An advantage of making low-budgt horror films is that they do not require a high-powered Hollywood star to find a market. However, horror films do have a star brand of their own that legions of fans appreciate - the "scream queen." This term has been used for decades - some will remember Fay Wray in the original King Kong. Back then, heroines were typically portrayed as victims who needed rescuing by strong male leads. Although endowed with the same set of lungs, today's scream queen is strong clever, and independently able to handle danger. A scream queen can be a lead or a victim, so she doesn't always survive.
What has not changed over time is the love for this archetype, and it is a worthy consideration for low-budget horror films. Some memorable scream queens include:
Janet Leigh - Psycho
Marilyn Burns - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Heather O'Rourke - Poltergeist
Jamie Leigh Curtis - Halloween
Drew Barrymore - Scream
Who would you add to this list?
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