The Best Heroes of Color in Horror Film & TV

All stories thrive when they’re told from multiple perspectives. The horror genre is no exception. Below, let’s look at 7 of the best heroes of color in horror film and television.

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Naru (Prey)

Naru from Prey is a force to be reckoned with. Trained as both hunter and healer in the Comanche Tribe, she is anxious to prove herself capable of taking down big game. She gets way more than she bargained for when the Predator lands on Earth. This extraterrestrial villain underestimates Naru big time, not recognizing her as a threat until she singlehandedly defeats it in one of the most brilliantly planned and executed action sequences of the franchise.

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Brianna Cartwright (Candyman)

Candyman’s Brianna Cartwright is a whole new kind of Final Girl. She’s wicked smart and independent. She prioritizes her own art career and immediately leaves her boyfriend when he starts getting strange and violent. She also doesn’t mess around with the Candyman legend until she learns the truth behind it. Then, she utilizes it to save herself from corrupt cops that end up blaming the victims for the terrible incidents that unfold.

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Seok-Woo (Train to Busan)

Seok-woo from Train to Busan is a great hero because he isn’t a great … anything … at first. A failure of a husband and a father, Seok-woo is selfish and career-oriented. He’s forced to step up to save his daughter during a zombie takeover. And then he shows truly astounding courage and altruism as he attempts to get everyone on the train to safety. His is an inspiring and heart-wrenching story of a man forced to change for the better during the worst circumstances.

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Chris Washington (Get Out)

Christopher Washington doesn’t want to be a hero. He just wants to have a normal life and a normal girlfriend, and a semi-normal visit to her wealthy family’s estate. Unfortunately for Chris, he must help a group of Black men and women escape when he uncovers a sinister science-fiction plot to take over their minds and bodies. Get Out is an intense tale of race relations and survival, and Chris remains one of Jordan Peele’s best protagonists to date.

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Lady Silence/Silna  (The Terror)

AMC’s critically acclaimed series The Terror features Netsilik folklore as a spiritual creature called Tuunbaq stalks European explorers. While the story could focus only on the men aboard Terror and Erebus, the show makes a point to include Silna. Known only to the men as Lady Silence, she is a brave and multifaceted character who attempts to bind Tuunbaq. She also isn’t afraid to stand up to Captain Crozier and his crew, especially as they continue to offend her.

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Sam and Tara Carpenter (Scream)

The Carpenter sisters, Sam and Tara, are the bold new Final Girls of the modern Scream franchise. It’s great to see a pair survive together, rather than the solo act — almost like a reverse Ghost Face® from the first Scream. And both girls’ personalities and stories complement each other’s extremely well, adding an excellent family dynamic to the films. If you love sibling bonds and sharp knives, you’ll love Sam and Tara Carpenter.

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C. Auguste Dupin (The Fall of the House of Usher)

Auguste Dupin stands out as an atypical hero. Soft spoken and driven, his heroism comes from talking, not fighting. He must play the long game in The Fall of the House of Usher, wherein corruption and greed generally win. Dupin never gives up, though. He makes this list because of his stubborn, awe-inspiring refusal to give in to injustice. His optimism is a breath of fresh air in horror media.

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Who are your favorite heroes of color in horror? Share your list at side.show/geekgroup or in the Sideshow Social Network, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!

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