Bullet Points: Fear Street: Part One – 1994

When you think of R.L. Stine, I am sure a lot will first think of Goosebumps. The next time I hear someone mention R.L. Stine, my first thought will be Fear Street.

Netflix will release Fear Street Part One: 1994 on July 2nd, 2021. 

• The Plot: The first in a trilogy of films to hit Netflix in the coming weeks, Fear Street Part One: 1994 focuses on a group of teenagers who discover the horrific events in their small town of Shadyside have a sinister secret behind them. The worst part? It looks like they are the next targets. Fear Street Part One: 1994 stars Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr, Julia Rehwald, Fred Hechinger and Maya Hawke. It is directed by Leigh Janiak. R.L. Stine’s Fear Street books are adapted to the screen by Kyle Killen and Phil Graziadei. Leigh Janiak does double duty by contributing to the screenplay as well. 

• The Opening: Fear Street Part One: 1994 has the most exciting opening to a slasher I have seen since Scream. I do not want to spoil your viewing, but the beginning should get you pumped up for the rest of the movie. Fear Street likes to play homage to different films, and I noticed nods to Wes Craven’s Scream and John Carpenter’s Halloween very early on. 
• The Mood: It is 1994 and the movie looks, feels and sounds the part. It starts with the soundtrack. Nine Inch Nails starts us out with “Closer”, and you get other crowd pleasers such as White Zombie’s “More Human Than Human”, Bush’s “Machinehead”, Cypress Hill’s “Insane In The Brain” and Radiohead’s “Creep”. The film does great with keeping the music as songs the characters would have listened to if they were real teenagers in 1994. 

• The Gore: If you are a slasher fanatic, you should be foaming at the mouth for Fear Street. The kills keep coming, and trust me, the gore will make gorehounds howl with delight. There is nothing kid friendly with the killings. Are you excited yet?
• The Cast: You need good characters to try and survive a slasher, and Fear Street gives you multiple to root for. The standouts for me are Kiana Madeira’s Deena, Benjamin Flores Jr.’s Josh and Fred Hechinger’s Simon. In order to have a great slasher, you should give a damn if the characters survive. I did care, and I believe that is something great.

• Closing it Out: I have been waiting for the next Scream since 1996. A slasher that will change the genre forever. While I am not convinced Fear Street Part One: 1994 is the next Scream, it is definitely a must watch for fans of the slasher genre. Netflix, you have my attention. Bring on Part Two!
• Grade: A-