Top 10 Smartest Female Horror Movie Characters
#10: Selena “28 Days Later” (2002)
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Before the virus outbreak that destroyed Britain, she was a chemist. Afterwards, she became an adaptable survivor. Not only is she book smart, but Selena has the intelligence of a true fighter, and doesn’t let emotion get in the way of what is logical. She knows that if you’re infected, it’s already all over for you, and those left clean have to do what they have to do in order to make it out alive. However, she can assess a situation too, ensuring she doesn’t kill innocents needlessly. Canny, hard as nails, and willing to do what's necessary, even if it isn't an easy choice, Selena has got brains and brawn.
#9: Erin Hanson “You're Next” (2011)
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When the worst “meet the parents” dinner in history begins to unfold, and guests and family members alike begin to get picked off by masked assailants, Erin Hanson is not messing around. While the dysfunctional family bickers and panics, she is both the voice of reason and a woman of action. The first to think to text 911 when their cell phones’ call signals are jammed, and also to gather weapons, Erin is not going to let intimidation and fear get the better of her. Even after suffering an injury, she still fights back, setting traps and an ambush for her would-be killers.
#8: Casey Cooke “Split” (2016)
Along with two other teenagers, Casey Cooke is kidnapped by Kevin Crumb, a man with multiple personalities and is suffering from dissociative identity disorder. The terrifying twist is that not all of the personalities mean the captives harm, in fact, some want to help. Latching onto this, Casey befriends “Hedwig,” Kevin’s nine-year-old boy persona. Grappling her own inner demons, she must walk a fine and dangerous line between trust and terror before the final, most terrible personality arises, intent on killing them all.
#7: Nancy Thompson “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984)
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When the kids of Elm Street begin to get murdered in increasingly horrific ways and the grown-ups all around her seem to be doing nothing, Nancy Thompson knows that there is something the parents are hiding. After working out that she and her friends are being stalked in their dreams by the demonic spirit of slain child molester Freddie Kruger, she takes it upon herself to stop him. Setting traps, she uses herself as bait to catch and destroy the supernatural terror in a final showdown. Talk about nightmare fuel, right?
#6: Dana Polk “The Cabin in the Woods” (2012)
It’s seems like a classic set up … a little TOO classic. Even before she and her friends wander down into the basement of assorted horror, Dana Polk knows that there is something up. She and her friends are all academics. But this girl isn’t just book-smart, she’s also survival smart. She might be a little late to completely save the day, but she and her stoner pal do manage to work out how to get down into the complex running the show. Not only that, but she’s willing to go the extra distance to stop the baddies once and for all.
#5: Susy Hendrix “Wait Until Dark” (1967)
After unknowingly acquiring a doll filled with heroin, Susy Hendrix – played by the legendary Ms. Aubrey Hepburn – becomes the unwitting target of two crooks. After the drug smugglers find out where she lives, they attempt to retrieve the doll by any means necessary. To complicate the matter, Susy is blind. However, she uses this to her advantage – for one, she doesn’t need lights on in a dark house to get around. Even when it seems all is lost, she’s still able to figure out what she needs to do to fight back. Don’t let that cultured voice and those doe eyes fool you, this is one tough lady.
#4: Sarah Carter “The Descent” (2005)
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It was supposed to be a fun, diverting trip, something to take Sarah’s mind off the horrible tragedy that shattered her happy family. But when exploring a new cave system with her spelunking gal-pals, the trip goes horribly wrong. She is clearly scared, but when hunted by cannibalistic humanoid underground dwellers, you best be able to adapt fast and keep a cool head - which is exactly what she does. She overcomes the horror of the situation and descends into the realm of good old-fashioned primal instincts to outsmart the creatures. Realising that they are equally matched in stature, she stops being the prey and becomes the predator, knowing that it is kill or be killed.
#3: Laurie Strode “Halloween” (1978)
It would be impossible to not include the original scream-queen, the babysitter who set the standard for Final Girls everywhere, Laurie Strode. One of the few to notice that anything might be wrong, even after all of her friends are murdered, she has to pull herself together to save Tommy and Lindsey, the kids next door whom she babysits. After telling them to run and call the police, she attacks Michael, lures him away, and finally resorts to hiding, hoping to give the police enough time to arrive and bag him. If only she’d kept the knife!
#2: Sidney Prescott “Scream” (1996)
Sidney Prescott is the Final Girl, and knows all the "rules" making her not only smart, but self-aware. However, in this modern Wes Craven classic, Sidney is not the only savvy lady. She might be ruthless, but Gale Weathers is no slouch either, and her hard-nosed sleuthing does a lot to actually solve the mystery. However, for her guts, smarts, and ability to turn the tables on the worst boyfriend in history, our lady here has to be Ms. Prescott. Besides, she also makes perfect use of the much-neglected double-tap, so good on her. Before we unveil our number one spot, here are a few honorable mentions: Annie “It Follows” (2014) Brigitte Fitzgerald “Ginger Snaps” (2000) Mary “American Mary” (2012)
#1: Ellen Ripley “Alien” (1979)
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Warrant Officer Ellen Ripley is in charge when Captain Dallas is off the Nostromo. Her decision to not open the bay doors for Kane when he is attacked by an unknown organism was the right one, and one that would have saved them all. And yet... Frequently the voice of calm reason in an increasingly dangerous situation, Ripley is also fiercely independent, and takes it upon herself to discover the true intentions of the Weylan-Yutani company. She manages not only to stay alive, initiate the ship's self-destruct, and escape with her cat, but she also finishes the job, by blowing the alien out the airlock in a risky gambit. Do you agree with our list? Who do you think is the smartest horror heroine? For more clever top tens published every day, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.
