The Final Girls (2015) – Short Review

Read Time:2 Minute, 35 Second

Here comes the era where campy horror-slashers from the 80s are stripped off and reassembled as a full-homage modern meta-horror to please aficionados. The Final Girls is one example, which re-introduces such formula and turns it into a joyride to spoof summer camp horror a la Friday the 13th in a Last Action Hero way.

Max (Taissa Farmiga) is a daughter of a late 80s scream queen (portrayed by Malin Akerman) known for a cult summer camp bonanza Camp Bloodbath. Upon the special anniversary screening of the movie, a fire breaks. To escape the catastrophe, Max and her friends rip the screen only to find themselves reverse-breaking the fourth wall and getting trapped in the movie. 

The Final Girls defies the genre-cliché and lives up its exhilarating premise then, surprisingly, hits the right spots with likable characters. Although the story itself isn’t a hundred percent original, it pays respectful homages to similar movies it ripped off by “correcting” the cliché into some playful, gonzo parody (not in a way Scary Movie ruins horror) and adds a sensitive drama.

While occasionally having trouble with continuity and consistency (in terms of obeying its own on-screen rules) as well as PG-13 rating (which is kinda crazy for a campy slasher flick), The Final Girls really saves its “final girls” for a real, heart wrenching drama of mother-daughter love loss and grief, which kinda make the whole story alive.

The Final Girls (2015)

Horror, Thriller, Comedy Directed by: Todd Strauss-Schulson Written by: M.A. Fortin, Joshua John Miller Starred by:  Taissa Farmiga, Malin Akerman, Adam DeVine Runtime: 88 mins Rated PG – 13

Image Courtesy: IMDb

 

 


Tibalah era di mana film-film horror slasher 80-an ditelanjangi dan dirakit ulang menjadi meta-horror modern penuh homage—yang tentunya membahagiakan para pecinta horror. The Final Girl adalah contohnya—memakai formula tersebut dalam sebuah joyride yang men-spoof film summer camp a la Friday the 13th dengan gaya Last Action Hero.

Max (Taissa Farmiga) adalah putri mendiang scream queen terkenal dekade 80-an (diperankan oleh Malin Akerman). Dalam perayaan anniversary film ibunya, Camp Bloodbath, kebakaran terjadi. Untuk menyelamatkan diri, Max dkk merobek layar bioskop. Alih-alih selamat, mereka malah menembus tembok keempat dari sisi yang lain dan masuk ke dalam film slasher itu.

The Final Girls memutarbalikkan genre-cliche khas slasher 80-an untuk memenuhi premisnya yang super gila. Surprisingly, yang dilakukan The Final Girls nampak sangat mulus apalagi dengan karakter-karakternya yang menyenangkan.

Meskipun ceritanya tidak 100% orisinal, film ini tampil meyakinkan dalam menghadirkan homage sekaligus “mengkoreksi” berbagai macam klise dengan parodi yang gila-gilaan (tapi tidak seperti Scary Movie yang malah merusak reputasi film lain) ditambah dengan drama yang menyentuh.

Meskipun bermasalah dengan kontinuitas dan konsistensi serta rating PG-13 (untuk film slasher? hello?), The Final Girls benar menyimpan final girls-nya untuk menghadirkan drama ibu-anak yang nyata, yang mampu membuat film ini lebih hidup.


The Final Girls review is written by Paskalis Damar. Review film The Final Girls ini diterjemahkan ke dalam Bahasa Indonesia oleh Paskalis Damar.


17 responses to “The Final Girls (2015) – Short Review”

  1. vinnieh Avatar
    vinnieh

    Nice review, this sounds like a movie that would appeal to me.

    1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
      Paskalis Damar AK

      Thanks! I really bet you should give it a go 🙂

      1. vinnieh Avatar
        vinnieh

        I think I will. Just went the cinema yesterday to see Spectre and what a movie it was. My review of it is up.

        1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
          Paskalis Damar AK

          Can’t wait to see Spectre! Gotta check your review 🙂

          1. vinnieh Avatar
            vinnieh

            Cheers man, hope you enjoy.

  2. Jenna and Allie (@FlickChicksBlog) Avatar
    Jenna and Allie (@FlickChicksBlog)

    Great review! I wrote off The Final Girls until I read someone else’s review, and I actually really enjoyed it. It’s good fun!
    – Allie

    1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
      Paskalis Damar AK

      Thanks, Allie! Glad you liked it. I think this movie needs more recognition and I think I need to see more Taissa Farmiga.

  3. vinnieh Avatar
    vinnieh

    In case you couldn’t find it here’s the link. https://vinnieh.wordpress.com/2015/11/02/spectre/

    1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
      Paskalis Damar AK

      Great! Thanks. I’ll read it as soon as I watch the movie 🙂

      1. vinnieh Avatar
        vinnieh

        That’s a wise move.

  4. Tri Fajar Avatar
    Tri Fajar

    Ini film benar2 hebat, karena untuk pertama kalinya dalam pengalamanku nonton film bantai-membantai, aku merasa peduli ama para korban. Mungkin karena drama ibu-anak yg benar2 menyentuh dan karakter2nya yg menyenangkan.

    1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
      Paskalis Damar AK

      Itu dia! Tapi paling epic sih pas mereka nunggu sampai durasi filmnya selesai buat mulai ulang. Lol.

  5. Thomas M. Watt Avatar
    Thomas M. Watt

    Awesome review! Damn, I wish you did books as well :/ There aren’t many book bloggers who provide as much in-depth analysis.

    1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
      Paskalis Damar AK

      Thanks, Thomas! I used to review books as well—the ones which get adapted into movies, but I got overwhelmed cause it’s time-consuming (more than doing movies). I plan to do it again, but not before I meet a co-blogger.

      1. Thomas M. Watt Avatar
        Thomas M. Watt

        Ah, I see. I’ve been blogging the opening pages to my 150 pg. psychological thriller on my site, if it’s something you would consider reviewing I’d be honored to send it over.

        I agree about books eating up too much time – last trip to the airport I paid twelve dollars for a bestseller. I forced myself to get through the first 200 pages, but no amount of determination could bring me to waste the time needed to fight through another 500!

        1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
          Paskalis Damar AK

          Of course, I’d be honored 🙂 but what’s sure is, it gonna take time, okay? No worries, though.

  6. Thomas M. Watt Avatar
    Thomas M. Watt

    Absolutely!

    I don’t mind sending you the manuscript so can browse it over before deciding whether you’d like to review it. I won’t be upset if you choose not to; I understand you’re a movie reviewer plus I already have a few reviews lined up.

    You can leave me your email in the comment box, or just hit me up at: Thomaswatt27@yahoo.com

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