Laurie Strode and Ash Williams: Warriors against evil

Laurie Strode and Ash Williams are two of the best final characters in horror film history. Could they actually be cut from the same cloth? At 1428 Elm, we examine that possibility.

Halloween 1978 – Courtesy of Compass International Pictures,Falcon International Productions

Yesterday, while reading a review on the latest incarnation of Halloween from Slashfilm, I was struck by the similarities between everyone’s favorite final girl, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her brother in horror, Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell).

I know. It sounds crazy but if you think about it, they really could be the same character. When Laurie was younger she was a studious somewhat shy girl. Her friends were all about partying while she decided to babysit a neighborhood boy and watch movies instead of going out on Halloween.

Ash was also the same type of guy. While his friends were playing games and having fun in the cabin, he was more interested in trying to decipher the strange words on the reel to reel recorder.

Young Ash Williams – Courtesy of Renaissance Pictures

Both characters experienced one night of pure hell that irrevocably changed their lives forever. Laurie tragically lost all of her friends to a masked knife wielding maniac. Ash’s friends met a similar fate except they all turned into demons that he had to kill.

Clearly, these two people are going to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder as well as survivor’s guilt. Those are heavy burdens to carry for forty years. Changes to their personalities are going to occur as part of their coping mechanisms.

In Laurie’s case, she becomes an expert with firearms in her later years. Ash, on the other hand attempts to run from his issues by hiding out in a broken-down Airstream trailer and working as a stock boy in a low rent retail store. Both of them doing what they can to manage all of their memories.

Laurie Strode on porch – Courtesy of Blumhouse Productions,Miramax,Rough House Pictures

Laurie is always aware of Michael’s presence even though he is in an asylum. She knows that evil never truly sleeps or goes away. After almost 40 years of being on the down low from evil, a night of recklessness opens up the door and now Deadites have found Ash again. Like Laurie, he is forced to look over his shoulder.

Ash on the porch- Courtesy of STARZ

Instead of being stalked by Michael, Laurie turns the tables and goes after her tormentor. Ash no longer screams, “You bastards! Why do you torture me?” Instead, he picks up his boomstick and gets down to the business of eradicating Deadites.

Ash and Laurie don’t run from their demons. They face them head on. Both look evil in the face and refuse to back down. Because that is what warriors do, they make a stand.

And no matter what the outcome is they know that they have fulfilled their destiny to deliver the world from all things wicked.

Do you think Laurie Strode and Ash Williams are similar characters? Feel free to share your opinions in the comment section below. We want to hear from you.