Now that Fear Street: Prom Queen is finally available to stream on Netflix, it's time to discuss some things. Has this new film swooped in and taken the crown as the best in the slasher franchise? Is it the killer comeback that slays every expectation and leaves the competition bleeding behind? For us, the answer is a firm no. In fact, we’d argue it’s the weakest entry in the Fear Street series, and honestly, it probably shouldn’t have been made if this is how it turned out.
It hasn't been long since the slasher was released, but you've probably already seen the bad reviews. We'd usually say that you should watch for yourself and make up your own mind, but in this case, the flaws are hard to ignore. There’s so much that misses the mark in this film, it’s tough to find a single redeeming quality. Okay, we'll be nice. The soundtrack at least brings a nostalgic ’80s vibe that fits the setting, offering a brief moment of enjoyment amid the many missteps. But that's pretty much it.
With acting that ranges from mediocre to questionable and a script that fails to deliver genuine scares and struggles to keep the story engaging, Fear Street: Prom Queen falls flat as a horror film, leaving audiences more bored than anything. While there are many gory kills scattered throughout, they feel uninspired and lack the creativity or tension needed to make them memorable.
Truthfully, nothing about this film leaves a lasting impression, and it all feels rushed and underdeveloped. Overall, Fear Street: Prom Queen is not worth your time one bit. You’re better off skipping this lackluster entry and sticking to the stronger Fear Street installments. But out of the three other movies in the franchise, which is the true standout? In our opinion, Fear Street Part Two: 1978 easily tops the series as the best installment and delivers everything a slasher fan could want.
In the summer of 2021, Netflix dropped Fear Street Part Two: 1978, the middle chapter in Leigh Janiak's ambitious trilogy, and it quickly became the standout for good reason. Set against the unsettling backdrop of Camp Nightwing, the film fully embraces the nostalgic summer camp slasher aesthetic popularized by Friday the 13th, but distinguishes itself by delivering a more emotionally resonant and narratively rich experience. While it pays homage to classic slashers with its brutal kills and isolated camp setting,1978 goes further by giving us complex characters we actually care about.
The story takes place in 1978 during one harrowing summer at Camp Nightwing, where a group of teenagers become targets of a mysterious killer tied to the dark, supernatural curse that has plagued the town of Shadyside for centuries. You have two sisters at the heart of the story, Ziggy and Cindy Berman, each dealing with family trauma and their own personal struggles.
Cindy is determined to uphold a picture-perfect image and eventually leave Shadyside behind, while Ziggy wears her outsider status like armor, fueled by anger and defiance. The tension between them adds emotional weight to the story, and as the terror at Camp Nightwing worsens, they’re forced to rely on each other in ways they never expected. With everything they went through with their dad leaving and their mom's drinking problem, you want the two sisters to make it through the nightmare together. But the darkness surrounding Camp Nightwing and the cursed legacy haunting Shadyside make survival anything but certain.
Besides the gripping story, there's so much more to love about 1978. There are the kill scenes that are both gruesome and creative, delivering just the right amount of shock for slasher fans. Then, there are the strong performances from the cast who breathe life into their characters and make the stakes feel real. The film also does a good job of wrapping viewers in an eerie, suspenseful atmosphere that’s equal parts thrilling and chilling.
Now, we're not saying the other two movies in the Fear Street trilogy aren't worth watching because each has its moments as well. However, there's just something about 1978 that hits differently. If you're only picking one film from the slasher franchise to watch, Fear Street Part Two: 1978 should be at the top of your list.
You can stream all four Fear Street movies on Netflix right now.