What’s a final girl? A look into Meta-Horror
How many times have you watched a horror film and despite all your warnings the character runs upstairs instead of outside? It seems like despite being in a horror film, these people have never seen a horror film in their life. That’s where meta-horror comes in.
In this universe horror films are real, sometimes literally. You see, horror fans are not content with just watching horror films. We want a horror movie inside of a horror movie that’s watching its own horror movie. Meta-horror is the Russian nesting dolls of the movie world. Creating layers upon layers of references for fans to dig through.
Not only that, but they also explain the rules of the genre for newcomers. Scream and Cabin in the Woods are the most loved movies in this sub-genre. They are both amazing films, but that’s not what we are here to talk about today. It is my job to find some films you may have missed. So, get your notebooks out, there will be a test after this one.
You Might Be the Killer
Have you ever sat down with friends and talked about life’s really important questions? How do we solve world hunger? What is the meaning of life? Most importantly, what makes a film a slasher? The latter is the discussion famed authors Chuck Wendig (The Book of Accidents) and Sam Sykes (Aeons’ Gate) had on twitter in 2017. This conversation laid the groundwork for one of the campiest meta films to ever see the light of day.
This gem of a film doesn’t get as much attention as it should. Starring the magnificent Fran Kranz (Cabin in the Woods) and Alyson Hannigan (Buffy the Vampire Slayer). You Might be the Killer gives us a look into the comedic aspects of the slasher genre. This film knows who its audience is, and it plays the part wonderfully. If you want an 80’s slasher, without some of the more problematic things that go along with 80’s slashers, then check out You Might be the Killer.
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
Do you have questions about the practical aspects of the slasher genre? Like how is the killer always right behind the final girl? Why does the power always go out in the abandoned farmhouse, or why does it even have power to begin with? These are the hard-hitting questions that Behind the Mask set out to answer.
Nathan Baesel (20 Years After) gives us a peak behind the curtain in his role of Leslie Vernon. This film is a perfect example of how the mockumentary format should be used. It blends equal parts comedy and realism, creating an unsettling feeling throughout its runtime. If you ever wanted to know how slashers feel about their legacy, check out Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon.
The Final Girls
The Final Girls is a film exploring the concept of final girls. It doesn’t get much more meta than that. The term love letter to the genre gets thrown around a lot these days, but I truly believe that it holds true for this film. Starring Taissa Farmiga (American Horror Story) and Adam Devine (Workaholics), The Final Girls shows us that slasher films can have heart.
This film plays out like someone spilled a bag of “Oops, all 80’s tropes” all over the production set, and the results couldn’t have been better. This film gives us everything we love and hate from the genre. It doesn’t shy away from depicting the problematic views of the time, while embracing the cheese and gore that we still love today. If you want some guilt free camp in your slasher film, check out The Final Girls.
Scare Package
Scare Package is horror made by horror nerds for even bigger horror nerds. This is a meta horror anthology set inside of a horror V/H/S store, set inside of a horror movie. What more could a horror fan possibly ask for? Not only does it have every trope known to genre fans, but it also features the divine visage that is Joe Bob Briggs (The Last Drive-In).
This film may not have a cohesive plot, amazing effects, or even great dialog. It does have one thing that makes it stand out above all of the other films on this list. It stars Joe Bob Briggs playing Joe Bob Briggs in a movie about a movie. If that doesn’t sell you on the film, then I don’t know what will. If you leave this movie craving more, as I did, then luckily for us all Scare Package II: Rad Chad’s Revenge was released in December of 2022.
Funny Games
Funny Games is unlike every other film on this list. It isn’t funny, campy, or pleasant by any means. I am not even sure what genre this fits into. Is there a sub-genre for soul crushing bleakness? Director Michael Haneke (Happy End) is not content with a simple wink at the audience like most meta directors. He chooses instead to look you in the eyes as he tortures his creations, reminding you along the way that this is what you asked for.
Meta-horror is designed to make viewers feel like they are in on the joke, Funny Games makes you feel like an accomplice to a murder. If one life altering event per evening isn’t enough for you, there are two versions of this film. Fans are divided over whether the 1997 Austrian version or the 2007 English Remake are more traumatizing. For those masochists out there, I recommend watching them back-to-back. If you are looking for a film so depraved that you will feel dirty after, then check out Funny games.