The Trailer:
Director: Tyler Shields
Cast: Abigail Breslin, Wes Bentley, Alexander Ludwig, Logan Huffman, Reece Thompson, & Cameron Bright
Plot Synopsis: William (Wes Bentley), a man who lost his wife and child to a murderer, trains Veronica (Abigail Breslin) from her childhood into her late teens how to be an assassin. As part of her final test to prove her capabilities to William, she must kill a group of teenage boys— Jameson (Alexander Ludwig), Danny (Logan Huffman), Nelson (Reece Thompson), and Shane (Cameron Bright)— who like to lure young, blonde women to a woods and then hunt them in the name of fun.
This is a film for people who appreciate aesthetic over content. If you go into this film simply for the story, you will be disappointed. Not that the plot isn't interesting, but it's not the strongest attribute about the film. Final Girl is a cinematic swirl lollipop: delicious and pretty to look at.
Let's first start with the plot. While not the strongest story, or most plausible, it is still intriguing. After her parents were murdered, Veronica meets William and is quickly vetted into becoming an assassin. William mentions that he is working for an organization, but it's never stated what organization and we never meet anyone else from it. So in the beginning of the film, we see a bit of Veronica's training with William. He trains/tests her in fighting, physical tolerance, and mental endurance. Though they have garnered a kind of parent-child relationship, it seems to have become more intimate as Veronica grows older (the feelings are one-sided though, as it seems William doesn't reciprocate her feelings). While seeing Veronica's training, we are also introduced to the boys (who I will refer to as the Tuxedo Boys when speaking of them collectively, as they wear tuxedos during their hunts) and their hunting habits. As Veronica's last test of training, she must become the Tuxedo Boys next victim in order to subdue and kill them. Simple enough, right? Nothing spectacular or groundbreaking, but a decent story nonetheless. There are a few details that make little sense, but I won't get into them. They're small details that can easily be overlooked, especially if you're watching out of admiration for the cinematography.
The acting is great. Abigail Breslin has proved time and time again that she is a great actor in her various roles, but this role of Veronica might be favorite. She is cunning, manipulative, and calculated while appearing as innocent as a lamb. Wes Bently doesn't spend too much time on screen, but the moments he does, as William, he is cold and distant, but gives of the impression that he genuinely cares about Veronica. The Tuxedo Boys are the best characters of Final Girl. Together, they're great: they're sadistic, a pack of hungry wolves. But apart, they are even better. Alexander Ludwig plays Jameson, the leader of the gang. He is the one who scouts for new girls to hunt, he is the one who lures them in. He is charming, handsome, but ultimately un-sympathetic. Logan Huffman plays Danny, a maniacal man with a winning smile. He is my favorite, not only because of his rockabilly vibes, but because he is totally unhinged in all the best ways. He doesn't attempt normalcy, he allows his crazy to out, front and center. And I love it. Cameron Bright plays Shane, the most human of the group. He is the only one with a girlfriend, proof that he isn't a complete monster like the others because he genuinely cares about her. His relationship with his girlfriend grounds him despite him being a murderous madman. And lastly, the creepiest of the bunch: Nelson played by Reece Thompson. Not only does he have a weird (perhaps incestuous) relationship with his mother, but he is a quiet, subdued sociopath. He enjoys what he does, internally and not externally like the others. He savors the kills to himself. Each actor portraying the Tuxedo Boys does a phenomenal job at their characters, they're convincing, sometimes so insane they seem like caricatures of what evil looks like.
Now for the pièce de résistance: the gorgeous, aesthetically pleasing look and style of Final Girl. After watching the film, I found out that this is director Tyler Shields debut, and he's a photographer. Which is quite apparent as all the scenes are attractively shot. There is this beautiful mix of wide shots and up-close shots, each fantastic in their own rights. The wide shots are great in the way that they capture the large emptiness of the various spaces used throughout the film. Not only are the spaces empty and uninhabited looking, Shields makes great use with lighting the spaces to create daunting shadows. It gives of a film noir vibe. Just look at this gif from the film:
Gorgeous, isn't it? Look at those shadows, and the utilization of the space: it's empty but not without purpose Some of my favorite lighting choices are in the woods. The woods are dark, foggy, and tangled. And there are these large beams of light that come, seemingly, from nowhere creating yet again these dark shadows and silhouettes. The lights also create this provocative, horrific sense of intrigue. It' sexy and dark, just what I like. Then there are these amazing up close, head on shots of the characters during dialogue. It's like a light is trained right on their face and they look directly into the camera, it's disconcerting but also perfect for this film. Additionally, there are scenes which include hallucinatory images that are creepy but not too over-the-top trippy, you know? *Sigh* I just can't get over how amazing tho overall film looks.
Overall, while the plot is interesting it's not entirely original but still watchable. It's the cinematography, the looks, the aesthetic that leaves me speechless and wanting more. I will be patiently (impatiently is probably the better term) for Tyler Shields' next project, film, short. Whatever he makes, I will watch it and hopefully enjoy it as much as I enjoyed Final Girl. Would I watch it again? Yes, repeatedly.
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