While imperfect, the original Fear Street trilogy has an undeniable heart. The relationships between the characters, both platonic and romantic, are well-defined and thoroughly explored. The films bolster themselves with heartfelt and fun performances, as the actors both fulfill and subvert their roles as archetypal horror characters. Director Leigh Janiak made a distinct effort to reference classic horror films while creating something entirely new, and she mostly succeeded. Director Matt Palmer has no such luck with Fear Street: Prom Queen, which is the worst thing a horror film can be: boring.

Choosing vibes over substance.

Set in 1988, Fear Street: Prom Queen follows outsider Lori Granger (India Fowler) as she vies for the title of prom queen alongside five other girls at Shadyside High School. These girls include members of the “Wolfpack” Tiffany Falconer (Fina Strazza), Melissa Mckendrick (Ella Rubin), Debbie Winters (Rebecca Ablack), and Linda Harper (Ilan O’Driscoll), as well as bad girl Christy Renault (Ariana Greenblatt). Haunted by a vicious rumor targeting her family, Lori believes believes that winning prom queen will mark a change in her life and Shadyside as a whole.

She is supported in her journey by her best friend Megan Rogers (Suzanna Son), a horror fanatic seemingly content with her outsider status. Lori’s rivalry with Tiffany, crush on Tiffany’s boyfriend Tyler (David Iacono) and struggle to overcome her family’s reputation all threaten to derail her attempt at being crowned prom queen. Meanwhile, a masked killer stalks Shadyside with the intent to murder all of the contestants, as well as anyone who gets in their way.

The characters in this film are not written as human beings but rather as cardboard cutouts made to fulfill eighties slasher tropes in the least interesting way possible. Lori’s exposition dump at the beginning of the film, conveyed through unnecessary narration that boggs down the story, foreshadows the utter lack of characterization everyone will receive. Despite being a story focused entirely on women, the female characters in Fear Street: Prom Queen are afforded none of the appreciated nuances in the original trilogy. Lori is utterly dull. Megan embodies the “not like other girls” trope instead of having an actual personality. Tiffany’s sneering insults as queen bee grow old quickly, and the rest of the cast is left floundering in search of a purpose in the story.

Fear Street: Prom Queen is a deluge of missed opportunities.

A scene from Fear Street: Prom Queen

All of the relationships in this film are underdeveloped, but Lori’s romance with Tyler is so underwritten that it’s confusing why it was included at all. It is a far cry from the romance between Sam and Deena, which, aside from being a rare lesbian representation, served as the heart of the original trilogy. Palmer’s decision not to carry over any queer themes into this installment in the franchise feels like a missed opportunity, as the risk-taking in the original trilogy is what primarily separates it from the standard streaming fare.

The eighties setting is perfunctory, with all of the expected set dressing making an appearance: mom jeans, teased hair, posters of eighties heartthrobs, and references to easily recognizable eighties media. Already uninspiring, it’s the film’s use of music that’s truly egregious. The forgettable score consists of repetitive synths, while the soundtrack consists of someone’s “Greatest Hits of the ‘80s” Spotify playlist. “Gloria” by Laura Branigan is utilized in a scene that made me physically cringe both in disbelief and in sympathy for the actresses tasked with performing it.

The death scenes are also disappointing, with the kills containing none of the creativity present in the original trilogy. Even an obvious reference to Carrie or Prom Night would have been welcomed amidst the drudgery. It was reported that director Chloe Okuno was initially slated to direct this film, and Fear Street: Prom Queen absolutely would have benefited from a female director. Okuno’s debut film, Watcher, validates women’s fears, and having seen it, I truly mourn the possibility of what could have been if she had been at the helm of this film. The difference in the depiction of women in this film and the original trilogy is too stark to ignore.

The bottom line.

Fear Street: Prom Queen is a disappointing entry in this franchise as well as a symptom of this era of streaming slop. Horror fans deserve better than films like this. There have been many outstanding horror films in recent years, setting the bar even higher for a genre still unfairly maligned by critics. Future ‘Fear Street’ installments should aim to reach this standard and even exceed it rather than playing it safe.

Fear Street: Prom Queen is out now on Netflix. Watch the trailer here.