Fear Street: Prom Queen Summary and Review - High School Horror in Shadyside

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Fear Street: Prom Queen is an add-on to the Fear Street universe and, aside from its Shadyside setting and R.L. Stine origins, it has little in common with the entertaining trilogy that preceded it. Rather than capturing the spirit of the original films, this standalone slasher opts for tired tropes, offering little in the way of tension or entertainment.

Excitement Builds in Shadyside

It opens with excitement building at Shadyside High as they prepare for the senior prom of 1988. Six girls are competing for the crown of Prom Queen and we are introduced to the characters as they battle it out for supremacy. It’s clear from the outset that Tiffany Falconer is the favourite, while outsider Lori Granger struggles to escape the shadow of a dark rumour - that her mother murdered her father at prom 18 years earlier.

Lori is supported by her best friend Megan, a well-meaning “stoner and horror nerd” whose antics - including the use of fake blood and horror props - backfire and damage Lori’s chances. Things go from bad to worse when the other candidates steal the spotlight with a flashy, unexpected dance routine, leaving Lori even more isolated and humiliated.

The Killer Strikes

By the time prom night finally kicks into gear, one of the group has already fallen victim to the killer - meeting an unpleasant but instantly forgettable end. As the night progresses the girls peel-off with their football team boyfriends to do what teenagers do - only to be picked off one by one. This is where the one of film’s main limitations is exposed. The bulk of the action is confined to the school - a setting that is used with little imagination. Characters wander between the dance hall and the basement, draining any suspense and it quickly becomes obvious who’s next, and when. The kills themselves are just as uninspired - predictable and unimaginative (Final Destination, it is not) suggesting either a low budget or a lack of ambition when it comes to special effects.

Lack of Commitment

While the film dallies with deeper themes - small-town stigma and high school pressure - it never fully commits, and Shadyside’s infamous violent past, the very foundation of the trilogy, is side-lined in favour of of a formulaic pantomime slasher. There is many a nod to horror classics like Halloween, Scream, and I Know What You Did Last Summer, among others, but apart from reminding you of the legacy of these iconic films, they add nothing to the narrative nor the viewer's enjoyment.

On the upside, there's a nice 80s electro-pop score and some well-loved 80s tunes bring a bit of energy to the otherwise lifeless proceedings. The cast do what they can, but the weak plot and thin script leave them with little to work with. Lili Taylor makes a welcome return to the horror genre, but her talent is squandered in an underwritten role that borders on a cameo. It’s hard not to wonder if she knew what she was signing up for when she accepted the part.

Blood-Soaked Climax

Towards the end, the whole thing ramps up a little with a gleefully ridiculous and blood-soaked climax. Had the film adopted this level of absurdity from the start, it might have at least been fun. When the killer was revealed, it felt like a nostalgic Scooby Doo twist and I was half expecting the villain to mutter "if it hadn't been for those pesky kids". A final postscript attempts to tie up loose ends and deliver a twist, one that might have landed had the film managed to keep the viewer invested long enough to care.

In the end, Fear Street: Prom Queen feels like a box-ticking exercise that the cast and crew couldn't wait to finish rather than a fresh addition to the franchise. It’s a paint-by-numbers slasher that lacks tension, style, or surprises. Hardcore horror fans and Fear Street devotees alike will likely come away disappointed. 

2/5

Lori Granger – India Fowler 
Megan Rogers – Suzanna Son 
Tiffany Falconer – Fina Strazza 
Christy Renault – Ariana Greenblatt
Melissa McKendrick – Ella Rubin
Tyler Torres – David Iacono 
Nancy Falconer – Katherine Waterston 
Dan Falconer – Chris Klein 
Dolores Brekenridge – Lili Taylor 
Principal Wayland – Darrin Baker 
Director: Matt Palmer
Writers: Matt Palmer & Donald McLeary


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