I will be comparing the films Alien (1979, by Ridley Scott) and Happy Death Day (2017, by Christopher Landon)

My question is: ‘How are elements of the feminist film theory represented in the horror genre?’

I chose these films because they both contain a strong example of a ‘final girl’ which is a trope found typically in Slasher films. This is an element of feminist film theory, created by theorist Carol Clover. The basis of the trope, is a female character who is typically the last survivor, and faces a successful showdown with the killer or entity. Although this is usually shown in slasher films, final girls can appear in most horror or sci-fi genres.

In my study, i will explore how the main aspects of feminist film theory are represented in horror through my two film choices. In particular, i will focus on the ‘final girl’ trope because it is a main aspect of the theory and shows a unique representation of women through horror, particularly over a time period.