Release Date: May 23, 2025 | Runtime: 90 minutes | Director: Matt Palmer | Writers: Matt Palmer, Donald McLeary | Starring: India Fowler, Suzanna Son, Fina Strazza, Katherine Waterston, Lili Taylor, Chris Klein | Streaming: Netflix
Netflix’s Fear Street: Prom Queen, the fourth installment in the Fear Street franchise, promised a bloody, nostalgic plunge into the cursed town of Shadyside, Ohio, set during the vibrant prom season of 1988. Adapted from R.L. Stine’s 1992 novel The Prom Queen and directed by Matt Palmer, this standalone slasher aimed to recapture the magic of the 2021 Fear Street trilogy, which dazzled audiences with its inventive period-spanning horror and interconnected lore. Unfortunately, Prom Queen stumbles, delivering a lackluster and predictable addition that fails to live up to its predecessors’ charm or terror.
A Familiar Setup with a Tired Execution
Set in 1988, Fear Street: Prom Queen follows Lori Granger (India Fowler), a meek outcast at Shadyside High, who dares to compete for the coveted prom queen title against the ruthless “Wolfpack,” a clique of mean girls led by the vicious Tiffany Falconer (Fina Strazza). As prom night approaches, the competition turns deadly when a masked killer in a red rain poncho begins targeting the prom queen candidates, leaving Lori and her horror-obsessed best friend, Megan Rogers (Suzanna Son), to navigate a night of bloodshed and betrayal. The film’s premise, rooted in classic ‘80s slasher tropes, teases a campy, gory throwback with a modern twist, but it struggles to deliver on both atmosphere and scares.
The story opens with a voiceover from Lori, who hints at her cursed family legacy—her mother is rumored to have killed her father on prom night years earlier. This sets the stage for a tale of small-town animus and high school rivalry, but the script, co-written by Palmer and Donald McLeary, rushes through character introductions, leaving little room for emotional investment. The film’s attempt to balance teen drama with horror feels toothless, with catty exchanges lacking bite and kills that rarely shock. Unlike the trilogy’s memorable set pieces (like the iconic bread slicer kill in Fear Street: 1994), Prom Queen’s violence feels restrained and uninspired, save for a few inventive moments, such as a kill involving a guillotine paper cutter.
A Cast Struggling with Clichés
The ensemble cast, featuring rising stars like India Fowler and Suzanna Son alongside veterans like Katherine Waterston, Lili Taylor, and Chris Klein, does what it can with a script that leans heavily on archetypes. Fowler’s Lori is a serviceable final girl, marked by her doe-eyed resilience, but she lacks the agency or complexity of the trilogy’s protagonists. Son’s Megan, a horror nerd with a rebellious streak, injects some energy, particularly in a quirky dance-off scene to Laura Branigan’s “Gloria,” but her character is sidelined by a narrative that prioritizes predictability over depth. Strazza’s Tiffany is a caricature of a mean girl, her jealousy-driven antagonism feeling more cartoonish than menacing. The adult actors, including Waterston and Klein as Tiffany’s status-obsessed parents, are underutilized, with Taylor’s stern Vice Principal Brekenridge barely registering.
A Missed Opportunity for ‘80s Nostalgia
One of Prom Queen’s biggest draws was its promise to evoke the neon-soaked, synth-heavy vibe of ‘80s slashers like Prom Night or Happy Birthday to Me. Director Matt Palmer, known for his taut 2018 thriller Calibre, cites influences like Sleepaway Camp and Scream, but the film fails to capture the outrageous aesthetics or brutal violence of its inspirations. The cinematography is often criticized for its dim lighting, which obscures the era’s signature style, and the costumes—described as lackluster A-line skirts and bodices—miss the flamboyant kitsch of authentic ‘80s prom fashion. While the soundtrack delivers some crowd-pleasing needle drops, these elements alone can’t salvage the film’s lack of visual flair or tonal conviction.
The killer’s reveal, a pivotal moment for any slasher, is another sore point. Without spoiling specifics, the unveiling of the masked assailant—clad in a costume reminiscent of I Know What You Did Last Summer—feels telegraphed and unoriginal, lacking the shock or emotional weight of the trilogy’s supernatural twists. Critics and fans alike have lamented the abandonment of the book’s killer, Simone Perry, for a resolution that feels “lazy” and “ludicrously over-the-top.” The absence of the trilogy’s broader mythology, which tied the films to Shadyside’s cursed history, further disconnects Prom Queen from the franchise’s roots, making it feel like a generic slasher with a Fear Street label slapped on for brand recognition.
Critical Reception and Fan Disappointment
Upon its release on May 23, 2025, Fear Street: Prom Queen debuted to a disappointing 27% on Rotten Tomatoes, the lowest score in the franchise, a stark contrast to the trilogy’s 80%+ ratings. Critics have called it “tired and uninspired,” “a drab, muddled mess,” and “a betrayal of the franchise’s core themes,” citing its reliance on clichés, weak character development, and lack of genuine scares. Fan reactions on X echo this sentiment, with posts describing it as a “disgrace to the trilogy” and a “poor simulation of an ‘80s slasher,” with some pointing to the absence of original director Leigh Janiak as a key factor in its failure. However, a few defenders, like Collider’s Luna Guthrie, praise its “energetic soiree” and the performances of Fowler and Waterston, suggesting it’s a “solid enough teen slasher” for fans of the genre.
A Glimmer of Hope for the Franchise
Despite its shortcomings, Prom Queen isn’t a total loss. The film’s brisk 90-minute runtime keeps it from overstaying its welcome, and moments like the aforementioned dance-off and a few well-timed kills offer fleeting entertainment. For fans of R.L. Stine’s Fear Street books, the adaptation of The Prom Queen—the first film to directly adapt a specific novel—carries some nostalgic appeal. Additionally, R.L. Stine and Netflix have confirmed three more Fear Street films are in development, raising hopes that the franchise can rebound with fresh stories or a return to the trilogy’s interconnected lore. Suggestions from fans, like incorporating campier Goosebumps-style elements or exploring more of Shadyside’s cursed past, could steer future installments back on track.
Should You Watch It?
Fear Street: Prom Queen is a letdown for those expecting the vibrant, inventive horror of the 2021 trilogy. Its predictable plot, lackluster kills, and failure to capitalize on its ‘80s setting make it a skippable entry for all but the most dedicated slasher enthusiasts. If you’re a fan of Carrie or Heathers knockoffs, you might find some charm in its nostalgic trappings or the earnest performances of its young cast. Otherwise, you’re better off revisiting the original trilogy or diving into classic ‘80s slashers for a more satisfying scare. As one X user put it, “The crown may glitter, but this prom queen is all tulle and no terror.”
Rating: 2/5 stars
