The Final Girls: A Horror Film Podcast

The monstrous spirit of a slain child murderer Freddy Krueger seeks revenge by invading the dreams of teenagers whose parents were responsible for his untimely death. Joining us this week is film critic, author and scholar Dr. Sorcha Ní Fhlainn to go into the gore, dream logic of Wes Craven's masterpiece, how Nancy stands out from other final girls and what exactly makes Freddy Krueger so terrifyi...

Arnie thought he'd met the perfect girl. Turns out, she had a body by Plymouth and a soul by Satan. Joining us this week is film critic and our Stephen King correspondent Dr. Kelli Weston to go into the terrifying teen angst of Christine (1983). Produced and presented by Anna Bogutskaya *** Music: "Slasher" by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio *** The Final Girls are a UK-based film collective explorin...

Happy Halloween! To mark this spooky weekend, we bring  you the live podcast recording of our crossover Scream event with our pals Mike Muncer (Evolution of Horror) and Becky Darke (Don't Point That Horror at Me). Don't miss our live-tweet of Censor at MUBI on Halloween 7PM GMT. You can get 30 days free of MUBI here: https://mubi.com/promos/thefinalgirls   Produced and presented by Anna Bogutskaya...

It's a sorority for a very special kind of girl... one that doesn't mind pulling a murderous prank on their den mother.  Joining us this week is video essayist and writer Yhara Zayd to talk about the film's film noir influences, sorority horror and who is the real villain of The House on Sorority Row.   Produced and presented by Anna Bogutskaya *** Music: "Slasher" by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio...

A bonus exclusive interview with THE Jamie Lee Curtis, Laurie Strode herself, about the new film Halloween Kills, out in UK cinemas now. We talk about her not knowing what a 'final girl' was, a show she developed called 'The Final Girls' and why people have loved Laurie Strode since 1978.   Produced and presented by Anna Bogutskaya *** Music: "Slasher" by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio *** The Final...

When you think of slumber parties, you think of murder... right? Joining us this week is podcaster Mary Wild to go deep on the feminist intentions of The Slumberparty Massacre , the similarities of the driller killer to BOB from Twin Peaks and its dark, dark humour. With a much less deep discussion on the musical psycho horror show that is The Slumberparty Massacre II and its leather daddy killer....

Joining us this week is writer/actor Isaura Barbé-Brown. We get into the mind of the murderer (again) with Prom Night, discuss the benefits of disco, and fight for the status of the film as an inventive slasher. Plus a first watch of slasher spoof film Student Bodies (1981) and the bits of it that haven't aged well at all. Produced and presented by Anna Bogutskaya *** Music: "Slasher" by Karl Case...

In this episode, Bloody Women Editor Leila Latif joins us for a discussion on the original Friday the 13th - the one with Kevin Bacon, the one without Jason, the mommy of one of the biggest horror franchises. Produced and presented by Anna Bogutskaya *** Music: "Slasher" by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio *** The Final Girls are a UK-based film collective exploring the intersections of horror film an...

A deep dive review of Mike Flanagan's new horror series, Midnight Mass, with writer and broadcaster Louise Blain.  Spoilers from 0:29:55 Midnight Mass is available to watch on Netflix now. *** Produced and presented by Anna Bogutskaya Music: "Slasher" by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio *** The Final Girls are a UK-based film collective exploring the intersections of horror film and feminism, founded...

In this episode, podcaster Steph McKenna joins us for a discussion on John Carpenter and Debra Hill's daddy of slasher films, Halloween. We go deep on Laurie Strode and the final girl, what makes Michael Myers so scary, the musical stylings of Mr. Carpenter and so much more.  Produced and presented by Anna Bogutskaya *** Music: "Slasher" by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio *** The Final Girls are a UK...

Inspired by Prano Bailey-Bond's horror film Censor, The Final Girls present a mini-series dedicated to unpicking some of the many layers of this film and why it stuck with us. In this final episode of the mini-series, we recorded the live conversation we had with director and co-writer Prano Bailey-Bond after a preview screening of Censor at the Prince Charles Cinema. The discussion contains mild...

A repost from our FEMALE MONSTERS series. In this episode, film critic Dr. Kelli Weston joins us for a deep, deep dive on the inimitable classic of horror cinema, Brian de Palma's Carrie (1976). We talk about the monstrous feminine, otherness, Sissy Spacek, period horror, who's the real villain in the film and so much more. Produced and presented by Anna Bogutskaya *** Music: "Slasher" by Karl Cas...

A deep dive into one of the most influential horror films of all time, Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Joining us this week is writer/actor Isaura Barbé-Brown. We dive deep into Isaura's love of this film, where it stands culturally, how it influenced horror films, and show a little sympathy for overwhelmed Leatherface. Read Isaura's piece on Bloody Women Film Journal about Sally Hardes...

In this fourth series, we'll be regressing and reliving the bloody, broody and horny moments of our teenage years through horror films.  New episode every Friday with a special guest to discuss a teen horror (or two). Produced and presented by Anna Bogutskaya .  *** Music: "The Shape" by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio and "Trouble in Woodsboro" by Marco Beltrami *** The Final Girls are a UK-based fi...

A deep dive review of the most anticipated horror film of the year: Nia DaCosta's Candyman . Film critic Dr. Kelli Weston joins us to discuss the film, its themes and connections to the 1992 cult horror of the same name. Spoilers from 0:57:19 (but don't worry, we don't say his name). Candyman is out now in UK cinemas. Produced and presented by Anna Bogutskaya . *** The Final Girls are a UK-based f...

Inspired by Prano Bailey-Bond's horror film Censor, The Final Girls present a mini-series dedicated to unpicking some of the many layers of this film and why it stuck with us. In this third episode, Evolution of Horror host Mike Muncer and host Anna Bogutskaya discuss the context of the video nasties in 1980s Britain. Throughout the episode you'll hear from lead actress Niamh Algar, make-up and ha...

Inspired by Prano Bailey-Bond's horror film Censor, The Final Girls present a mini-series dedicated to unpicking some of the many layers of this film and why it stuck with us. In this episode, Projections lecturer and host Mary Wild joins  host Anna Bogutskaya to unpick the psychology of lead character Enid Baines, played by Niamh Algar. Throughout the episode you'll also hear from Niamh, hair and...

Inspired by Prano Bailey-Bond's horror film Censor, The Final Girls present a mini-series dedicated to unpicking some of the many layers of this film and why it stuck with us. In this first episode, The Independent 's Chief Film Critic Clarisse Loughrey and host Anna Bogutskaya discuss the horror of Censor . Throughout the episode you'll hear from lead actress Niamh Algar and costume designer Saff...

A SPOILERIFIC deep dive into the second part of the Netflix horror trilogy, Fear Street 1978 with Isaura Barbé-Brown and Dr. Alison Peirse exploring all the things that make the trilogy work, everything that makes Nick Goode  such a douchebag, and the queer love story that underpins the horror trilogy.  Listen to the Fear Street 1994 deep dive HERE . Listen to our Fear Street 1978 deep dive HERE ....

An exclusive SPOILER-FREE interview with Fear Street director Leigh Janiak.    Listen to our Fear Street 1994 deep dive HERE . Listen to our Fear Street 1978 deep dive HERE . Produced and presented by Anna Bogutskaya . *** The Final Girls are a UK-based film collective exploring the intersections of horror film and feminism, founded by Anna Bogutskaya and Olivia Howe . → Find out more about our pr...

A SPOILERIFIC deep dive into the second part of the Netflix horror trilogy, Fear Street 1978 with Dr. Alison Peirse going over the difference between classic and nineties slashers, the updated Final Girl, and the unexpected nastiness of the film. Listen to the Fear Street 1994 deep dive HERE .  Produced and presented by Anna Bogutskaya . *** The Final Girls are a UK-based film collective exploring...

 A SPOILERIFIC deep dive into the first part of the Netflix horror trilogy, Fear Street 1994 with Isaura Barbé-Brown going over the nineties slasher inspirations, R.L. Stine's brand of teen horror, the gore, the multiple killers, the music and nostalgic aesthetics and our predictions for Fear Street 1978.   Produced and presented by Anna Bogutskaya . *** The Final Girls are a UK-based film collect...

After 20 episodes, 40 films, and a few bonus episodes, we're DONE with vampires. But before stake this season, we've got one more bonus episode for you.  We're joined in this episode by the brilliant writer, presenter and broadcaster Louise Blain to go through the films, series and video games that didn’t get their own full episode - but maybe should’ve.    This season was made possible with the s...

Inspired by Emerald Fennell's revenge thriller Promising Young Woman, out in the UK on Sky Cinema, we present a mini-podcast dedicated to diving deep into the myriad of layers and themes of the film, written and directed by Emerald Fennell. *** Writer/podcaster Jordan Crucchiola , writer, podcaster and filmmaker BJ Colangelo and The Final Girls co-founder Anna Bogutskaya discuss the divisive react...

Inspired by Emerald Fennell's revenge thriller Promising Young Woman, out in the UK on Sky Cinema TODAY, we present a mini-podcast dedicated to diving deep into the myriad of layers and themes of the film, written and directed by Emerald Fennell. Writer/podcaster Jordan Crucchiola and The Final Girls co-founder Anna Bogutskaya discuss the divisive reaction to Promising Young Woman. Everyone has an...