One of the very few good things about the most recent Salem’s Lot remake was Jordan Preston Carter as Mark Petrie. This casting choice not only prevents the film from becoming another exclusively white Stephen King adaptation, but also gives us a smart, heroic, nerdy Black kid who lives because he quickly catches on to the vampire problem. Carter’s performance is amazing, which makes him one of the only reasons to watch this shaky film. He’s also one of the few younger actors in this (not nearly large enough) canon of Black final boys. In the last few years, we’ve seen Carter, Benjamin Flores Jr., in The Fear Street Trilogy, and Ayden Gavin in Mr. Crocket, do what few young Black actors get to do: Show up in a horror movie and play characters who live to tell the tale.
Even in the year 2025 of our Lord Ryan Coogler, too many horror movies refuse to leave white suburbia. The ones that do typically paint a white utopia in places like New Orleans and New York, of all places. So, there are not nearly as many opportunities for young Black male actors to land roles in the genre. Which is why the few who do get the chance to outrun Jason Voorhees, work with Wes Craven, or steal Michael Myers’ moment deserve to be celebrated. This streaming guide is here to do just that. Give these kids a hand as we continue to hope for better casting practices in our favorite genre.
Tyler Child’s Play 3 (dir. Jack Bender)
Played by Jeremy Sylvers
Where You Can Watch: VOD
Chucky has followed Andy to a military academy for children, where he reminds Andy that his hands are rated E for everyone. I don’t care what anyone says. This sequel sees Chucky at his most vicious as he has kids mow each other down. He also increases his body count with too many nameless children to count. Which is why it is truly awesome that Tyler (Jeremy Sylvers) survives this deadly ordeal. In my opinion, he’s the true final boy of this movie. I hope we see his character again in this franchise someday.
After watching Chucky chase Andy for two movies, it was time to shake things up. Not only was this new tiny and terrified kid just what the doctor ordered, but it also made the Child’s Play franchise that much cooler. I am still processing what it meant to me to see a Black kid hold a coveted Good Guy Doll. To have the beloved voice of Brad Dourif terrorizing someone who looked like people I knew still warms my cold little heart to this day. Sylvers brings a wide-eyed innocence and sense of wonder to this role that tugs at the heartstrings. His fear is palpable as he quickly discovers the toy he wanted is possessed by a murderer who has a sinister plan for him.
Reggie, Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (dir. Danny Steinmann)
Played by Shavar Ross
Where You Can Watch: VOD
Tommy Jarvis has not recovered from killing Jason Voorhees and is sent to a halfway house, where a new killing spree begins. This is not a great movie, but Shavar Ross as Reggie deserves all of the flowers. He and his red sweatsuit running through the woods in the rain is a core memory. It is also a huge moment in Black final boy history as he survived in this popular franchise that has never been kind to Black people.
Reggie was cool even before he faced off with Great Value Jason Voorhees. He knew everyone and seemed plugged into this boring scene as he gave Tommy the rundown. So, I love that he was not just another casualty of this lesser Jason. I also feel his reactions to finding all of these dead bodies were very relatable and even calmer than most of us would have been. After seemingly running through the woods forever, he was part of the team that took this deadbeat dad and killer down. I hope Ross knows he’s in the DNA of so many Black final boys that came after him.
Julian Morrisey, Halloween (2018) (dir. David Gordon Green)
Played by Jibrail Nantambu
Where You Can Watch: VOD
Laurie Strode and Michael Myers take their longstanding grudge match to a new timeline as this Blumhouse reboot rewrites their history. Fans might have shown up to see the pair throw hands, but walked out knowing a new star of the franchise had been born. Jibrail Nantambu’s Julian is the reason for this movie. Which is why fans were ecstatic to see him make a cameo in Halloween Kills.
Julian was an adorable kid who was unafraid to speak his truths. So, when he reacts to seeing Michael the way any sane person would, we cheered and laughed. Watching him toss his covers off and exclaim, “Oh, shit!” as he runs off is possibly the highlight of this storied trilogy. We see him look back and do his babysitter the kindness of lying about getting help before he runs off. He even tried to warn her boyfriend not to go upstairs on his way out. While this is a good movie on its own, it is memorable because of this Black final boy who immediately won us over.
Fool, The People Under the Stairs (dir. Wes Craven)
Played by Brandon Quintin Adams
Where You Can Watch: VOD
A kid gets talked into breaking into the home of his family’s heartless landlords and discovers a few upsetting secrets. He manages to barely escape with his life, but then returns to save the sinister couple’s daughter, Alice. Leave it to Wes Craven to be one of the first writer-directors in the 90s to give us an iconic Black final boy.
Brandon Quintin Adams brings a lot of heart to the role of Fool. He never lets us forget that his character is just a kid watching the system punish his family for being poor. So, I was one of the many children who related to him as I went on this disturbing adventure. Watching him discover the boys in captivity, befriend Alice, and decide he’s going to shut down this house of horrors is inspiring. I wonder how many of us learned that we have to do what’s right even when the cards are stacked against us from this character. I wish the genre had more Fools because some people missed that lesson while watching this movie.
Jason Wilson, Us (dir. Jordan Peele)
Played by Evan Alex
Where You Can Watch: Netflix
The Wilson family takes a vacation to the beach, where the matriarch suffered a traumatic event as a child. They soon find new terror awaits them when they discover they have doppelgängers who want to kill them. We discuss Lupita Nyong’o’s dual performances in this Jordan Peele masterpiece all the time. We are also in ongoing internet battles about what this movie is saying. However, Evan Alex is the undersung hero and Black final boy who deserves more of the conversation.
Alex brings a curiosity to this role that helps him become the audience’s eyes. Jason is smart, quick on his feet, and seemingly knows more than he is letting on. He figures out how to trick his doppelgänger and uses their tethered relationship to end him. He also sees his mother for who she truly is at the end of his harrowing journey. Many of us also argue about Jason’s wardrobe and masks being clues. So, his character is crucial to this story for a multitude of reasons. Not to mention, he is the youngest member of this family who will all need so much therapy if they ever find a new normal.
Is there a Black final boy you want to see get more attention? Let me know at Bluesky. Extra points if I haven’t seen the movie yet.
Categorized:News
