13 Films that Reinterpret the Final Girl

3.

The Descent

(2005)

The best part about this film is that it eliminates a male presence from the action altogether. Instead, the film takes a serious look at female relationships in an absolutely terrifying setting. Our final girl, Sarah, not only has to fight her way through a shite-load of creepy cave dwellers, but she has to deal with the death of her companions, and with the discovery of the ultimate betrayal of one of her supposed best friends. For most films with a final girl, the focus is on a male killer and the final girl is rendered as more gender fluid, in The Descent, it’s the opposite and we’re able to focus on real female characters without pandering to the male gaze. This one definitely passes the Bechdel test.

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