A killer is on the loose in the “Fear Street” film trilogy. But not only does this Netflix horror extravaganza leave a significant amount of blood in its wake, it also pulverizes the screen with a gush of pop culture references.
Set primarily in the fictional town of Shadyside and based on the books by RL Stine, the trilogy spans several decades, with one film steeped in mall and high school culture from 1994, another set in 1978 at Camp De summer and a third starting in 1666 when the town was a village. (The episodes will premiere three consecutive Fridays, starting July 2.) The trilogy cuts across characters, moods, and genres, including teen romance and the full slasher. Movies, on one level, are like a Netflix styles algorithm, all wrapped up in a bingeable package.
Amidst the many twists and turns, the films retrace the city and the problem of the disproportionate murders it has known for generations. Is witchcraft involved? Could it be Satan? Or are people just mean? Director Leigh Janiak aims to keep audiences on their toes, while letting them hum rousing tunes and thinking both Halloween and “Halloween.”
Below is an overview of 10 influences horror and comedy lovers can spot.
A collection of Gen-Xer CDs
In the first film, which takes place in 1994, the culture of the mall (B. Dalton included) is very much alive. The same goes for just about any song that a teenager or college student might have listened to at the time. The needle bounces from Nine Inch Nails to Bush to, damn, even Sophie B. Hawkins. The songs are used much like Quentin Tarantino might do: to project the thoughts of the characters, including the lead role, Deena, (Kiana Madeira), who is featured in a moment of discontent with “I’m only happy when it rains. “from Garbage.
‘Back to the future’
While there is no DeLorean here, the spirit of adventure and the way revelations are understood over the decades is reminiscent of Robert Zemeckis’ Back to the Future movies. The third installment of the two trilogies takes us back quite far – to the Wild West in “Back to the Future” and to the 17th century Season of the Witch in “Fear Street”.
The slasher of the 70s and 80s
While the “Fear Street” movies delve into all manner of supernatural lore, the more visceral threat elements involve knives and axes. The 1978 summer camp setting can’t help but remind us of the good old chaos of “Friday the 13th” in Crystal Lake. Netflix’s entry ticks off a few creative kills that would make both Jason proud of those movies and Michael Myers of “Halloween.”
There’s a bit of a ‘kids mingling’ aspect of ‘Fear Street’, with a bunch of strangers coming together to solve age-old mysteries. As the characters research the history of the city and its often unsolved murders, you can feel Daphne and Fred from “Scooby-Doo” hovering just outside the frame. Deena gives off Velma vibes, and the movie has its own Shaggy in the character of Simon (Fred Hechinger), a slacker and trickster who ends up in a few Zoinks! moments.
Lesbian vintage romances
The past few years have brought a handful of solemn period romances with women at their center, such as “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” and “Ammonite”. The trend was notable enough to be parodied on “Saturday Night Live”. Add “Fear Street” to the list with the budding relationship between Sarah Fier (also played by Madeira) and Hannah Miller (Olivia Scott Welch) in 1666. The two keep their passions a secret, but their chemistry is as strong as the accents of time.
John Hugues
While there is no ’80s entry into the series, John Hughes’ influence is hard to shake here, as “Fear Street” elevates the misfits, putting them front and center. With her disgruntled demeanor and one hand in her pocket, Deena recalls Allison Reynolds, Ally Sheedy’s pessimistic character in “The Breakfast Club”. And bookish player Josh (Benjamin Flores Jr.) in “Fear Street” has a lot in common with Hughes’ creation Brian Johnson, played with classic geek Anthony Michael Hall.
A horror world staple, possession – by spirits, witches, or something worse – can add an interesting wrinkle to a narrative. How to reason with a killer if he is possessed? (Answer: you can’t.) “Fear Street” plays around with this premise, converting some characters from harmless one moment to bloodthirsty the next.
“Carrie”
In the 1978 episode, the bloody prom farce of Stephen King’s novel (and Brian De Palma’s later film) comes into the plot with the ridiculed but resilient Ziggy Berman (Sadie Sink) looking to get away from it all. avenge those who wronged him. But in “Fear Street”, pig’s blood is replaced by a much more irritating alternative. Nonetheless, Ziggy possesses Carrie’s qualities, as an outsider who often faces derision from other campers and builds ways to fight back. However, she doesn’t have to raise revenge to Carrie’s level. The rampaging killer can do it.
Summer camp comedies
While the 1978 episode has its share of revenge and slashery, there are plenty of bearer moments as well. With its shorts, rowdy advisers, and wacky shenanigans, the film owes a lot to comedies like Ivan Reitman’s “Meatballs”, David Wain’s “Wet Hot American Summer” and Ron Maxwell’s “Little Darlings”.
Janiak, the director, said her shooting style for the 1666 episode was inspired by Terrence Malick’s “The New World”. Indeed, some of the outdoor ensemble scenes are reminiscent of that 2005 drama about the founding of Jamestown. But the rural setting, early English accents, and looming threats of witchcraft are more quickly reminiscent of “The Witch,” Robert Eggers’ meticulous and understated 2016 horror mystery. With dirty, candle-lit interiors and a dark but creepy relationship with animals (this time an unpleasant relationship with a pig rather than Eggers’ use of a creepy goat), this “Fear Street” entry brings life to life. from the laborious and gloomy 17th century.