Fear Street : Prom Queen

We’re at the point in time where, if you haven’t read a book by R.L. Stine, I honestly don’t know what you’re doing with your life. If you somehow missed the Goosebumps or Fear Street series, I have to assume you’ve been living under a rock—Mr. Stine was like a machine, constantly putting out book after book. With so many titles, it was only a matter of time before the movie adaptations followed. While some have been better than others, the Fear Street series has been delivering the goods so far. So, needless to say, when Fear Street: Prom Queen was announced, I was excited—and I’m happy to report, it did not disappoint.

Prom is always a highlight for any high school student, especially for those in the running to be crowned king or queen. At Shadyside High, that honor typically goes to the “it” crowd—a group of girls who call themselves the Wolfpack. The group is led by Tiffany (Fina Strazza), who thinks the world revolves around her, and includes her friends Megan (Suzanna Son), Melissa (Ella Rubin), and Debbie (Rebecca Ablack)—none of whom are exactly model citizens. Also in the mix are Christy Renault (Ariana Greenblatt) and Lori Granger (India Fowler), whose parents share a violent past. Not that any of that matters—everyone assumes Tiffany is going to win. But as prom night approaches, contestants begin disappearing. One by one, they’re eliminated. This year’s crown might go to the last girl standing—literally.

Written by Donald McLeary and Matt Palmer (the latter also directing), and based on the book by R.L. Stine, Fear Street: Prom Queen doesn’t overthink things. It sets the table quickly for the chaos in Shadyside. For me, the movie’s low point is its exposition-heavy start, where Lori explains the social hierarchy and who’s who. But after that, things pick up. With a lean 90-minute runtime, any slow moments don’t linger. Once it gets going, the pacing is strong—and, of course, there are some gloriously gory kills.

Fear Street: Prom Queen is, at times, a totally tubular slasher flick packed with gnarly violence. While I’d argue it doesn’t fully live up to the “fear” part of its title, it’s still a fun ride. A big part of that fun comes from the radical 1980s atmosphere, complete with big hair, questionable fashion choices, and a bitchin’ synth score from The Newton Brothers. I especially liked the performances from Suzanna Son and India Fowler—though the whole cast leans into the campy vibes in the best way possible.

In the end, I had a lot of fun with this one. In an era where disposable entertainment is more common than ever, (especially on streaming) Prom Queen may fall into that category—but it’s still worth a watch. I’m looking forward to more Fear Street films. Until then, spend a night at prom and enjoy this bloody blast from the past.