Black Female BFFs in Hollywood Horror Movies

I came across an interesting article on MadameNoire.com. The article championed some of Hollywood's most underrated black actresses. "True Blood's" Rutina Wesley was mentioned, in hopes that she would not be potentially typecast as a horror movie BFF. I found this reference rather interesting, as this particular role for black women in horror films has become quite prevalent over the years. There exists a long-standing joke about black people dying first in scary movies. Over time film directors appear to have become more sensitive-allowing African American characters to live a bit longer in their movies.

But out of this process has come a new type of character and horror: the black female BFF. Like other black characters in scary flicks, they are indeed expendable. These individuals are made to look nice, sensible, and helpful to the star of the movie. Doing so adds the necessary emotional touches to the film, and also helps to garner more sympathy for the character when she ultimately is killed. As such, there are quite a few black female celebrities who have played this type of character. Here are five:

Meagan Good

Many of you might remember Meagan Good from the 1997 hit "Eve's Bayou." But that wasn't the last time she was seen in a tense thriller. In fact she's portrayed the horror movie BFF on two different occasions. 2008 found her in "One Missed Call." But her character didn't stick around long. In fact, if you went to get popcorn during the first few minutes of the movie, you might have missed her altogether. In 2009, she found a new best friend in "The Unborn." She lived through much more of this film, but ultimately became part of the Victim Count.

Here's another actress who has portrayed the main character's best friend on a couple of occasions. In 1999, she was featured in "Stigmata" alongside Patricia Arquette. Several years later she got a chance to be Sandra Bullock's best friend in the 2007 thriller "Premonition."

Her role wasn't very big in 2005's "The Skeleton Key"-but recognizable all the same. As Caroline's (Kate Hudson) best friend Jill, she was the voice of reason as well as her key into the hoodoo underworld. Luckily, Jill is pretty smart to stay away from all the tomfoolery and actually makes it all the way to the end.

This list probably would not be complete without "The Ghost Whisperer" alum Aisha Tyler. Although this is a TV show instead of a movie, it is a grand example of how marginal the black female BFF role in horror really is. Tyler portrayed Jennifer Love Hewitt's partner in "supernatural crime." The series made it for five seasons, finally wrapping things up in May of 2010. Regrettably, Aisha's character kicked the bucket during the very first season finale.

In 1992, actress/director Kasi Lemmons took a turn as Virginia Madsen's best friend in the cult horror film "Candyman." This is perhaps one of the earliest horror movies in which a black actress was integral to the overall plot. But in true 90s horror film fashion, Kasi's character Bernadette becomes one of Candyman's unwilling victims.

SOURCES:

www.movies.yahoo.com

www.madamenoire.com

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