Sidney Prescott: "Final Girl"

 For those unfamiliar with the term, a "final girl" is the last surviving female character in a horror movie. She's typically the one who faces off against the killer and manages to outsmart or defeat them, often through her own wit and resourcefulness.

Sidney Prescott, the main character of the "Scream" franchise, is one of the most iconic final girls in horror movie history. Let's take a closer look at why she stands out from the rest.

First and foremost, Sidney is a complex and fully realized character. Unlike some final girls who are little more than damsels in distress, Sidney is a well-developed protagonist with her own fears, strengths, and vulnerabilities. She's smart, resourceful, and able to take care of herself, but she's also dealing with her own personal traumas and struggles throughout the series.

Another thing that makes Sidney stand out is her ability to fight back against her attackers. In the "Scream" franchise, the killers often target Sidney specifically because she's a survivor. But despite the odds against her, Sidney never backs down. She's a fighter who's willing to do whatever it takes to protect herself and those she cares about.

But what really sets Sidney apart from other final girls is the way she subverts the genre's tropes and expectations. In the first "Scream" movie, Sidney is initially presented as a typical horror movie victim, but as the story progresses, she becomes more and more empowered. She takes control of her own story and refuses to be a passive participant in her own fate.

Sidney also challenges traditional gender roles in horror movies. While many final girls are presented as meek and helpless, Sidney is a strong and capable woman who refuses to be a victim. She's a role model for young girls and women, showing that it's possible to be both feminine and powerful.

Finally, Sidney's character arc throughout the "Scream" franchise is one of the most satisfying and well-developed in horror movie history. She starts out as a traumatized teenager who's struggling to come to terms with her mother's death, but by the end of the series, she's a strong and resilient survivor who's able to face her past and move forward.

In conclusion, Sidney Prescott is the best final girl in horror movie history because she's a complex, fully realized character who challenges the genre's expectations and subverts traditional gender roles. She's a fighter who refuses to be a victim and a role model for young girls and women everywhere. Her character arc is one of the most satisfying in horror movie history, and her ability to fight back against her attackers makes her an inspiration to audiences everywhere.