Netflix presents Fear Street Part One: 1994 streaming exclusively from 2nd July.
Synopsis
In 1994, a group of teenagers discover the terrifying events that have haunted their town for generations may all be connected — and they may be the next targets. Based on R.L. Stine’s best-selling horror series, FEAR STREET follows Shadyside’s sinister history through a nightmare 300 years in the making.
Review
I am not going to stand here and say that Fear Street Part One: 1994 is something we haven’t seen before; it feels incredibly reminiscent of classics like Scream (1996) and even recent hits like The Cabin in the Woods (2012). However, the first entry into the Fear Street trilogy adds something new to this crowded genre making it an incredibly enjoyable slasher movie. Here is why it is one that horror fans must check out this weekend.
Set in 1994, Fear Street Part One follows a group of teenagers who discover that the terrifying events which have haunted their town for generations are all connected – and that they may be the next targets.
The story itself is fairly formulaic and follows the same structure we have seen in horror movies at least one hundred times in the last fifty years but what makes Fear Street stand out from the crowd is its incredibly charming cast and interesting mythology.
From the very beginning we are introduced to the past of Shadyside and how its shady (no pun intended) past has led to the events of the movie. Every bit of information that is given is believable and never feels far-fetched.
The stakes are also really high from beginning to end too. You feel the sense of dread and terror throughout and know that any of the lead characters can be brutally killed at any given moment. Tension is built brilliantly and as you move into the final thirty minutes, the twists and turns caught me by surprise and made me question what will happen next in the trilogy.
However, I have to say that the first act is very weak compared to the rest of the movie. It starts right away with a brilliant sequence that is similar to the opening of Wes Craven’s Scream, yet after that it slows right down and turns into a B-level high school soap opera for twenty to thirty minutes. This is by far the weakest part of the movie but once it reaches a certain moment, Leigh Janiak’s horror flick shifts gears and sprints to the finish line in an engaging and exciting way.
The characters are all incredibly likeable too. At times, they may be overacting but that never pulled me out of the film. The chemistry between the five kids is great and you believe that they all are friends and their friendship is one of the reasons why this movie doesn’t become a generic horror movie. Kiana Madeira steals the show as Deena and her relationship with Samantha (played by Olivia Scott Welch) is at the core of the film and is a highlight amidst the blood and gore.
Verdict
Fear Street Part One: 1994 is a great start to a trilogy and I am intrigued to see what happens next. The blood and gore is dialled up to 11 and the terror is constant and had me on edge throughout. Leigh Janiak’s direction is great and the entire cast are so likeable. I can’t wait to see what will happen in Part Two.
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