Witness the Beginning and End - Fear Street:1666

This July has been special. One that will be for the books. Leigh Janiak and Netflix have delivered a story that is so great and massive that it couldn’t be told with just one film. No, Netflix understood the audience they would have and already built in audience to let Leigh Janiak craft a sprawling epic filmed in Lord of the Rings style – all in the course of a few months. And it has paid off in spades.

With the ending of 1978, I was not sure where the story was going to go next. Yes, we were going to see the origin of the curse and Sarah Fier. But beyond that, it was wide open to what the story would be. That has been one of the strongest points of Fear Street, the cliffhanger endings.

We open after the recap in 1666 with a look at Sarah Fier and life in Union as she went about her business. It was interesting seeing all of the returning cast in a different yet familiar role as they now were portraying the Union townsfolk. And if this is their ancestors, it adds even more layers to the tragic events that had proceeded in the previous films.

The story is very ominious and tense. As a viewer, we already know how Sarah’s story plays out. It’s a story of a witch and a witch hunt. But they beautifully take all of our expectations and twists it in a massively unexpected way.

Then as the screen crashes to black, we are treated to one of the biggest surprises in this film. A new title card flashes and introduces the next segment of the film – Fear Street 1994 Part 2. I figured that we would see the present time return, but the way it is handled is beautifully.

I understand that many people could spoil what’s going on in the film. But this should not be spoiled. It’s such a large event that should be experienced. As such, I will not go any further into details.

With this trilogy of films, Janiak and Netflix have crafted a beautiful story. A story that is unrelenting and inclusive. The characters in these films would easily be side characters in other films. But here, they are treated with so much respect. And it shows how far we have come since the days of 90s horror.

This film alone could have crumpled under everything that came before it. But it doesn’t. It takes everything that we have seen and asks you to reconsider your thoughts on it. To look at things through a different perspective. Then it builds on the strengths of each piece of the story. And what’s left is a satisfying conclusion.

The Fear Street trilogy will be remembered fondly. They brought new things to the horror genre. Especially the way that films are made. It wouldn’t surprise me if Netflix sees the success and continues to venture further onto FEAR Street. While one story closes, there are many more that can be told. And I for one hope that we see this expanded into an anthology series.

Rating: 5 out of 5. This film lands the hat trick for this fantastic series. Highly recommended.

*Thanks to Netflix and Daily Dead for screener*

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Fier Strikes Again - Fear Street:1978

If 1994 was everything in that bizarre mashup, 1978 is still very much Blair Witch but now its met Friday the 13th/Sleepaway Camp meets Goosebumps. (The reason why say Blair Witch-ish is because of the through line with our resident witch, Sarah Fier.) This film is once again brilliantly handled by Leigh Janiak. They make no mistake with showcasing that this is the second part in our story. This way of presenting the story feels very new. Yeah, this isn’t the first time that we have been presented with a trilogy. But, with this format that Netflix presents, it’s a happy medium between film and television. And quickly, we are thrown back into the present day story of Deena and Josh’s journey and meeting C. Berman.

After our characters meet Berman, we are introduced to our new cast at Camp Nightwing in 1978. Sadie Sink and Emily Rudd are our Berman sisters. Both actresses do a fantastic job in this film with their performances. It led to the point where I personally wanted to see both of them make it to the end of the story, but as 1994 had previously stated – only one would make it to the end. For me, part of the big point was seeing which sister it was going to be and caring about both of them. Brandon Spink and Ted Sutherland also did a great job with presenting a new side to the characters that we know to be Mayor Goode and Sheriff Goode. That is definitely one of the stronger points of this film is seeing the Goode family history being explored a bit more. And something that I’m sure that we will be seeing with the upcoming Fear Street: 1666. McCabe Slye delivers an outstanding performance tho. One that literally had me wanting to see more of Tommy Slater. His performance had a very tragic aura to it as we see exactly how Sarah Fier works her ways.

Once again, Fear Streets delivers in the music department. It presents a greatest hits of the era. And one that had me smiling once again. But as great as it is hearing ‘Carry On My Wayward Son’, the film’s orchestral score is where its at. It channels that ‘Friday the 13th’ feel in such a good way that I, for one, have been missing.

The continuity of this film and this series so far has been outstanding. Everything plays out like a beautiful puzzle as I pieced together things that were presented in 1994 and seeing how they played out in 1978. Or seeing one character in 1994 and how they connect to the overall story as we are reintroduced to her in 1978. I am hoping that we will see more of this in 1666. And I am almost certain that we will. The lore of Sarah Fier and Fear Streets is brought to another level in this film as well. Things that were introduced in 1994 are expanded or twisted into something that I never could have seen coming. And there was also a small ‘Stranger Things’ vibe to this installment. Especially because of one particular thing that happens.

While talking with my partner after the film had ended, a big highlight for us was the way the horror was presented. It was presented very tastefully. There have been other films that will show anything and everything that happens to a character. But here, its very refreshing as we are brought back to the filmmaking ways of old where glimpses are shown or the aftermath of events would be shown offscreen. This is a brilliant way that helps differentiate this series from many in this modern era of horror.

As the film came to a close, I was literally on the floor once again. The film just took everything that I thought was going to happen and turned it on its head. Ultimately leaving me wanting to know what was going to happen next. My partner also looked at me and was like ‘So we’re gonna be able to watch it tomorrow right?’. I sadly had to break the news that it was going to be a few days before could see the conclusion to the story. And that is a great testament to what this series has been doing so far. Delivering everything that could wish for and then leaving wanting more.

At the end of the day, I hope that when these films finish this particular story. They are able to do more with Fear Street. Tell more stories and turn it into an anthology series. There is a lot that can be done with this. And it’ll be fantastic to see what they deliver next.

RATING: 5 out of 5. It continues to blow away the expectations in such a fantastic way.

Fear Street Part One: 1994 and Fear Street Part Two: 1978 now available to stream on Netflix.

*Screener was provided by Netflix with the help of DailyDead’s Fear Street Contest.

FEAR STREET | A Film Trilogy Event Credit: Netflix

Sypnosis:

Shadyside, 1978. School’s out for summer and the activities at Camp Nightwing are about to begin. But when another Shadysider is possessed with the urge to kill, the fun in the sun becomes a gruesome fight for survival.

Fear Street 1978 starring Sadie Sink, Emily Rudd and Ryan Simpkins. Directed by Leigh Janiak. Screenplay by Zak Olkewicz and Leigh Janiak. Story by Phil Graziadel.

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Welcome to Shadyside - Fear Street:1994

In the 90s, R.L. Stine was known mostly for his Goosebumps books. Yeah, there were some other books that he had done. But I knew mostly Goosebumps. And man, I am a bit sad that hadn’t dived into the Fear Street novels during those days.

In 2015, R.L. Stine had a resurgence due to the success of the Goosebumps film. Which I’ll admit that I even found something to enjoy from it. But I wished that it was a bit darker.

My wish was granted with Netflix’s summer event – Fear Street.

The first chapter in this trilogy Fear Street Part 1: 1994 landed this past Friday on the streaming giant.

This film is something special. It is honestly the first fun film that I have watched in a very long time. It’s a callback to the 90s films of old that were fun. They didn’t care to take themselves too seriously. They were there to entertain and give us characters we can relate to and care about.

1994 gives us characters to care about in spades. Each of the performances in the film just oozes 90s love. One of the strongest characters in the film is Josh (played by Benjamin Flores Jr.). He has so much heart. I found myself rooting for Josh so much throughout the film. Deena (Kiana Madeira) and Sam (Olivia Scott Welch) were the next standouts. The story between them is one that had me deeply invested in what would happen with them.

The score and music used in the film was great. It helped the 90s nostalgia train a running as it felt like a greatest hits soundtrack. It was also great hearing Marco Beltrami score again.

This film is a gem. It encapsulates everything that was great about 90s horror. All of the references and easter eggs are a complete love letter to the genre. And it leaves me wanting to see what happens in the next chapter – FEAR STREET Part 2: 1978.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

It was directed by Leigh Janiak and starring Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr., Julia Rehwald and Maya Hawke.

Synopsis: A circle of teenage friends accidentally encounter the ancient evil responsible for a series of brutal murders that have plagued their town for over 300 years. Welcome to Shadyside.

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