10 Horror Movies Where The Final Girl Should Have Died

In 2022's Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Melody and her friends head to the abandoned town of Harlow, preparing to sell a dilapidated orphanage. Little does Melody know that chainsaw-wielding cannibal Leatherface and his carer, Ginny, are residing in this building. When Ginny learns she's about to lose her home, she dies of a heart attack, inspiring Leatherface to unleash yet another massacre on the locals.

So, because Melody is the person who pushes the narrative and triggers Leatherface's killing spree, you'd naturally assume she's the final girl, right?

But she isn't. When the rampage is over, Melody's sister, Lila, is the only one still standing.

Ironically, there's no character in the ensemble who deserves to be the sole survivor less than Lila. Melody's friend, Ruth, was the only one who didn't act like a helpless idiot when confronted by Leatherface. Because Sally Hardesty - who returns here - was the final girl in the original TCM, the story would've come full circle if she was the one to put Leatherface in the ground for good. Instead, Sally is left lethally wounded moments after confronting her tormentor.

Then there's Melody. While Leatherface is distracted, Melody take advantage by driving into him. After being impaled, she still has the gumption to swipe the maniac's chainsaw and uppercut him with the blade, seemingly defeating him. Simply put, Melody is a badass through and through.

The only thing Lila does during the climax is try and shoot her pursuer... with an empty gun. When Leatherface revives and lops off Melody's head in the closing shot, you can't help feeling like Lila should've died in her place.