With just the right amount of teenage angst, gory thrills, and lesbian drama, Leah Janiak’s 2021 Fear Street trilogy, makes for the perfect Halloween Netflix binge. The Fear Street trilogy unapologetically embraces campy horror, with nods to classic horror films like Scream and Friday the 13th.
The trilogy, adapted from R.L. Stine’s book series of the same name, revolves around Deena (Kiana Madeira) and Sam (Olivia Scott Welch), fraught exes forced apart by Sam’s family and their sudden move. The family relocates from Shadyside, dubbed “the murder capital of the US,” to Sunnyvale, a wealthier, whiter, murder-free municipality. The overtly ironic names of these neighboring towns capture Fear Street’s delightful lack of subtlety.
Part 1: 1994 begins with a murder spree in a suburban mall, setting the stage for the chaos to come. Sam, Deena, her brother Josh (Benjamin Flores Jr.), and their friends confront rumors of a centuries-old curse that may cause Shadyside’s misfortune. One of the trilogy’s only logical characters, C. Berman (Gillian Jacobs), warns the teenagers about the evil they’ve uncovered and advises them to run far away. But star-crossed Deena is willing to sacrifice herself, her friends, and even her family to protect her estranged lover. (who proves to be effectively useless throughout the series). She takes charge as the teenagers hurl themselves into the arms of danger in an attempt to solve the mystery that unfolds over the following films.
Part 2: 1978, likely the most gruesome of the three films, takes us to Camp Nightwing, where the idyllic campgrounds soon become a blood-soaked battleground as we learn the backstory of the mysterious C. Berman. Sadie Sink shines as Ziggy, an angsty camper who’s been ostracized by her peers. Against a nostalgic 70s setting, the body count rises, and Shadyside’s dark history becomes clearer.
Part 3: 1666 transports us to the town’s founding as a 17th-century Puritan settlement, where Deena, through a vision, experiences life as Sarah Fier—a woman accused of being a witch who has haunted Shadyside since her execution. The film explores how fear, greed, and prejudice shaped the town’s legacy. With another forbidden sapphic love story, some well-placed twists, and a return to the 1994 timeline for a final confrontation, Part 3: 1666 delivers a satisfying and spooky conclusion, tying up (most of) the trilogy’s loose ends.
For all its gore, Fear Street doesn’t dwell much on trauma. After watching their peers get brutally murdered, the characters seem to bounce back with surprising ease, cracking jokes and finding time for steamy romance—even at a crime scene. But that’s part of the trilogy’s charm—it never takes itself too seriously, letting us enjoy the ride without getting bogged down by realism.
If you’re after stunning cinematography and Oscar-worthy writing, Fear Street isn’t for you. But if you’re in the mood for a bloody binge, this trilogy has the perfect mix of heart and horror. Though the plot occasionally gets tangled, and the characters’ choices might leave you scratching your head, the sheer entertainment value makes it all worthwhile. And if you’re craving more, Fear Street: Prom Queen, directed by Matt Palmer, is already in the works—but with big shoes to fill.
