'Fear Street: Prom Queen' Spoiler-Free Review.
Image Source: CultureSlate
Netflix’s newest addition to their Fear Street franchise has hit the streaming service, unfortunately, it would have been better for everyone if the film had stayed on the shelf. The first three films in the franchise, Fear Street Part One: 1994, Fear Street Part Two: 1978, and Fear Street Part Three: 1666, were well received by both critics and fans. For the newest installment, Netflix chose to adapt one of the Fear Street novels, Fear Street: The Prom Queen, into a film. Not only did the film not follow the book at all, but it also fell apart before the final twist could be revealed.
Fear Street: Prom Queen follows the Prom Queen candidates of Shadyside High’s class of 1988. Tensions are high as the prom nears, and the school’s queen bee, Tiffany, is doing everything she can to intimidate two of the candidates. By the start of the prom, one candidate is missing, and as the night drags on, candidates and their dates begin to vanish one by one. At the core of the film is the story of the Granger family. It was rumoured that Rose Granger murdered the father of her child, but she was never charged, and their prom was cancelled. Now, Lori Granger is running for prom queen, and her classmates make sure she doesn’t forget her family’s history.
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Image Source: IMDb
The film had some fun elements like a fantastic soundtrack and a great atmosphere. The overall film and sound quality, plus the special effects, make it feel like you are watching a film that was actually made in 1988. Aside from the fun campiness of it all, the film is a mess. It was made clear to fans that this film would not be tied to the trilogy, but at the beginning of the film we are shown scenes from the trilogy. Then, at the end of the film, one of the characters hums and carries a knife in the exact same way that Ruby Lane (a character in the trilogy) did.
These may have been placed as easter eggs for fans, but it ultimately leads to the film feeling confused, because Ruby killed herself in the 60s so it is not possible for her to be alive in 1988. Another issue with the film is that Netflix said they were adapting R.L. Stine’s novel into a film, but the film is nothing like the novel. The novel sees every kill happen days before the prom, and the killer is revealed before prom night. The killer’s identity also makes sense in the story, and their motive follows other aspects of the novel.
The film sees almost every single kill occur during the prom, and when the killer(s) is revealed, the motive not only makes no sense, but the final kills that occur at the prom are a complete deviation from everything the killer has done throughout the film. There are multiple twists throughout the last 10 minutes, but they are done in a way that is completely predictable and further takes away from the film.
I wanted to like this film so badly because I have been a Fear Street fan since the late 90s, and I love the trilogy, but there is nothing redeemable about this film. The ending and overall confusion of how it may or may not be connected to the trilogy ruins every positive thing that the film had going for it. I genuinely hope that Netflix makes another Fear Street film and either continues the trilogy since it was left open-ended or actually adapts one of the more than 50 books currently present in R.L. Stine’s iconic franchise. Even though I didn’t like this film, I would hate to see the Fear Street film franchise end on such a sour note.
Rating: 2/10
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