story of her life experiences in the 1600’s, as she transformed from a young girl into a married woman. The narrative structure will appeal to a young adult audience as they will be able to relate to many of Griet’s experiences, especially the encounters she had with men. She was hired as a maid by a rich and famous painter, to help her impoverished family. Vermeer allowed her the privilege of working as his assistant in the studio, which caused much turmoil with his wife. This tension between the characters reads...

Words: 949 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Fools Crow Essay

...nothing to show for his eighteen years. He is not only unsuccessful when it comes to hunting, but he has also never touched a woman’s body, creating the opportunity for his friends make fun of him and call him dog-lover (Welch 4). Even though White Man’s Dog is unsuccessful and overshadowed by his younger brother and his friends, an old war leader, Yellow Kidney, sees potential in White Man’s Dog. As the omniscient narrator looks into Yellow Kindey’s thoughts, White Man’s Dog stands out because although he is inexperienced in the manner of war, he already possesses qualities that are scarce among other men his age (Welch 20). After returning from Yellow Kidney’s horse taking party successfully, White Man’s Dog becomes attracted to a young girl among the Lone Eaters named Red Paint. Red Paint is Yellow Kidney’s only daughter and she is known for her kindness and beauty. After expressing his feeling for her and they are married, White Man’s Dog is looked upon as a man because he now has a wife, a lodge and horses of his own (Welch 106)....

Words: 801 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Technology

...is setting up the balloon arched door as the main entrance for our exhibition booth. Description: Mr. Chan Chao Jin is helping in moving and arranging the tables needed for the exhibition booth. Description: Everyone is busy decorating the booth in DSA Hall. Description: Some class members are helping in pumping air into the balloons which are going to be used in the games station. Description: Those girls are decorating the information boards. Description: Everyone is gathered at the games station to watch the demonstration on games testing. Description: A full table of “tangyuan” rolled by the class members. Description: Other than “tangyuan”, we also prepared red eggs as the gift for those who win in the games station. The event (Exhibition Day) Description: All the class members arrived at the DSA Hall early in the morning to do a final setting up of the booth. Description: Some of the members are assigned to cook the “tangyuan” in the kitchen. The photo above shows pots of sugar syrup cooked for the “tangyuan”. Description: The final appearance of cooked “tangyuan”. The “tangyuan” is prepared for those who participate in the games section. Description: Mr. Perry Pang and Miss Rachel Wong are assigned to control the PA system during the...

Words: 870 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Soccer for Girls

..._______________________________ ______________________________________ Phone Number: _________________________ Email Address: __________________________ For More Information, Please Contact: Allison Markham 512-963-5325 allison.markham@utsa.edu Upcoming Events: Boy’s Youth Soccer Camp Girl’s Youth Softball Camp Boy’s Youth Baseball Camp Girls’ Youth Soccer Camp June 24th, 2013 – July 5th, 2013 UTSA Main Campus What Is UTSA’s Girls’ Youth Soccer Camp All About? UTSA’s Girls’ Youth Soccer Camp is run by UTSA’s seasoned girls’ soccer players for up-and-coming athletes. This twelve day sleep over program will teach advanced soccer skills to players from the ages of 10 to 14 years as well as teamwork, endurance, and the fun of the game. Joining the UTSA girls’ soccer team in running the camp will be experienced coaches who will help your girl to reach her full potential. The camp will consist of running drills, skill building, and strength training that will build up to a final tournament for the last day of camp! Family members are welcome to come to the final day of camp to see how much their little girl has grown in her skills! The girls will be split up into teams with a UTSA soccer player as their coach. Each day, they will be grouped by position...

Words: 455 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Sexualization Of Teenagers

...Sexualization of young girls has become a major issue in today's society. To start, the "importance of appearance" (Morgan) has transitioned to younger ages. Carleton Kendrick, a family therapist from Boston, has noticed a drastic change in young girls who are strongly concerned about their appearance. "I pay a lot of attention to how children refer to their ideal selves... What 11-year-old girls were wrestling with years ago, we have ramped that down to young elementary school years" (Morgan). Furthermore, TLC shows such as "Toddlers and Tiaras" and "Cheer Perfection" are "heavily edited for sensationalism," (Morgan) according to Kendrick. Both shows revolve around themes of competition, pride, and demeanor, which steals creativity, playfulness,...

Words: 485 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Drama

...week’s rehearsals, and explain how you think you have achieved these. The main aims for this rehearsals was for all members of the group to produce a research project on an idea that we all came up with, thinking that it would be a good idea to use as a final piece. Everyone achieved this because we all completed presentations explaining why each person’s idea was the best or how it could be developed. After we had done this and filled out an evaluation form for other, our next aim was to pick an idea that either two small groups could accomplish or one larger group - depending on the decisions that were made. I believe that we achieved this because we all sat down after the presentations were finished and had a in-depth conversation about the possibilities of ideas and how different characters or the development of said characters could be accomplished whilst showing them to an audience. Once we had done this, our next aim was to create basic characters for our plot in order to make it have more of a structure. We did this by giving advice, going around in a circle and asking questions about the person’s character and making sure that everyone knew what each individual was doing. I believe that we achieved our final aim by being mature and responsible about the things we wanted to complete and the methods and means of doing so. 2. Summary of Rehearsals Describe what you did in the sessions and explain how the piece was shaped In the beginning of the week, the...

Words: 1942 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Barbie Doll

...that women, like the girl described in the poem, should be perfect. She should know how to cook and clean, but most importantly she should be attractive according to the impossible stereotypes of womanly beauty. Many women in today’s society are being compared to the unrealistic physical looks and life of the Barbie doll. Through the past many years, the Barbie doll has gone from a popular toy to a role model for actual women in today’s society. The extremes to which women take the Barbie doll as a role model are implicit in this poem. The opening line of the poem says, “This girlchild was born as usual,” which suggests that as soon as a female child is born, society expects her to learn the role she will play once she hits puberty. Therefore, showing the readers why little girls are given dolls at a young age to illustrate how they should act and appear according to society. Once girls learn the roles they will soon have to play in their own lives, “the magic of puberty,” hits and girls immediately begin applying these ideals to their own lives. As if the attempt of girls trying to conform to the Barbie doll image isn’t enough, they also have other people in society telling them that they’re not perfect. “You have a great big nose and fat legs,” says a classmate to the girl. This type of pressure from peers and society can slowly but surely destroy the little confidence women may still have in them. In the second stanza of the poem, Piercy describes the girl as healthy, intelligent...

Words: 701 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Research Paper On Cindy Sherman

...Cindy Sherman was born January 19, 1954, and though she was born in New Jersey, she moved with her family to Huntington, Long Island as a child. She began to paint in college, when she attended Buffalo State College. She soon gave up painting for photography because, she said, painting was so restrictive, and with photography she could focus more on ideas. She is a renowned photographer and filmmaker, and is best known for her series of photographs depicting herself as various characters. She works alone; aside from shooting, she also directs the shoot, models, and does her own hair, makeup, and costuming. Her work depicts a vast range of characters, including starlets, rich matriarchs, clowns, goddesses, political figures, explicit nudes (although...

Words: 311 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

How Does Jesse Oliver Aarons Change

...Jesse Oliver Aarons Junior Change Through the Course of the Novel Bridge to Terabithia To introduce, the story “Bridge to Terabithia”, authored by Katherine Paterson, introduces a wide variety of characters and personalities. Many of those have changed throughout the course of the novel. The reader can observe one personality changing dramatically as a result of the authors writing changing the environment around this character mentally and emotionally. Creating a new person out of this original mind state, this character is Jesse Oliver Aarons. This essay will explain in detail observations of Jesse’s change throughout the novel as a result of a wonderful friendship between him and a girl that changes his life forever. Jesse’s personality at the...

Words: 1388 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Cinderella Ate My Daughter

...The issue I have chosen to explore based on the gender-related issues identified in “Cinderella Ate My Daughter” is the effect of mass media on young girls. In today’s society, the media is frequently critiqued on the ways in which it represents women. The media often glamorizes women and displays unrealistic images of beauty that are practically unobtainable. Another problem with media in today’s society is that it is reaching girls at increasingly younger ages. The research articles discussed will specifically look at how media is effecting girls that fall into the youth and adolescent category, with girls as young as five years old. The first article to be discussed looks at peer and media influences on body image concerns in young girls...

Words: 1046 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Wrong With Cinderella

...Imagine the last time it was common for little girls in a toy store to ask their mommies for toy cars or perhaps something sporty, this type of situation is indeed fading. Instead, we find it common for little girls to run to isles that are glowing with neon pink boxes containing their favorite princess figures that they have seen in their favorite movies. Over the recent decades, society has innocently begun to adapt to the “princess” stereotype that is portrayed by corporations through constant advertising and marketing of these products. Through constant recreation of Cinderella, Major businesses’ profit off of the modern obsession and the ever growing “princess” cringe within adolescents by simply taking the perceived character in a film,...

Words: 1976 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Should Girls Ask Guys Out

...Should Girls Ask Boys Out? Outline Thesis: Although boys have always asked girls out, why can't girls return the favor; society today has changed and girls are asking boys out. I. Almost everybody is taught that tradition has always been that the boy has to ask the girl out, because this shows that he can be a man and take charge. a. This tradition goes back far as the eighteenth century. b. Most boys who took interest in a girl they liked or were attracted to, nine times out of ten wanted to get to know her and in doing so by asking her out. c. A girl will never understand how much pressure and sense of masculine it puts on a boy to ask a girl out. II. Nowadays, people live in a civilized society with a continuous development. d. Women are stronger and more confident about themselves and certain situations than women in the past. e. Boys do not know how to handle rejection or failure, so they think that they can avoid rejection or failure by not asking a girl out all together. f. Boys would sometimes prefer for a girl to ask them out. III. For those who agree with the idea or for those who do not, there are however pros and cons to asking a boy out.   g. It seems sensible to go after what you want and take initiative. h. If he feels like you are extremely interested he might not be that interested. i. As one becomes more skilled, one’s chances of finding, appreciating, and deserving a more satisfying...

Words: 2540 - Pages: 11

Free Essay

Bluest Eye Parenting Perspective

...Parents are the caregivers, watchers, protectors, lovers, and teachers of their children and are fully responsible for their kids. They help their offspring grow through life learning new concepts and ways of life and helping them prosper into mature people. But how may a child be taught about life, having a family, and any other questions that may have if the parent has no clue either? In the novel The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, a young eleven year old girl named Pecola goes through the mysteries of life and ponders the thought of what is truly beautiful. At the time of the story, blonde and blue-eyed was considered or perceived as the true image of beauty because white girls were attractive, popular, and the center of attention so the closest to white you are, the better. Everyone wanted to be looked upon as a great looking person, such as the “perfect” icon at the time Shirley Temple. Pecola becomes roped into this absurd idea of true beauty and would do anything at all costs to have the bluest eyes. People begin to torment Pecola for being ugly and give her no mercy, even her own family! Her confidence in herself goes downhill at an astonishing rate to the point where in the end, insanity encompasses her and takes her in for good. Pecola’s father, Cholly, is a drunk who rapes her twice and her mother, Pauline, abuses and beats her for any reason she needs to. This sad turn of events for Pecola could be pinned onto the parents because they weren't involved with Pecola at...

Words: 1372 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Negative Protral in the Media

...Many girls who watch the film idolize Jasmine as a beautiful and charming princess who gets whatever she wants. However, getting everything doesn’t come easy, and she must use her sexuality to become a seductress to subdue the villain Jafar, in one of the final scenes of the movie.In the scene she is Her big breasts, tiny waist, tanned skin, and low cut belly shirt gives young girls an idea of what you use your body for; to manipulate men to get what it is you want.why she’s dressed the way she is (that doesn’t seem realistic).In one scene jafar becomes the master of the genie and wishes that jasmine falls in love with him .the genie explains you cant make some one fall in love .As they were talking ,jasmine decides to seduce jafar with her sex appeal, because jasmine knowledges that Aladdin is trying to sneakily .she tells him many complements and as soon as jafar was suspicious about the noise in the back , jasmine reaches over for a quick kiss. mens authority In the movie Aladdin (1992),Woods argument of men as authority and the heroic figure is in their relationships is exemplified by the main characters aladdin and jasmine’s father. In many Children’s fairytale and literature males are usually seen as rescuers that saves women from their incompetence . One scene in particular is when jasmines father introduces jafar who is the fhkfh of sjkahfl ,and jasmines father pressures her into marrying jafar. Although jasmine argues that she’s in love with aladdin. Jasmines...

Words: 523 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

This I Believe Memoir

...line. Wait. Stay still. Take a big breath. “Get set…RUN!” My adrenaline rush rose as I began to sprint. The sun was thrashing down my back as my feet pierced the burning, concrete track. With every stride I took, my lungs clasped for air. Everything felt the way it should as I was running at the same pace as everyone else. Half a mile through, I began to notice that most of the girls were about fifty meters ahead of me. They all had passed me. My short legs moved as fast as they could on the last two hundred meters left of the 5k but I just couldn’t catch up. As I came closer to my final steps, my legs were so worn out, that they began to wobble like a bridge in an earthquake. I reached the finish line and collapsed to the ground. This was my first year of high school and it was already not going well for me. I had failed to make the cross-country varsity team, which consisted of the top seven girls from a total of fifteen that had tried out. Mr. Nelson, the head cross-country coach, had decided to choose seven girls from those who hadn’t made varsity to run for junior varsity. Since there were eight girls, one would have to leave the team, so he eliminated me for having the slowest time. We all had viciously tried our hardest to earn a spot on the team by running against our teammates, but I just wasn’t good enough. I considered cross-country the most difficult sport of all. There are no breaks and it requires intense amounts of stamina and talent to be successful: Two attributes...

Words: 1277 - Pages: 6