Carol Clover
The Final Girl
Carol Clovers theory of ‘The Final Girl’ refers to the last girl left alive to face the villain and to live on to tell the story within the narrative. This girl is usually more intelligent than the others regarding her natural curiosity and eye for danger. She takes part in a role that is most commonly out-casted, preventing her from taking part in activities that would class her as been ‘rebellious’ in any way(sex, drugs, alcohol). Although this makes her different, the final girl has still maintains appeal, usually found wearing tight fitting clothing and having long hair.
Within the narrative this character commonly has a past relating them to the villain in some way which acts as a loop from the start to the end of the film where they have their final encounter. At this final confrontation the woman usually defends her self with a weapon that would reflect masculinity. Items such as knifes and chainsaws are examples of this.
The Final Girl in Hellraiser(2000)
Kirsty Cotton confronts the devil that has come of the previous ex-lover and tricks him into confessing what he has done. Unholy demonic creatures called ‘The Cenobites’ appear and kill him and soon come after her, however, the puzzle box that she holds takes the unholy demons away from this world after she solves each puzzle within it. Her intelligence and her morals navigate her way out to freedom as the final girl.
Halloween(1978)
The main character Laurie escapes from the terror of the antagonist ‘Michael’ by eventually stabbing him in the chest with a knife and running away. She also uses other unusual and thought out defenses such as a coat hanger representing her intelligence as a way to defeat the evil.
The Cabin in the Woods(2012)
Dana Polk is a very modern final girl due to her conscious attitude. Despite this she does portray traits that do apply to the clover’s theory due to her innocence(her virginity) and also her investigative attitude. At the end of the film she just about defeats the antagonist in a dying a attempt and becomes a hero figure in a way, however, in a very un-traditional manner she does not live on to tell the story.
Wes Craven
Teen-Slashers
Wes Craven was a horror film producer who was well known for his production line of Teen-slasher films. During his career Craven recreated the way in which horror films were aimed by using teenagers as the main targets and also creating both genre and mind bending plots for the viewers. His theory suggests that the audience should always be challenged and be shown something that they would not usually expect; “Horror movies have to show us something that hasn’t been shown before so that the audience is completely taken aback”
Within these movies in particular death and blood is a significant theme. Many of the murders that occur not usually physically seen on camera however but blood is used to represent the pure gore and terror of the situation.
Examples of this theory in film are found in:
Prom Night(2008)
The main character, Donna faces her antagonist; her psychopathic ex-teacher who raises complete terror to get what he wants; her. To achieve his desires Fenton murders Donna’s friends and on a night that was meant for laughter… it only ends in blood, sweat and tears.
Scream(1996)
Within Scream the Villian again directs their attention towards young teenagers, most commonly teenage girls. The Victims are killed brutally and a lot of blood is involved in the process.
Friday the 13th(2009)
A group of teenagers are brutally attacked whilst camping out at an abandoned Crystal Lake. The rumor that the last people there were murdered becomes true and the antagonist continues to terrorize the teenage intruders of the abandoned area.
Barbara Creed
Feminist film theory
Barbara Creed’s Feminist theory proposes that rather than being traditionally the victim, the women can be the monsters too. Through her passion of being a feminist and human rights supporter she adapted the way in which women are portrayed within horror film conventions.
Examples of this theory in film:
Carrie(2013)
Carrie is a teenage girl that is bullied by other students at her high school. She is forced to face her life until one day when she discovers her Telekinetic skills that she never knew she had. In an act of hatred and lust for revenge she sets out her terror onto the students that once bullied her and becomes a monster. At the beginning of the film Carrie is the victim however the convention is snapped in reverse and she turns into the feared antagonist.
Black Swan(2010)
This story line follows the gradual destruction from good to bad of a woman named Nina. As a dedicated ballet performer she is put to the test when a new dancer Lily joins the New York Ballerina academy and risks her place in the swan lake production. The main role obtains two characters; the white swan and the black swan, and although — is perfect for the white swan role she doesn’t have the sensuality and darkness the dark swan needs, the type of feeling that Lily brings. She must find the dark swan inside of her but to do so the darkness breaks through.
Louise Richardson 
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