Fear Street: Prom Queen

REVIEW:

I was a huge fan of the first three Fear Street movies. When Netflix released them weekly back in 2021, it felt like a real event, a horror trilogy that kept audiences coming back each Friday for the next chapter. You didn’t have to wait two years for a sequel, and the clever use of three different time periods allowed for completely different types of horror while maintaining one overarching story. So when I heard we were getting another Fear Street, I was genuinely excited to return to Shadyside and see how this next entry would expand the lore.

I must admit, due to a busy period in my life, I didn’t get around to watching Fear Street: Prom Queen upon release. But since it’s spooky season, I thought it was the perfect time to finally sit down and watch it. However, because it’s taken me a while, I’ve already seen the wave of negative reviews online. I tried my best to go in with an open mind, but one review did pose an interesting question, “Have people forgotten how to enjoy a movie?” It made me stop and think about whether Prom Queen is truly a bad film. And honestly, I don’t think it is. It’s not bad, it’s just disappointing.

This story takes place in 1988, nestled between the events of Fear Street: 1994 and Fear Street: 1978. That instantly got me wondering whether this would connect to the town’s curse and Sarah Fier. Sadly, beyond a few brief mentions and a quick recap clip at the start, there’s no real tie to that mythology. A mid credits scene tries to bridge the gap, but it actually ends up creating a plot hole because the killers here are fully aware of their actions, unlike the possessed, controlled killers of the earlier films. That inconsistency pulled me out of the story and made the film feel disconnected from the established universe.

It also feels noticeably different in tone and style, which is a shame. You can tell this was made by a completely different creative team. Gone is the eerie cohesion and tight direction Leigh Janiak brought to the trilogy; instead, Prom Queen feels more like a standalone slasher that just happens to share the same name. The energy, the pacing, even the dialogue, it’s missing that signature Fear Street bite. It’s frustrating, because when a franchise builds a certain identity, you expect a level of consistency, and this film doesn’t deliver that.

The only saving grace is the gore, and there’s plenty of it. The kills are brutal, bloody, and at times creative enough to make you wince. The movie also boasts a great 80s soundtrack, which fits the prom setting perfectly. But outside of that, the story and its characters are painfully weak. There are several continuity issues too, such as Megan’s tie changing between shots, which is something I’d expect from a low budget slasher, not a Netflix production. These small but noticeable mistakes make the film feel rushed and undercooked.

It’s clear the film is paying homage to 80s horror staples like Prom Night and Carrie, and while I appreciate the nods, those movies were never personal favourites of mine. Much like them, Prom Queen struggles to balance its campy charm with genuine horror. The killer’s motivations are both stupid and uninspired, making the finale land with more of a shrug than a scream. What could have been a fun return to nostalgic horror instead comes off as a hollow imitation.

At times, it feels more like a teen drama with a few murders sprinkled in than a true horror movie. Characters come and go without purpose, and the story never digs deep enough to make you care who lives or dies. It’s not that the filmmakers didn’t try, you can see flashes of effort in the production design and the occasional tension filled scene, but it all gets lost under weak writing and surface level scares.

Author R. L. Stine has said that three more Fear Street movies are in the works, and I sincerely hope Netflix brings back writer and director Leigh Janiak for those. The original trilogy had heart, vision, and a genuine love for the genre. Fear Street: Prom Queen feels like a detour that forgot what made Shadyside special. Every horror franchise has its weaker entry, this just happens to be Fear Street’s.