FEAR STREET: PROM QUEEN -- Stepping Back Into the '80s for a Slasher That's a Bit Too Goofy

Review by Jon Berk

Few authors have as much cachet with ‘90s kids as R.L. Stine. Whether you were a fan of Goosebumps or Fear Street, there is a good chance that he was an author that you’ve read. His film and TV adaptations have been mixed over the years, but in 2021, Netflix dropped three pretty solid films inspired by the Fear Street brand. The connected trilogy spanned three decades, but skipped over the ‘80s. Well, Director Matt Palmer’s Fear Street: Prom Queen fully embraces the ‘80s style, hair, music, and slasher films. 

Teenager Lori Granger (India Fowler) has lived in Shadyside with a bit of a horrible element hovering over her. The “It” girls, led by Tiffany Falconer (Fina Strazza), have made her life a living hell.  Lori’s best friend, Megan (Suzanna Son), is the only thing making this existence bearable. However, it's senior year, and Lori has thrown her name into the mix for Prom Queen. As if fighting with the popular girls wasn’t bad enough, some of the nominees vanish as the big day approaches. 

The film leans into the ‘80s camp a little too hard at times, making it feel quite silly. There are moments early in the film that immediately made this feel like an outlier compared to the first three films. While the original trilogy has some flaws, it felt like a great entry into the horror genre overall. For the most part, the new film feels more like an homage to the genre, rather than a stand-alone entry. Still, there is enough here as the film moves on to justify its addition to the Netflix catalog.

The cast is committed to delivering this tribute to the campy horror films of the past. Fowler, Strazza, and Son are all really great in their roles. Fowler has the charm to carry the film in the lead role. Megan is a horror fanatic, and the movie plays with that in some fun ways. One such way that stood out was this kind of dumb scene that still manages to find a laugh… however, part of that laugh was due to the teacher’s reaction, played by Chris Klein. Rounding out the cast, we find Lili Taylor, an ever-present force in horror, as the righteous principal of the high school, Katherine Waterston as Tiffany’s mother, and Ariana Greenblatt as one of the other surprise prom queen nominees. All of the performances work for the story being told, but that’s the other part that doesn’t fully connect. 

As noted, the film leans into the '80s slasher tropes. There is a murder, and it’s a solid enough kill scene. Despite these elements, the motivation and the following aftermath don’t really work. In fact, the motivation and pacing are part of the problem. The film takes a while with a few too many montages before establishing the mystery or any additional killings. While the audience is aware of the murder, the characters just shrug off the missing character as an unusual thing. However, it takes them quite a while to realize there is something worth investigating. The 90-minute film manages to drag on for a stretch before it really gets going. 

Fear Street: Prom Queen finally comes into the genre. The mystery mostly works, and the finale is solid enough. There are a few story elements that feel a little unresolved by the time the credits roll. The fact that it felt like it dragged too long, and yet leaves story elements unfinished, is bothersome. Fortunately, there is enough here to make it worth investing a view in, especially if you were a fan of the first three. 

Fear Street: Prom Queen is on Netflix 5/23. 

Rating: 2.5/5