After a grueling month of votes from the fans, we’ve finally got the results! So, strap in to see who made it to the top five spots for March’s survey.
#5. NANCY THOMPSON (NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET SERIES), 26.3% OF VOTES
While she may not be the physically toughest of our contestants, she owns the most enjoyable instances of putting everyone’s favorite dream demon to sleep. And that’s because of Nancy’s mind for investigation; she’s oriented from the very start to research her enemy. And her sheer force of will is what takes out Krueger in the end, denying him the energy and fear he so desperately craves without having to lift a hand to the finger knife-wielding sleaze.
CROWNING BADASS MOMENT: …Although, it is sick that she uses her dying breath to sneak attack him and make him stab himself to death with his own glove in The Dream Warriors. So, we’re putting that physical feat and incredible “f**k you” here for posterity’s sake.
#4. BUFFY SUMMERS (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER), 30% OF VOTES
In every generation, there is a slayer, but there is none quite like Buffy, is there? I mean, there’s a reason even 25 years later, she’s got a vice grip on fans across the world. Contending with the likes of the Master, Glorificus, Dracula, and even other Slayers like Faith, the struggles of Buffy have always been a hell of a lot of fun to watch because of the sheer heat brought by Gellar portraying one of the most proficient monster hunters in fiction.
C.B.M.: There are so many moments where Buffy whooped someone’s ass up and down an episode’s runtime that it’s hard to choose; it’s like picking your favorite kid. So instead, let’s go with her spreading that ass whooping ability to all the potential slayers on Earth in the series finale, “Chosen.” Women uplifting women, what’s more badass than that?
#3. LAURIE STRODE (HALLOWEEN SERIES) 43.8% OF VOTES
She’s definitely the longest-lasting contestant on our list; she’s survived more films and timeline changes than anyone else. Laurie has an endurance that rivals the killer sibling (continuity pending) that she finds herself facing off against time and again. Of course, a lot of this is a credit to Jamie Lee Curtis, whose input on the character has been invaluable, performance and lore-wise. So, we’ve got to put some respect on her name there.
C.B.M.: There were few moments I think horror fans enjoyed more in Halloween (2018) than the very cathartic catch and burn of Michael Myers. Laurie’s ingenuity, the cooperation of three generations of Strode women, and a very clever trap made from her WHOLE HOUSE gave us an unforgettable game, set, match between one of the G.O.A.T. final girls and her nemesis.
#2. SIDNEY PRESCOTT (SCREAM SERIES) 47.5% OF VOTES
Fewer series have had as much of an impact on the genre as Scream has, and few final girls have skyrocketed to being as beloved as Sidney Prescott is. Starting off as green as any other final girl when it comes to shutting down killers, Sidney’s steamrolled every sequel’s killer since and seemingly become stronger with each installment. Whether she’s sleuthing around to find the truth or just protecting her friends and stomping Ghostface’s out, she is an instant classic character that you can’t help but root for.
C.B.M.: It’s not going to be popular, but it’s simply the best part of 3, and that is the drag-out, knockdown fight between Sidney and Roman. It goes to show even the worst of the Ghostface’s get a satisfying, grueling smackdown. And in the face of each of these brawls, Sidney came out on top as Woodsboro’s apex predator.
And at our number one spot…
#1. ELLEN RIPLEY (ALIEN SERIES) 50% OF VOTES
Realistically, could it have been anyone else? Half of all voters picked everyone’s favorite Nostromo crew member turned xeno-hunter with good reason. Ripley has gone toe to toe with some of the most effective killing machines in horror movie history, and even when she wasn’t packing heat like she is in Aliens, she’s holding it down. Between four films, she’s almost entirely got the highest body count with the amount of sheer damage she does to several xenomorph colonies, and the most iconic moments with her genre-crossing, bug-crushing style.
C.B.M.: While the obvious pick is to go with the mech-loader duel she has with the Xenomorph Queen, it’s really the way she picks that fight that I don’t think I’ll ever forget. Only Ripley could have the guts to start bold-facedly torching eggs and sniping drones inside of the nest when she had an easy out to escape with Newt. She’s a woman of principle, and that principle is “scorched earth.” We can respect that.
So, from all of us here at Horror Press to our readers out there, we hope you had a very happy Women in Horror Month, and we’re looking forward to the next contest in April!