Fear Street Part 1: 1994 review: "New Netflix horror is a fun throwback slasher" - colemanrefearintly

Our Verdict

A popcorn-hospitable repulsion romp, Fear Street is a colorful add-on to Netflix's catalog.

GamesRadar+ Verdict

A popcorn-friendly horror romp, Fear Street is a chestnut-coloured gain to Netflix's catalogue.

Grab your duvet and your best friends, we're passing back to the '90s for this highly nostalgic throwback slasher. Fear Street Part 1: 1994 – an R-Rated version of R. L. Stine's novels – has been made with teenage sleepovers, fastidious first dates, and every some other popcorn-hail-fellow-well-met situation in head. IT's a shame that much a kinetic horror movie will act on the small screen out, but Leigh Janiak's honey-coloured ode to Scream will no dubiousness exist a Netflix strike.

At least, the streamer hopes so. Trio Fear Street movies are being released over consecutive Fridays – an interesting strategy that's essentially turning this trilogy into a TV series. Whether the sequels can offer satisfying yield off stiff to be seen, simply, whatever the case, the first instalment works every bit a succinct tale about youthful love, murderers, and curses.

Kiana Madeira River leads the cast as Deena, a high schooler who lives in Shadyside (AKA "Shittyside"), a village sick by a severe event of serial killers. Every few old age, a Shadysider goes on a murderous rampage, and Fear Street Part 1: 1994 starts with a glibly recorded, sanguineous sequence where a fewer shopping centre employees run into their grisly end – and if you've seen the opening five minutes, already available on YouTube, then you'll greet one of the victims.

That's just the first prima Screeching callback (perhaps it's no surprisal that director Janiak helmed two episodes of that iconic movie's Video adaptation). And while the retreads of fated character tropes are predictable – yes, there's a character WHO loves likening the nightmare situation to their favourite horror movies – Fear Street is degressive in other ways.

At the centre of the story, Deena is pining after her ex, Surface-to-air missile, played past Olivia Welch, who has moved to the neighboring village of Sunnyside. The two are soon reunited and their push-pull relationship adds huge nitty-gritt to the horror – a genre that has failed LGBTQ+ representation on many another occasions. Fear Street puts this relationship at its center, progressing the horror pantheon that bit further.

Joining Deena and SAM are Benjamin Flores Jr.'s Josh, newcomer Julia Rehwald every bit Kate, and The Woman in the Window's creepy tyke Fred Hechinger equally Simon. They bring up a contagiously fun group who, though doing silly things like splitting up, at least try to justify their actions. There are moments where they become fully realised cliches, but the film's forward momentum stops you from overthinking the post.

The best Netflix movies
The best Netflix horror movies

With such a motley crew, plus this being a nostalgic flick, the Stranger Things comparisons are justified. Similar to how that Netflix series honed its '80s medley, Veneration Street does similar with the '90s. Almost every needle drop down volition have watchers of a certain age going, "Ah, yeah, I remember that incomparable," though a couple of are slightly too on the nose – Radiohead's "Creep" plays as Deena sulks on a omnibus tantalize, for instance.

At last, that only adds to the rake-covered tapestry Fear Street has plain-woven. Some of the scenarios may be a trifle barebones, decreasing into the Lapplander issues as the super Information technology Follows, and the two leading performances brink on becoming mopey, simply Fear Street will delight anyone lacking to sink into extraordinary '90s nostalgia or simply savor a Saturday night slasher. Summation, the closing nicely sets up the next instalment, which – fingers hybrid – testament be just every bit bloody playfulness.

Fear Street Part 1: 1994 is on Netflix from July 2, with the continuation Fear Street Part 2: 1978 available from July 9, and Part 3: 1666 moving from July 15. In the meantime, be sure to check out the best horror movies ever.

Care Street Part 1: 1994 brushup: "Unexampled Netflix horror is a fun throwback slasher"

A popcorn-friendly repugnance romp, Fear Street is a colorful plus to Netflix's catalog.

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Gettable platforms	Movie
Genre	Horror

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I'm the Amusement Editor program up here at GamesRadar+, delivery you completely the latest movie and Video news, reviews, and features, plus I look afterward the Total Motion picture and SFX sections and socials. I used to work on The Unconditional as a general culture writer before specializing in TV and film