Fear Street: Prom Queen Disappoints with Weak Killer Reveal and Family Motives

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Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for Fear Street: Prom Queen.

Summary

  • Fear Street: Prom Queen’s disappointing killer reveal lacked freshness, thrill, and scare.
  • The Falconer family’s motives and the reveal’s corniness hindered the horror aspect.
  • The potential for a Fear Street: Prom Queen sequel sparks interest despite its flaws.

As someone who grew up enjoying the chills of Goosebumps books and their TV adaptations, along with other ’90s kid-friendly scary shows, I was thrilled when Netflix debuted the Fear Street trilogy in the summer of 2021. The initial film delved into a typical slasher plot from the ’90s, while the second took us to Camp Nightwing in 1978, and the third ventured as far back as the 17th century. Although I found myself most captivated by the first one due to its fun references and Maya Hawke’s opening scene that echoed Scream, any adaptation based on R.L. Stine’s works holds a special place for me. I eagerly awaited Fear Street: Prom Queen, which hit screens on May 23rd, 2025.

Although I found the ’80s high school dance ambiance and India Fowler’s portrayal of Lori Granger captivating, the ending of “Fear Street: Prom Queen” left me underwhelmed, and I believe the film could have been more impactful without a specific aspect.

Fear Street: Prom Queen Has A Disappointing Villain Reveal

As someone who enjoys watching slasher films, I believe that two key components make a good movie: the compelling final girl character and the intriguing revelation of the killer. When these aspects aren’t executed effectively, the overall plot can fall flat. Lori Granger is an excellent example of a horror movie final girl because she’s portrayed as smart, strong, and complex. However, I find that the reveal of the killer in Fear Street: Prom Queen falls short.

Toward the end of the film, it becomes clear that the main antagonist, Tiffany Falconer (played by Fina Strazza), along with her parents Dan (Chris Klein) and Nancy (Katherine Waterston), are the three perpetrators. Their motive was to ensure Tiffany won Prom Queen and also take revenge, as Nancy had a past romance with Lori’s father, who ultimately preferred Lori’s mother. However, the twist in Fear Street: Prom Queen fails to deliver the usual excitement, fear, or intrigue that comes with multiple killers in a slasher movie.

Fans who appreciate the Scream series often encounter multiple Ghostface killers, and they ponder if Scream 7 might feature a larger number. In contrast, it could have been acceptable for Fear Street: Prom Queen to only have one murderer, provided the motive was more coherent. While it’s understandable that many slasher villains seek revenge, it’s challenging not to find it implausible when a family kills numerous people just to ensure their daughter becomes Prom Queen. This aspect of the movie diminishes its horror factor, which is unfortunate.

Instead of the prom queen being the killer in “Fear Street: Prom Queen,” it might have been more intriguing if the Vice Principal, Ms. Lili Taylor’s character VP Dolores Brekenridge, was responsible for the series of murders that unfolded during such a significant event.

As a devoted movie critic, I can’t contain my excitement for the upcoming trilogy of Fear Street films, as confirmed by R.L. Stine to The Hollywood Reporter in January 2025. I eagerly anticipate these new additions to the series. To truly capture the essence of the original Fear Street books and the campy charm of the Goosebumps TV show, I believe the next films should lean into horror tropes reminiscent of those found in season 2 of Goosebumps, particularly the incorporation of body horror. The chilling atmosphere of Shadyside, much like Woodsboro, California in Scream, provides an ideal setting for these tales of terror. I hope that future installments delve deeper into Shadyside’s history and potentially revisit the 1980s era, as this would undoubtedly satisfy my hunger for more spine-tingling stories from this captivating town.

Will There Be A Fear Street: Prom Queen Sequel?

Despite not finding the motive revelation in Fear Street: Prom Queen particularly enjoyable, I find myself eager to catch a sequel, given the rich nostalgia associated with ’80s horror films. Many viewers share this curiosity about whether this tale of darkness could persist.

During an interview with Variety, Matt Palmer – the co-screenwriter and director – expressed some insights regarding potential plans for another film set in the same universe. In his own words, he mentioned:

While I’d love to revisit the world we created together, I’ve been given an opportunity to direct an ’80s retro slasher within the ‘Fear Street’ universe. I don’t want to hoard all the fun, so I’m eager to see other talented directors step up and make their mark on this franchise. The producers are looking for fresh perspectives, and I can’t wait to see where the series goes next.

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2025-05-27 17:07