It’s tough to mix horror and comedy without going too far in one direction or the other. One of the best tricks of The Final Girls (2015) is its ability to strike a pretty good balance. The plot is tough to describe without giving too much away. It takes a ridiculous premise of some modern-day kids being transported into a classic slasher film but its more than that. There’s tons of references to especially the Friday the 13th series, twists on the common cliches, and clever character updates.
The core of the film revolves around a teenage girl reconnecting with her mom (who is a character in the classic slasher film) and it’s handled quite well. The acting is campy but on purpose and it works. Special credit has to go to Malin Akerman who gives an awesome performance as the virgin mother stuck in the past. Because this is horror comedy, no one will notice (except the fans) but she’s really great. Excellent little slasher-parody that’s also a love letter to the genre.