“I should have known something was up with this place. I mean think about it. What the hell kind of summer camp has waterbeds?”

Kat’s rating: ’80s slasher meets scream queens

Kat’s review: I have to say, whoever came up with the concept for this film is a straight-up genius in my book. It’s like my own personal Inception, a movie within a movie. The Final Girls takes you on an emotional whirlwind before diving into the slasher mayhem.

This movie transports a group of friends into a fictional slasher film, challenging them to find their way back to reality while facing the relentless bloodshed inflicted by a masked murderer named Billy Murphy. Inside the film-within-the-film, we encounter the lovable yet clichéd characters we all know very well by now: the virtuous “final girl,” the timid girl whose survival is tragically brief, the seductive party girl with an inevitable fate, the athletic jock with a dark side, the aspiring hero doomed to perish, and several other expendable extras whose sole purpose is to increase the body count.

The story revolves around Max (played by Taissa Farmiga), a young woman grieving the loss of her mom, Amanda (played by Malin Akerman), who was a famous scream queen in the ’80s. We jump ahead a few years to witness Max’s brilliant friends dragging her to a screening of her mom’s most famous movie, Camp Bloodbath. Hilarity ensues, and soon enough, Max and her friends find themselves mysteriously transported into the very film they were watching.

(Brace yourself, because if you’re anything like me, you’ll most likely find yourself ugly crying within the first seven minutes.)

One of the film’s greatest strengths lies in its self-awareness. It cleverly pokes fun at and pays homage to the slasher genre, infusing it with a delightful dose of silliness. From the familiar “final girl” archetype to the well-known rule that anyone engaging in film sex is destined to be sliced and diced, the movie dissects these classic tropes in a humorous manner while still delivering good old-fashioned murder. If you’ve enjoyed films like Friday the 13th or Cabin in the Woods, you’ll appreciate watching these tropes being deconstructed with wit and humor.

The performances in the film are exceptional. Taissa Farmiga as Max flawlessly portrays vulnerability and strength as she grapples with her mother’s death and fights to save her friends. Malin Akerman is simply amazing in her dual role as the on-screen scream queen and Max’s mother. It’s a challenging task to convincingly play a sexy movie star and a washed-up actress with a teenage child, but she pulls it off flawlessly. The supporting cast, including Thomas Middleditch, Adam DeVine, and Angela Trimbur, carry the movie with their comedic brilliance. I was laughing so hard that I almost forgot how sad I was at the beginning.

All in all, The Final Girls is a delightful genre-bending film that skillfully blends horror, comedy, and heartfelt storytelling. It remains true to its roots while paying heartfelt tribute to genre enthusiasts. However, what sets it apart is its genuine emotional core. If you’re in the mood for a delightful journey down memory lane with a group of self-aware outsiders, this film is perfect for you. Whether you’re a fan of slasher films or simply looking for an entertaining and heartfelt movie (again, be prepared for some ugly crying), The Final Girls is definitely worth watching.

Intermission!

• This film was originally written to be R-rated but was later altered.
• “Ever since I was a little boy, I’ve dreamed of being the final girl.”
• That might have been the most disgusting movie theater I’ve ever seen.
• “What the hell kind of summer camp has waterbeds?”
• The actor Alexander Ludwig (who plays Chris) was in this movie The Final Girls AND Final Girl in 2015!

Part of