Final Girls
Final Girls
Podcast Description
Survival isn't just a skill—it's an art form. Join film major Kellie and pop culture writer Sarah as they slice, dice, and dissect the most iconic Final Girls in horror cinema. Each episode of "Final Girls" is a wild ride through a blood-soaked landscape where we explore the tropes, traumas, and triumphs of the last woman standing.
From mainstream blockbusters to hidden gems of the horror genre, Kellie brings the sharp analysis, while Sarah brings the unbridled entertainment commentary. Together we break down the psychological depth of a Final Girl's journey and geek out over her most creative escape scenes.
Expect deep dives, insights, and plenty of dark humor as we celebrate the badass women who always—always—make it to the end credits. New episodes drop weekly, so grab your Jiffy Pop, turn down the lights, don’t answer the phone, and join us for a killer conversation about the queens of horror.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes of survival, female empowerment, and the complexities of friendship within the horror genre. It covers specific topics such as the psychological depth of characters, cultural critiques like flipping the male gaze, and the exploration of female friendship dynamics, with episodes dedicated to characters like Needy from Jennifer's Body and Sarah from The Descent.
Final Girls is a dynamic podcast that dives deep into the world of horror by examining one iconic final girl per episode. Co-hosted by Kellie and Sarah — both UC Davis alumni with strong academic backgrounds — each installment dissects the tropes, triumphs, and challenges of these resilient characters. Drawing from Kellie’s expertise in Human-Computer Interaction and Film, and Sarah’s insights from History and Political Science, the show brings a unique blend of sharp analysis and genuine passion to every discussion.
Each episode explores the final girl’s journey in detail, from the creative escape scenes that have become cult favorites to the narrative complexities that define their battles against overwhelming odds. Final Girls celebrates the spirit of women who fight back, inviting listeners to rethink classic horror tropes and appreciate the empowering narratives that make these characters enduring cultural icons.
This podcast is not only a must-listen for horror enthusiasts but also for anyone interested in the intersection of storytelling, gender, and cultural critique.
In this episode, we’re slipping into glass slippers and fairy-tale trauma with The Ugly Stepsister (2025). This gruesome, pink cottagecore fever dream reimagines the story of Cinderella from the perspective of Elvira, the not-so-fair stepsister in a kingdom obsessed with perfection. In a world where beauty is currency, conformity is survival, and every flaw could be fatal, Elvira’s transformation arc is a brutal, bloody reminder of how far women are expected to go to be “enough.”
We dive deep into this film’s feminist body horror, unpacking its commentary on societal pressure, cosmetic violence, and the cost of chasing beauty in a culture that demands it at any cost. We also talk about why we need way more horror films that get real about the psychological and physical toll of being a woman in a world built to break us.
Spoiler warning: We’re spilling all the tea and the beauty serum. You’ve been warned.
Theme by Max Anson
Visit us at www.final-girls.com
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