Review of The Final Girls (2015) by Steve S — 14 Oct 2015

THE FINAL GIRLS exists simultaneously as a love letter to the slasher genre and a commentary on it. It's basically LAST ACTION HERO by way of FRIDAY THE 13TH, with a side helping of SCREAM mixed in.

It is by far more a comedy than a true horror film, but it's not merely a total lark; running underneath the humor is a pretty strong emotional throughline anchored by Akerman and Farmiga, who have a rather touching and effective chemistry that grounds the tale.

They are surrounded by a very game supporting cast, all of whom are - in one way or another - portraying the various "types" you find in slasher films, albeit with some knowing quirks (some played for humor, others for emotional substance).

Even going beyond the clever premise (which stays one step short of being too meta for its own good), the screenplay is sharp and offers some terrifically funny bits of business. It's a pretty darn stylish production, too, far more than any of the slashers it's riffing on, and this gives the movie a certain level of class which balances nicely with the more crass subject matter of the movie-within-the-movie.

The score also hits the extra right 1980s note (pun intended), incorporating extensive synth elements which evoke a certain kind of horror mood from that era. All in all, it's a surprisingly good natured movie, one with no small amount of charm, and even though it doesn't break new ground, it's highly entertaining.