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Based upon the book series by Goosebumps author R.L Stine, the Fear Street Trilogy is a three-week event in which one movie is released each Friday. Each film has its own characters and setting that is covered by one, overarching plot. Part One: 1994 follows a group of kids who are being stalked by three killers consumed by a town curse.
A NIGHTMARE ON FEAR STREET
Part Two is inspired by horror films such as Friday the 13th and Sleepaway Camp. Meanwhile, Part One is inspired by Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, even going as far as to share the same ’90s setting. It was fun to go back to what was probably one of the last greatest eras of slasher movies; Part One manages to capture the look and feel of the decade perfectly.
The film embraces the classic horror tropes and uses them effectively, but not in an imaginative way that we’ve never seen before. Instead, it feels so reminiscent of many other films and it felt like I had seen it before. However, the kills were very inventive and incredibly brutal.
As for the killers, I’m sure if I were to face them I would be scared shitless. However, watching them from the other side of the fourth wall I found them absolutely uninteresting. Yes, their kills were great and the bloody action they forced their victims through was great for a slasher movie. However, they won’t stick with you after you’ve finished watching Part One — and having already watched Part Two, they still have not stuck with me. Even as I write this review, I had to Google who the killers are because they had completely escaped my mind.
CHILDREN OF THE DAMNED
The main cast consists of children who can be annoying, but for the most part, they were fine. What will attract many people though is that in the centre of the main cast are two lesbians. They are among the most relatable and most interesting characters in the whole film. Their relationship grows naturally as the film progresses, with the help of the serial killers that they are trying to overcome.
The best thing about Fear Street is that no one is safe. It’s very much a horror movie that will keep you on your toes because at any moment any of the characters may meet a bloodily gruesome ending — even the children aren’t safe!
THE FINAL DESTINATION
To be honest, I didn’t really care for Fear Street Part One: 1994. Although, it has a lot of great moments and some of the most inventive kills in recent years. It also has a lot of potential going forward as a series. However, I do think this should have been edited into a miniseries because… well… I did get a bit bored. As far as I know, this is the first time Netflix has done such an experiment and I think the three-week release should have either been spread out with one film per month or released all in one day.
Stay tuned for our reviews on Fear Street Part Two: 1978 and Part Three: 1666 later this month!
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