Mari Collingwood is a fictional character in The Last House on the Left series of films. Created by the writer and director Wes Craven, she is portrayed by Sandra Peabody in the 1972 original film and by Sara Paxton in 2009 remake of the same name. Making her debut appearance in The Last House on the Left (1972), Mari serves as the heroine; predating the characters of Nancy Thompson and Sidney Prescott who served as the protagonists of Craven's landmark series A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984-1987) and Scream (1996-2011), respectively. The 2009 incarnation of the character has been observed by some scholars to follow the "final girl" archetype, contrasting with her original depiction. Outside of film, Mari has appeared in merchandise based on the original film.