An indie horror film that takes the subject of the 'final girl' in a slasher movie and runs away with it. This seems to be a popular subject matter for low budget filmmakers in recent years with LAST GIRL STANDING exploring similar territory. However, FINAL GIRL is something different, a spoofy type thriller involving a fragile-looking young girl who is trained into becoming a killing machine.

Sadly, this cheapie isn't as interesting as it sounds. The lack of budget is painfully apparent in the fake-looking backdrops to the action and the general lack of realism that accompanies the production. Most of the time it's just a couple of actors taking against a black background. Wes Bentley (AMERICAN BEAUTY) is the name actor in this but he really deserves better material instead playing his usual quirky character. As the heroine, Abigail Breslin gives a hollow and uninteresting turn. Alexander Ludwig, star of VIKINGS, also plays in support. There's a little bloodshed here but also a lot of fake CGI and the like which spoilt the experience for me.

Being aware of movie tropes and cliches is one thing. Trying to take them apart and create something clever is quite the task on the other hand. One that might sound easy on paper and fun as an overall idea, but is really difficult to actually realize.

Having said that, without the actors at hand, this probably would have ended even worse. While the obvious and quite predictable "story" unfolds, we tag along for the ride. Now maybe if you have not seen many horror movies or movies in general, you may be smitten more by certain things ... even then though I think you would get annoyed by the movie sooner rather than later. Blood and gore and violence overall - well you wouldn't be able to do the movie without them. The ending is almost so rewarding though (in a sense),that it almost saves the movie

My spoiler free review for The Bloody Asylum that can be found at WordPress, Mr Geeky blog:

This gem of a film initially came to my attention because of Abigail Breslin being the lead. Anyone who knows me will know that one of my favourite films is the unjustly underrated Maggie from 2015, in which she co-starred alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Abigail Breslin despite being only in her 20s has been acting for nearly 20 years. Her first feature film role was in M. Night Shaymalan's Signs way back in 2002. She then went on to appear in the highly acclaimed Little Miss Sunshine, Oscar nominated for her scene stealing performance. However, she is more widely known by horror fans for Zombieland and the series Scream Queens.

The final girl, as horror fans will know, refers to the last female survivor of most slasher films. The title Final Girl intentionally wrong foots the audience, being a film that is quite a bit different from that which its title suggests, feeling unique and very unpredictable. It combines elements of the slasher genre, along with La Femme Nikkita, and The Most Dangerous Game in the World. The film-makers take the expected genre tropes of these films, yet gives them an unexpected spin. Although it does use some slasher conventions there is very little blood and gore. The story itself is told in a linear form, whereas the feeling is a non-linear narrative would have added more of a mystery to the events as they unfolded.

While it does have some faults, Final Girl is a really solid debut feature film from photographer Tyler Shields that overcomes these faults. The really impressive aspect is look of the film, so obviously from the eye of a photographer. However, while at times stunning to look at the film would have benefited from a more grittier feel.

The real strength of the film lies with the cast. Abigail Breslin, Wes Bentley of The Hunger Games and American Beauty, and Alexander Ludwig, more widely known for the TV series The Vikings and The Hunger Games, being the standouts. However, a little more depth to the characters would have made the film as a whole as engaging as the performances.

The Final Girl is a hugely enjoyable film with some depth to its themes. At times it feels like it is spoofing the genres of film it references, but made by fans of those genres. At 80 minutes long it rattles along and is never boring.

For those looking for something that is a little different and unpredictable you could do far worse.