That’s right, folks – it’s Friday the 13th. Not only is it the second spookiest date of year (there’s no competing with Halloween), but it’s also the only Friday the 13th that we’ll be getting in 2025 – spooky, hey? If you don’t want to waste the eerie specialness of today, then there’s only one way to celebrate: a scary movie marathon. (Although – just one freaky film will suffice, if that’s more your speed.) We’ve bundled together five of our favourite final girls to grace the silver screen, so if you’re looking for a fearless lass to cheer on, peruse our selection below.

MIA – TALK TO ME Australian horror has had a recent resurgence in the past few years, thanks to twin-brother directing duo Danny and Michael Philippou. Amazingly, the pair’s directorial feature debut – 2023’s freaky supernatural flick Talk to Me – is A24’s second-highest grossing film… in the world. Come for the Australiana, stay for the supernatural possession. (Plus, there’s more where that comes from in the new Philippou flick Bring Her Back, which has just hit cinemas.) Mia – played by the talented Sophie Wilde – is a troubled teen dealing with all the usual complications of adolescence. Oh, and her friends have come into possession of an other-worldly hand that lets the user communicate with the dead. Mia is a selfless, strong and frankly funny last girl, hooking you into staying with her right until the very end. Watch it here.

THE GIRL – A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT This isn’t any old horror film. While 2014’s A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is primarily a spooky movie, it’s also a romance, coming-of-age, Western and vampire drama. Written and directed by the incredible Ana Lily Amirpour, this Farsi-language film manages to hit all the feels – as well as a jump scare here and there. Sheila Vand stars in the titular role of The Girl, donning all the typical mysteries of a vampiric figure, plus a bucketload of teenage-like lust. Admittedly, in some ways The Girl is both the monster and the final girl. However, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is ultimately more interested in playing with horror movie tropes than following them – and for that we love it. Plus, this killer flick has one heck of a soundtrack.

AMELIA – THE BABADOOK Before there was the Philippous, there was Jennifer Kent. The Australian director rose to fame in 2014 with her first film – and still one of the best Aussie horror flicks – The Babadook. This work of freaky art will scare your socks right off – if not for the spooky visuals, then defintely for the emotional turmoil. Don’t go into this movie thinking it’s just any other horror film – it’s not, thanks in part to the work of the legendary Essie Davis who plays Amelia. Burdened with grief after her husband was killed in a car accident, Amelia slowly but surely begins to unravel. Things take a very dark turn when her young son discovers a picture book about Mister Babadook. Suffice to say, chaos – meaning demented children and living nightmares – ensue. However, it’s the way Amelia confronts the monster in the end that adds the perfect cherry on the top of this spooky cake.

MAXINE – X As the first installment to be released in Ti West’s X trilogy, this slasher flick isn’t for the faint of heart. Led by the electrifying Mia Goth – who also appears as the titular characters in Pearl and MaXXXine – 2022’s X is 106 minutes of sex, cinema and crocs. Filled with references to the myriad of scary movies that have coloured the bloody-red genre before it, the undeniable best part of X is Mia Goth – and subsequently Maxine. In the midst of making a new life for herself, this final girl will stop at nothing to survive. And we mean nothing. Watch it here.

SUZY – SUSPIRIA If there was a horror movie hall of fame, Dario Argento’s 1977 (and original) Suspiria would be in it. This witchy supernatural flick stars Jessica Harper in the role of Suzy – a young American ballet student who moves to West Germany to study at a prestigious dance school. What ensues is a cacophony of nightmare fuel and daylight horrors. While that may sound like a freaky time, the cinematography, lighting and stellar colour treatment of the film will have your eyes glued to the screen. Plus, Suzy’s fight for survival and her battle with the mysterious monster is an incredible effort to be commended. Beware – the colour red will be seared into your retinas forevermore.

These spooky movie recommendations were published in partnership with Stan. Sign up to Stan and discover heaps more horror flicks over on their website.