The Final Girls is a 2015 horror comedy directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson and starring Taissa Farmiga and Malin Akerman.
The movie begins with a woman called Amanda(Akerman) who was an 80's actress. She is in a really famous slasher movie. Her daughter, Max(Farmiga) is with her and they are driving along when they are involved in a car crash. Max survives but her mother doesn't. Three years later, Max lives with her Aunt Pearl. Max's friend Duncan(Thomas Middleditch) wants her to attend a special screening of her mother's Film,Camp Bloodbath and it's sequel, Camp Bloodbath 2: Cruel Summer. Max doesn't want to go but she is persuaded by her other friends,Gertie(Alia Shawkat) and Chris(Alexander Ludwig). Vicki(Nina Dobrev), Chris' ex girlfriend shows up to meet them. They go into the theatre and watch the film. The killer is called Billy Murphy. Suddenly, there is a fire in the theatre and they try to escape. They have to cut a hole in the screen in a bid to get out.
They wake up in a strange place. They have entered the film, somehow. They see characters from the film. They wander around and they meet a van. They decide to get a lift. Max's mother is in it.Her name is Nancy in the film. They are at Camp Blue Finch from the movie. They have no idea how they ended up in the film. Max tries to talk to her mother about sleeping with one of the guys in it. She knows that if she does, it will mean her certain death. The film rolls on with Billy showing up and killing someone. Duncan gets killed also. They can't escape the film. They have to play their part. A girl called Paula shows up. She is the final girl. They want to stay with her as they know that she survives at the end. Billy's back story is discussed. It's the usual bullied kid story.
When Paula is killed, the realise that events from the film are not running smoothly. They need a new virginal final girl. Max is the one. They come up with a plan to get Billy before he can get them. They have to lure him to the camp. He arrives. They use a trap to get him. Unfortunately, he comes back.
He kills Gerdie. Max wants Nancy to survive the film and she thinks that he will be able to go back to the real world with her. Max and Billy face off when he kidnaps Nancy. He stabs her but they escape. They have a heart to heart and Max tells Nancy that she is her daughter. Nancy decides that she has to sacrifice herself so that Max can live. She goes out to Billy and gets his attention. He kills her. Max grabs his machete and she goes after him. There is a really lame fight and then she kills him. Chris and Max see the credits roll. They wake up in hospital. The whole gang are there. They think that they are home, but it turns out that they are in the sequel and Billy is back..
This was entertaining. I am not a big fan of horror and comedy together, but I have to say that it was fun. I liked the idea and it was done pretty well. I did not like the final fight between Max and Billy. I thought that it was ridiculous, but apart from that, this was decent. The cast were not bad and there were some obvious nods to Friday the 13th and all of those great 1980's slashers. So, if you like a bit of comedy mixed in with your horror, then give it a try. I recommend it and I will give it a 6/10.
