Inspired by “Dinosaurs in the Hood” by Danez Smith
I want to make a movie where I am the final girl.
I want to make a movie where I finally survive
the night, and I want to make monsters
out of every emotion I have ever, ever, felt–
until The Cabin in the Woods feels embarrassed
by its horrific lack of variety.
I want to make a movie where I am the final girl.
Not just the trope, not just the last to live.
I want to be the girl who thrives.
Think less The Final Girl Support Group, and think more–
functional. More than just alive.
I want to make this movie and be the damn director,
I’ll be the costume designer too.
Dolling myself up in a white dress and my big ugly, thrifted
brown boots with soles that are breaking
apart at brown and yellow seams. I want my final girl
to be pretty in a way that I was never allowed to be.
Think Mia Goth in Pearl. But also,
think of every scream queen
that did not make it to the end of the movie.
But this is my final girl. I have to survive.
We can keep that in. But let me be specific!
This time, this time. This time. I am not
victim nor a vestal virgin.
This time.
I am–
Violent, volatile, vengeance-seeking.
I want to make a movie where I am the final girl
covered in blood. Sticky and corn syrupy, deep, deep red.
Think Ash from Evil Dead. The original mind you!
Not the 2013 remake. No, thank you.
Covered in blood, carrying a chainsaw.
Maybe I’m missing a hand. Or a few teeth–
spitting blood on the floor of a haunted cabin,
hotel, or summer camp. Anything will do.
But, god, I want to make a movie where I am the final girl.
So I can finally, finally, finally witness
myself in all my anger and glory.
Side by side with scream queens and
all of the girls who are always the first to die.
Genesis Castello is a senior at DePaul University, majoring in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and minoring in Women’s and Gender Studies. She is a horror movie enjoyer who adores writing and learning about all of the strangest and loveliest parts of life.