Three Black Halflings | A Dungeons & Dragons Podcast · Three Black Halflings

“Last Woman Standing” - Femmes in Horror Part 2

·1 hr·5 clips

Liv explains how horror films punish women for sexuality while men die as martyrs.

This episode of Three Black Halflings continues the "Femmes in Horror" series, focusing on horror movies and tropes. Hosts Liv Kennedy, Jeremy Cobb, and Candice the Magnificent analyze the portrayal of women in the genre, moving beyond their previous discussion on tabletop role-playing games. They begin by dissecting the "final girl" trope, citing classic examples like Laurie Strode from *Halloween* and characters from *Friday the 13th*, *A Nightmare on Elm Street*, and *Texas Chainsaw Massacre*. The hosts note this trope often rewards a "good girl" who avoids sex and drinking but leaves her traumatized. They discuss how the trope can be both empowering and problematic, frequently punishing female sexuality while portraying male deaths as heroic. The conversation references *Cabin in the Woods* as a deconstruction that forces smart characters like Chris Hemsworth's to act stupid through plot devices. They connect the trope's themes to broader cultural ideas like the Madonna-whore complex and the biblical story of Lilith versus Eve. The analysis extends to how franchises handle trauma, using the 2018 *Halloween* sequel to show Laurie Strode's life consumed by preparing for Michael Myers, creating generational fallout for her family. A key insight contrasts the disempowerment of recurring final girls with protagonists like Ellen Ripley from *Alien* and Sarah Connor from *The Terminator*, who actively choose to fight their threats. The hosts mention *Alien* director Ridley Scott's stated intent to explore sexual assault themes through the creature's design and imagery. They highlight newer films like *Hard Candy*, *Fresh*, and *Barbarian* that subvert expectations about predators and prey. A pointed critique of *Barbarian* notes its black female protagonist makes choices that feel unrealistic, suggesting a white male writer's perspective. The group praises recent time-travel horror comedies like *Totally Killer* and *Time Cut* for giving femmes agency to literally rewrite murderous pasts. They conclude that horror with singular women protagonists, such as *Carrie*, *The Babadook*, or the *Suspiria* remake, often allows for deeper character exploration beyond exploitative violence. The tone is conversational, analytical, and filled with personal film recommendations and critiques. The hosts engage in a fast-paced, collaborative discussion, frequently building on each other's points with specific examples. This episode is ideal for horror fans interested in critical genre analysis, feminist film theory, and discovering movie recommendations. Listeners seeking pure gameplay episodes of this Dungeons & Dragons podcast or those sensitive to discussions of sexual violence in media might choose to skip it.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Three Black Halflings | A Dungeons & Dragons Podcast