10 Horror Movie Characters Who Should've Been Final Girls

The Final Girl is a major trope in horror movies, especially when it comes to the slasher subculture. Though the rules surrounding this archetype aren't set in stone, the person in question tends to be an adaptable, compassionate, resilient, and misunderstood underdog. As such, heroines like Laurie Strode, Ellen Ripley, and Sidney Prescott fit the bill perfectly.

Of course, these leading ladies can't face evil all by their lonesome, which is why they're often accompanied by a few gal-pals. Although some of these female characters can be there just to rack up the kill count, they can also be surprisingly resourceful and helpful.

At times, the supporting roles may prove to have more potential than the protagonist. These minor parts can be so badass and likeable, that there arguably wouldn't have been any complaints if they were the lead instead.

Sometimes, killing off a Final Girl-coded character is deliberate. After all, setting up a specific character to be the last woman standing, only to have her abruptly snuffed out is a great way to subvert expectations.

Nevertheless, it would've been nice to see the entries on this list still alive and kicking by the time the credits rolled.

In Joe Dante's werewolf flick, a news anchor called Karen White finds herself being tormented by serial killer, Eddie Quist. Shaken by the experience, her counsellor encourages her to spend time at a relaxing resort. Little does Karen know the estate is a front for a werewolf cult called The Colony.

Now, it makes sense that Karen is the lead, since her encounter with Eddie jumpstarts the whole plot. However, Karen is left so rattled, she doesn't do much until the last few minutes.

Instead, it's her best friend, Terry Fisher, who gets things done. Suspecting Eddie has connections to the resort, Terry vows to get to the bottom of everything. While researching supernatural lore at the library, she notices the killings mentioned in the books are similar to the suspicious deaths near the resort.

After locating a cabin that Eddie frequented, she takes pictures of any potential evidence. When a demonic wolf man bursts in, Terry hacks the creature's hand off, forcing it to retreat.

In a nutshell, Terry is freaking awesome. Tragically, she's mauled to death by a shapeshifting beastie immediately after finding proof Eddie is a part of The Colony. Since Terry did 99% of the legwork, she was more deserving of the Final Girl title than Karen.