The Final Girls: A Horror Film Podcast

The Final Girls: A Horror Film Podcast

Author: Anna Bogutskaya Language: English Episodes: 100
For anyone who finds the dark corners of cinema fascinating, The Final Girls: A Horror Film Podcast offers a uniquely insightful space. Hosted by film critic and author Anna Bogutskaya, this weekly podcast isn't just about listing scares. Instead, it meticulously explores the rich and often overlooked history of horror in film and television, consistently viewing it through a vital female lens. Each series focuses on a specific trope, archetype, or theme, dissecting it with a scholarly yet accessible passion. Listeners will hear deep-dive conversations that trace these ideas across decades, examining how they reflect cultural anxieties and, importantly, how they have been subverted or reclaimed. The discussions go beyond surface-level analysis, offering context and criticism that challenges the traditional narratives of the genre. Tuning into this podcast means joining a thoughtful excavation of why horror resonates, who it has historically served, and the powerful women-both on-screen and behind the camera-who have shaped its legacy. It’s for those who believe the most terrifying stories often hold the most profound truths about our world.
Episodes
MACHINES 17 • The Matrix (1999) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:05
Plug into The Matrix with Anna and guest Becky Darke to discuss Y2K paranoia, long leather coats, the game-changing action scenes, and how hot everyone is in this film. Read Emily St. James' excellent piece on The Matrix…
MACHINES 16 • Ghost in the Shell (1995) + Perfect Blue (1997) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:01
Anime fan and Dread Central's Editor-in-Chief MaryBeth McAndrews pops in to educate Anna on two masterpieces of the genre: Ghost in the Shell (1995) and Perfect Blue (1997). Read MaryBeth's piece about how Perfect Blue p…
MACHINES 15 • Ringu (1998) + The Ring (2002) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:17
Blumhouse Games Creative Lead and friend of the pod Louise Blain takes the time to discuss her foundational videotape horror, The Ring (2002) and the original Ring (1998). New episode every Friday.Follow us on Letterboxd…
MACHINES 14 • Ghost in the Machine (1993) + Virtuosity (1995) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:36
The Ladykillers' Jenn Addams pop by to talk about a double bill of cyberpunk cult classics: Ghost in the Machine (1993) and Virtuosity (1995). New episode every Friday.Follow us on Letterboxd to see what films we're cove…
MACHINES 13 • The Lawnmower Man (1992) + Brainscan (1994) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:00
FANGORIA's Amber T joins Anna for an excellent chat about two questionable 90s relics: The Lawnmower Man (1992) and Brainscan (1994). New episode every Friday.Follow us on Letterboxd to see what films we're covering.Prod…
MACHINES 12 • Akira (1988) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:15
The Losers' Club co-host Rachel Reeves helps Anna unpack the brilliance of seminal cyberpunk anime Akira (1988). New episode every Friday.Follow us on Letterboxd to see what films we're covering.Produced and presented by…
MACHINES 11 • RoboCop (1987) + Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37:14
We welcome author Heather Parry to discuss two men-machine fusion fiestas: Paul Verhoeven's RoboCop (1987) and the cult Japanese horror Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1987). Buy Heather's book Electric Dreams: Sex Robots and the…
MACHINES 10 • Chopping Mall (1986) + Maximum Overdrive (1986) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:30
Acclaimed author Julia Armfield joins Anna to discuss a double-bill of not-so-acclaimed tech horrors from the eighties: cult classic Chopping Mall (1986) and Stephen King's only foray into filmmaking, Maximum Overdrive (…
MACHINES 09 • The Terminator (1984) + T2: Judgement Day (1991) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:35
Terminator superfan Dr. Sorcha Ní Fhlainn is back to discuss The Terminator (1984) and its perfect sequel Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991). New episode every Friday.Follow us on Letterboxd to see what films we're cover…
MACHINES 08 • Blade Runner (1982) & Blade Runner 2049 (2017) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:49
Vulture critic Roxana Hadadi joins Anna to debate one of the all-time greatest sci-fi movies, Blade Runner (1982) and its sequel Blade Runner 2049 (2017). New episode every Friday.Follow us on Letterboxd to see what film…