Fear Street: Prom Queen (2025) – Movie Review

If there’s one thing horror fans can predict, it’s how a prom queen slasher movie will play out: a masked killer, a spooky high school setting, and a final girl fighting for survival. Netflix’s Fear Street: Prom Queen (2025) checks all these boxes—but does it bring anything new to the table? Though it carries the recognizable branding of R.L. Stine’s legendary Fear Street novels and the nostalgic promise of an 80s slasher flick, this film unfortunately stumbles right out of the gate—and never recovers.

Released in 2025, this fourth installment in the Fear Street universe attempts to stand on its own with a self-contained story. Sadly, it barely stands at all.

Cast of Fear Street: Prom Queen

Here’s a quick look at the key cast members who tried (but struggled) to bring the 80s mayhem to life:

There’s a right way to do 80s nostalgia. Stranger Things nailed it. Even Fear Street 1984 had its moments. But Fear Street: Prom Queen serves up the most surface-level version of that decade imaginable. Prom Queen follows Lori Granger (India Fowler), an unpopular teen who defiantly campaigns for prom queen against four mean-girl frontrunners: Megan Rogers (Suzanna Son), Tiffany Falconer (Fina Strazza), Christy Renault (Ariana Greenblatt), and Melissa (Ella Rubin). But when a raincoat-clad killer starts axing the competition, Lori’s underdog story becomes a fight for survival.

On paper, this sounds like a fun slasher. In execution? The film rushes through its 88-minute runtime like a teenager late for curfew. Character backstories are dumped via clunky voiceovers, the killer’s motive is laughably obvious, and the connection to the earlier Fear Street trilogy is limited to a few visual Easter eggs. If you’re hoping for the witchcraft or lore that made the original trilogy compelling, prepare for disappointment. This is a standalone story—and not a memorable one.

Fear Street: Prom Queen vs. the Original Trilogy – What Went Wrong?

The 2021 Fear Street trilogy succeeded by weaving three timelines into a cohesive, witchy narrative. Prom Queen, however, abandons that ambition. Aside from sharing Shadyside’s cursed backdrop, this film has zero ties to its predecessors. While that freedom could’ve allowed fresh creativity, director instead delivers a generic slasher that lacks the trilogy’s self-aware charm or emotional stakes.

The cast includes familiar faces like Chris Klein (American Pie) as Dan Falconer, Tiffany’s father, and Lili Taylor (The Conjuring) as VP Dolores Brekenridge, a strict administrator who scowls through scenes but adds nothing to the plot. Even talents like Katherine Waterston (Fantastic Beasts), who plays Nancy Falconer, are wasted in roles that feel like afterthoughts. The setting itself—Shadyside—is reduced to a cardboard cutout of its former eerie self, stripping away the atmospheric dread that once defined the franchise.

The 80s Nostalgia: All Fluff, No Substance

Fear Street: Prom Queen leans heavily on 80s nostalgia, but it’s the cinematic equivalent of a Halloween store wig—cheap and unconvincing. The soundtrack is a greatest-hits playlist (think Sweet Dreams and White Wedding), the costumes look like a TikToker’s idea of “vintage,” and the dialogue is peppered with cringey slang like “rad” and “totally bogus.”

As one review snarks, “It feels like someone Googled ‘80s vibes’ and called it a day.” Even the props miss the mark—a boombox meant to evoke nostalgia is hilariously anachronistic. For a franchise that once balanced retro charm with fresh scares, Prom Queen’s shallow nostalgia feels like a missed opportunity.

Characters: Why Should We Care?

A slasher lives or dies by its characters, and Prom Queen’s cast might as well wear “Kill Me” nametags. While Lori Granger (India Fowler) is positioned as the underdog we’re supposed to root for, the script doesn’t give her much to work with. Her tragic family backstory—hinted to involve her parents’ own prom night—is used more for mockery by classmates than character development.

The other girls—Megan, Tiffany, and Christy—are shallow high school queen bees, sketched out with the broadest strokes. Tyler Torres (David Iacono) tries to add emotional depth as Lori’s friend and possible ally, but there’s no time for his arc to breathe.

Even Melissa (Ella Rubin), a character who seems set up for a twist, is left floundering in generic dialogue. And don’t even get us started on Vice Principal Dolores (Lili Taylor)—a role with potential that’s reduced to a joyless authority figure with no real function.

The killer? Generic mask, generic robe, and generic kills. Save for one amusing scene with a clever death, everything else is uninspired. If you’re going to embrace the slasher formula, at least deliver on creative, shocking kills. Sadly, this film doesn’t

Kills and Gore: The Only Saving Grace

If there’s one reason to watch Prom Queen, it’s the gore. The kills are vicious, creative, and unapologetically brutal. Highlights include a meat cleaver to the face and a death involving improvised weaponry that’ll make you wince. Sadly, these moments can’t compensate for the film’s flaws. Without emotional investment in the victims, the violence feels hollow—like watching strangers get splattered in a haunted house ride.

Final Thoughts: All Prom, No Punch

I’m still looking for a good horror movie that doesn’t just depend on gore, unnecessary jump scares, or a dark tone—but instead delivers a solid story. Fear Street: Prom Queen is a casual one-time watch. If you skip it, you didn’t miss much.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Fear Street: Prom Queen had all the ingredients for a good standalone slasher—an interesting setting, familiar lore, and a built-in fanbase. But poor writing, rushed execution, and hollow characters make it fall flat. It’s the kind of film you throw on during chores, not the kind you remember.

Netflix, if you’re going to revive the Fear Street name, give us something worthy of it. Otherwise, this once-promising franchise may fade into obscurity faster than a forgotten prom photo.

Fear Street: Prom Queen is now streaming on Netflix. Have you seen it? Share your thoughts (or rage) in the comments below!

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