2024 introduces us to 5 amazing new final girls

This year has been one of my favorite years for horror, and we're only halfway through! I wanted to look back on some of the best horror movies of the year so far and the unforgettable performances by the female characters. Spoilers ahead.

1. Maika Monroe as Lee Harker from Longlegs

Longlegs left me reeling. This movie has not left my mind since I saw it, with chilling visuals, an unsettling atmosphere, and of course I have to mention the top notch performances. In my opinion, Nicolas Cage nailed Longlegs but Maika Monroe will always stand out to me.

Lee Harker is a complex character who keeps to herself but knows when to trust her gut, which makes her a reliable detective. She did not stop until she knew Longlegs' identity and how he was connected to the murders. Harker has so much depth to her because of her strange childhood and how she can't explain her intuition, but it still manages to help her in the investigation.

In the final act she is forced to face the truth of her childhood and the role her mother played. She must choose between her only family or the daughter of Agent Carter. Harker is a female character (and final girl) worth rooting for because of her intelligence and bravery especially in the end.

2. Nell Tiger Free as Margaret from The First Omen

Speaking of top-notch performances, I still think of Nell Tiger Young and her portray of Margaret. The First Omen pleasantly surprised me because I've come to expect very little from prequels. I think a lot of my praise is due to Young and the possession scene near the end of the movie, which is a fantastic homage to 1981's Possession.

Young's performance is nothing short of captivating. She begins the movie as our heroine, trying to save Carlita from a horrible fate. Margaret is compassionate and kind to the girls in the orphanage all while facing her own demons. Margaret is desperate to uncover the truth about the church and to keep more girls safe from their plan.

However, she doesn't realize her own part in it until it's too late. She is forced to give birth to a girl and a boy, the latter being the antichrist. She saves her daughter as well as Carlita and decides to live peacefully in the mountains, away from the church. Margaret is honorable for trying to save everyone even going as far as trying to kill her son so the antichrist cannot come to be, but she is too pure and can't kill a baby.

3. Mia Goth as Maxine Minx from MaXXXine

MaXXXine was a little bit of a letdown for me, I expected so much because of my love for Pearl and X. The saving grace of this movie for me was Mia Goth as Maxine. She is technically a second time final girl so naturally she has to be on this list.

Maxine got her start in X , the first installment of the trilogy, looking to become a star. Maxine was set to get her big break in adult film but didn't get the chance when her cast and crew were viciously murdered by Pearl and Howard. Maxine was the final girl of X leaving behind Texas and a trail of bodies.

In MaXXXine she finally gets her shot at being a real movie star in The Puritan II. However, her past seems to follow and threaten her big chance. Maxine is a force to be reckoned with as she solves the murders and whodunnit on her own, leaving her face-to-face with her father and his followers. In a lackluster third act Maxine has no choice but to face everything she buried in order to survive... again. What makes Maxine a memorable final girl is her drive to be a star, she is goal oriented, and will not accept a life she does not deserve.

4. Melissa Barrera as Joey from Abigail

Abigail was another big shock to me and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this campy vampire gore fest. I initially went to see this movie simply because Melissa Barrera was in it, and she did not disappoint.

Joey is another complex morally grey character who just wants to support her son. Joey gets caught up in a kidnapping, at first she is reluctant considering Abigail is just a child, but the money wins her over. Joey does her best to keep Abigail safe and comfortable setting her apart from the rest of her crew. Despite her best attempts Abigail escapes and reveals her big secret, she's a blood-sucking vampire that will kill them all.

Joey has to fight to survive and she is by far the most resilient in the movie. Joey has something she is desperately fighting for, the chance to see her son again. Joey is different than the rest from this list as Abigail is a horror/comedy, we get to see Joey be the strong female lead while also cracking jokes to make us love her even more.

5. Andrea Pavlovic as Kris from In a Violent Nature

Now this one might be a little controversial because I was not a fan of In a Violent Nature. There were aspects of the indie horror that I thoroughly enjoyed, like the creative kills or scenic shots. I also enjoyed Andrea Pavlovic's character Kris, who was extremely lucky to survive.

In a Violent Nature reminds me of Friday the 13th, a similar summer camp gone horribly wrong. In a Violent Nature isn't set around summer camp but instead friends camping who accidentally resurrect evil by taking a locket. The friends are picked off one by one in typical slasher fashion. We get to see Johnny and the excruciating lengths he will go to to retrieve his locket.

Kris gets a place on this list simply because she did not die a horrific death like the famous yoga scene. Kris never had the emotional depth like the rest of the women on this list but she did a damn good job surviving. She left the locket behind for Johnny and managed to get herself out of the forest with an injured leg. I couldn't help but root for her to get away because she reminded me of Alice (one of the most iconic final girls ever!)