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The Horror Movie Heroine: Sexist or Progressive?

Any serious fan of horror films...heck, even any casual observer who has seen more than 3 slasher movies in their lifetime...has probably noticed that women make up about 90% of the main protagonists. There is even a name for this phenomenon: "The Final Girl". It's now an almost entrenched part of the horror movie formula that, if anyone survives the slaughter at all, that survivor must be female.

What does this mean? Does it gnify anything at all about our culture? Perhaps it means the horror genre is more progresve than other genres. After all, in most other genres, women have gnificantly less screen time, and gnificantly less lines of dialogue, than their male counterparts. By comparison, the horror genre definitely appears ahead of other genres when it comes to the amount of time women spend on screen, and how integral they are to the plots. But why do women enjoy more screen time in horror films? Is it really because there are any gnificant number of horror writers out there who are consciously trying to create more parts for women, or is it mply because women are still perceived as being weaker than men? Are horror movies suggesting that women are eaer prey for psychotic killers and supernatural beasts, because they lack the ability to fight back? Or, contrarily, is this phenomenon sexist against men? Are screenwriters concerned that a male protagonist would come off looking emasculated if the script called for him to run away from a killer, rather than plant his feet and start swinging his fists? Are men in the real world really that one-note? Does the fact that male characters usually get killed off before the big finish of horror movies suggest that they aren't clever enough to outsmart the killer the way women are? It's hard to deny that there is almost no character in the horror lexicon who is more doomed from the start than that of "the Final Girl's Boyfriend". Sure, he may be one of the final characters to die, but he often seems to exist solely to get between the killer and the whimpering Final Girl, and of course, to die brutally in the process. Ultimately, it may be a sweet notion to die so that the one you love might stand a chance of living, but is there a hidden message here? Combined with the fact that screenwriters are often squeamish about harming child characters, the contention sometimes seems to be that men are entirely disposable as long as women and children get to survive. Or, at least, as long as some women and children get to survive. Once again, though, this state of affairs could be viewed from the oppote perspective. It could be suggested that male characters are portrayed as more heroic, and the Final Girl in horror movies is, in fact, usually a fickle character who is not brave enough to put herself at risk for the sake of her friends, and who makes her boyfriend do her fighting for her.I'm curious to see what all you Horror Aficionados have to say about this. With the exception of the second "A Nightmare On Elm Street", the remake of "Friday the 13th" and a sparse few other films, women are always the main characters in horror movies, yet I don't know many feminists who are particularly thrilled with the way women are usually depicted in these movies. Men, for their part, seem oblivious to the posbility that they, too, could be the victims of sexism. So, what do you think? Is the horror genre sexist, progresve, or is something else entirely going on here?

I'm not a psychologist, but here's my 2 cents.

I don't think it's particularly sexist at all. Women have their definite genre niche.

Dramas, "Chick flicks", many comedies now-a-days...and lets be honest about it - Porn. You can't count out porn, it's the number 1 biggest movie genre in the world and it more or less revolves around women. But back to topic, most horror films are written by men, and watched by men. I didn't do a sociological survey, but I do work at a video store. Couldn't tell you how many times I've seen couples come in, and the guy wants a slasher flick and his girl wants something like Fried Green Tomatoes or Mystic Pizza... Guess who wins? The girl, because ultimately she has the vagina and control over our wallets.

Psychologically, and especially in a horror movie, men don't typically give a shit what happens to other men.

So you terrify a woman through 90% of a movie, and a built in instinct to feel pity, empathize, and want to protect is enabled.

Ultimately, I think it's a sub-conscious reminder from the Bible, that God took one of Adam's ribs and created Eve. Women are saved in horror movies by the chivalrous stupid boyfriend-turned-victim in the grand scheme of things because he wants his fucking rib back. Maybe that's ultimately why movie villains hunt women down in the first place? :P Think on that.

First off, I want to state that I am a guy, and somewhat of a feminist.

With that said, I think it's a bit of both. Women are usually paid less than men (trust me I have a point). No matter what profeson, unless that profeson is sexually driven. Porn, go-go dancing, even pop muc (Britney, Gaga, Rihanna, etc). Women are in horror movies more so for the sexual part of horror. Who's mostly naked in horror movies? Women. Who are the slutty ones in horror movies? Women.

For me, it's empowerment. Women are seen as weaker to the male species, no matter how much one denies. Women in horror movies are usually meek, quiet girls who need protection. The killing of the boyfriend gives the woman empowerment and the will to fight back. (It's actually explained really well in Behind the Mask : The Rise of Leslie Vernon).

Horror is a female driven genre (deny it all you want). You have your scream queens, with Jamie Lee Curtis holding the crown (though my two are Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Jamie King). BUT you don't have scream kings. It's just a question of angles. It can be female empowering or sexist, depending on how you look at it.

I explained it as best I could, but the scene in Behind the Mask is about the girl long her "innocence" and have to kill the killer. It's a great movie and explains the horror process so well.

I believe it's all about sex appeal bottom line.

BUT you don't have scream kings.

Ash from The Evil Dead? .-.

Who's mostly naked in horror movies? Women. Who are the slutty ones in horror movies? Women.

For me, it's empowerment. Women are seen as weaker to the male species, no matter how much one denies. Women in horror movies are usually meek, quiet girls who need protection.

Horror is a female driven genre (deny it all you want). You have your scream queens, with Jamie Lee Curtis holding the crown (though my two are Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Jamie King). BUT you don't have scream kings.The contradictions here are interesting. You note that women are mostly the ones naked and slutty in horror movies, then later you say women in horror movies are usually meek, quiet and in need of protection. I'm not saying you're wrong to note both these elements of the portrayal of women (usually in different characters, rather than 1 girl who is naked, yet meek and slutty, yet quiet) but it kind of illustrates the point. Women are mostly EVERYTHING in horror films, because they make up more of the central characters. Characters played by men often are "naked" in horror movies to, and actually shown topless as much as women, or more. It's just not as big of a deal when men do it, because there are no boobies on display. If "nudity" just meant showing torsos and buttcheeks, men and women would be closer in the tally of "naked" scenes. And I have known some feminists to suggest that women should share the right to walk around shirtless if they like, nce men can do it, so even having women shirtless in these movies is not automatically sexist.

I have no grand point with all of that except to show how complicated and interesting this stuff is.

You are right that horror is "female driven" in regards to the number of women who are main characters compared to the number of men. There are certainly vastly more "scream queens" than "scream kings". These things are obvious. My question is why?

I believe it's all about sex appeal bottom line.

Sex appeal definitely plays big into ALL movies, and with horror, you throw in not just "appeal" but also issues of sexual fears and revulon, and so on and so forth. But it really isn't just men who watch horror movies, and not just straight men at that. Every time I have ever gone to the theater to see a scary movie, there have always been plenty of young girls squealing with scared delight in there all around me. And the male characters are played by predominantly attractive men, just like the female casts are made up predominantly of attractive women.You are definitely scratching the surface of something here, but I'm not sure what you're getting at, exactly. But I guess maybe not everyone has time to be as wordy as me. I have a couple days off work and time on my hands.

Who's mostly naked in horror movies? Women. Who are the slutty ones in horror movies? Women.

For me, it's empowerment. Women are seen as weaker to the male species, no matter how much one denies. Women in horror movies are usually meek, quiet girls who need protection.

Horror is a female driven genre (deny it all you want). You have your scream queens, with Jamie Lee Curtis holding the crown (though my two are Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Jamie King). BUT you don't have scream kings.The contradictions here are interesting. You note that women are mostly the ones naked and slutty in horror movies, then later you say women in horror movies are usually meek, quiet and in need of protection. I'm not saying you're wrong to note both these elements of the portrayal of women (usually in different characters, rather than 1 girl who is naked, yet meek and slutty, yet quiet) but it kind of illustrates the point. Women are mostly EVERYTHING in horror films, because they make up more of the central characters. Characters played by men often are "naked" in horror movies to, and actually shown topless as much as women, or more. It's just not as big of a deal when men do it, because there are no boobies on display. If "nudity" just meant showing torsos and buttcheeks, men and women would be closer in the tally of "naked" scenes. And I have known some feminists to suggest that women should share the right to walk around shirtless if they like, nce men can do it, so even having women shirtless in these movies is not automatically sexist.

I have no grand point with all of that except to show how complicated and interesting this stuff is.

You are right that horror is "female driven" in regards to the number of women who are main characters compared to the number of men. There are certainly vastly more "scream queens" than "scream kings". These things are obvious. My question is why?

I know it's kind contradictory. It makes sense in my head and in theory but it's hard to put to words.

BUT you don't have scream kings.

Ash from The Evil Dead? .-.

I meant actor wise. Bedes Bruce Campbell, who else do we have? I wouldn't count Robert Englund, or Brad Duriff and so on because they are the killers, not victims. Which again goes with women being "weak" nce they are usually the victims.

You can make an endless list of Scream Queens. I named 3 off the bat. I could name another 5 rather quickly.

Rose McGowan Danielle Harris Alyssa Milano

Bijou Phillips Janet Leigh (can't forget her)

I could posbly name another 3, but ask me scream kings.........exactly.

Horror is female driven. Take action movies, you have action kings, but no much on action queens.

Sylverster Stallone Arnold Schwarzenegger Jason Stratham Matt Damon

But queens would be a little harder to fit.

The only three that pop in my head is Milla Jovovich, Kate Beckinsale, and Uma Thurman.

Even super hero movies...female superhero movies tend to flop while male superhero tend to do a bit better. And is it me or the studios not have faith in female superhero movies, nce they seem to be less developed, i.e, Catwoman, Elektra, etc. (I happen to like both of them but just making a point).

Sorry for rambling guys. I'll be quiet now. Lol.

Ryze,

You forgot Neve Campbell and Courtney Cox from the "Scream" movies in your list of scream queens. Or are you just picking actors who have played more than one horror movie character?

I know it's kind contradictory. It makes sense in my head and in theory but it's hard to put to words.Yeah, you're right, your comments made sense, even with the contradictions, because the horror genre is full of contradictions.

Ryze,

You forgot Neve Campbell and Courtney Cox from the "Scream" movies in your list of scream queens. Or are you just picking actors who have played more than one horror movie character?

Those were some that just popped in my head. I would count them as well, those were just the first 5 that I could think of.