A (Spoiler Free) Review of The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

By Sophie Saliba '23

Photo Courtesy of Goodreads

Over Fall Break, I read the Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix, which Goodreads ranked as the #1 Horror novel of 2021. It was placed higher than many renowned authors in the horror genre, such as Stephen King, Jennifer McMahon, and Stephen Graham Jones, and has enjoyed thousands of positive reviews and attention. After finishing The Final Girl Support Group, I cannot say I am as enthusiastic about it as I thought I would be; however, I can say I found it to be an overall enjoyable thriller from beginning to end.

It is narrated by the main protagonist, Lynnette Tarkington, who is one of six ‘Final Girls’ that meets for a monthly support group. A final girl can be defined as the ‘last one standing’ in a classic 70s, 80s, or 90s slasher horror film. She’s also the one who triumphs over the killer against all odds; however, somehow the antagonist lasts long enough to return for a second attack. Hendrix expands on this concept by crafting a story that explores what life would be like for a final girl attempting to live a normal life after finally triumphing over her monster. Lynnette’s story begins twenty-two years after a brutal massacre, and she has spent the last two decades living in fear and has been constantly preparing to become a target again. Her only connection to the outside world is the Final Girl Support Group, which is composed of five other girls with their own stories. As the group begins to crumble and Lynnette further begins to descend into her paranoia, a member of the group doesn’t come to a meeting. Lynette then embarks on a journey to stop a new murderer and protect her friends. It’s a story of strength, hope, and overall the resilience of women against all odds.

I enjoyed many parts of The Final Girl Support Group, such as the characters, writing style, and overall engaging plot - which was constantly moving and changing. The five primary final girls include Lynnette, Marilyn, Heather, Julia, and Dani, and each has their own unique backstory. I found each of these women to be likable in their own way, and while each of them experiences significant flaws and struggles, they each illustrate a certain kind of strength throughout the novel. Moreover, I especially enjoyed how each woman was a reference to classic horror films, such as Scream, The Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Friday the 13th. Hendrix did a phenomenal job when basing each girl off of one of these movies, while still staying true to his own story and building off of these well-known films. Furthermore, referencing these classic stories also humanized these final girls in a way that has not been done before, and raised the question of why their respective killers are glorified in modern society, and why people enjoy watching women terrorized in such brutal ways. I think this question is important to think about, and I also think that Hendrix does a great job in attempting to formulate an answer that both recognizes the glorification of classic cinematic killers and the violence against female protagonists, while also emphasizing the popular theme about the resilience of women and the importance of sisterhood in times when they are receiving little support.

For all of the above reasons, I thoroughly enjoyed The Final Girl Support Group; however, there were still parts of the novel that I had issues with. First, while I am always up for a fast-paced and moving plot line, the story sometimes felt a bit muddled and confusing. Hendrix ultimately did well at formulating strong plot twists, but it felt as if he was trying a bit too hard to surprise the reader instead of forming the story in a way that flowed well and still had unexpected turns. Second, he was constantly introducing new characters who were significantly important to the plot, which happened so often that it became difficult to keep track of everyone. Lastly, while I enjoyed the book overall, at times it read more like a movie than a novel, which I think was unintended on Hendrix’s part. I feel that this story would be much easier to follow and comprehend on film, and I am eager to see it adapted to be presented in the theater.

Ultimately, I found The Final Girl Support Group to be an engaging and enjoyable read from the very beginning, and also considered it to be an escape from the stress of midterms and assignments. Furthermore, Hendrix evaluates important themes about the representation of women in these films, and how we should consider these events in a real-world context in order to be better when combating violence against women. The writing style was relatively easy to understand and follow, which makes this thriller a great October read, especially during the school year. I highly recommend it to fans of classic horror films and those who are looking to explore this genre but want something a little lighter and easier to read.

Note: original image was replaced due to technical issues at 5:03 PM on August 24, 2024. The article was republished due to technical issues on date and time mentioned previously. The original publication date is October 27, 2021.