Fear Street: Prom Queen Review – What Went Wrong?

Fear Street: Prom Queen is a 2025 American slasher film directed by Matt Palmer from a screenplay he co-wrote with Donald McLeary, based on the novel The Prom Queen (1992) from the Fear Street book series. Produced by Chernin Entertainment, it is the fourth instalment in the Fear Street film series. The film stars India Fowler, Suzanna Son, Fina Strazza, David Iacono, Ella Rubin, Chris Klein, Ariana Greenblatt, Lili Taylor and Katherine Waterston. Set in 1988, the plot focuses on a masked killer who targets the prom queen candidates of Shadyside High on the night of their senior dance.

After the original trilogy’s release, discussions began about future films set within the continuity. In October 2023, Stine announced further films to be in development, with the fourth instalment being a standalone story and Chloe Okuno expected to direct. By March 2024, casting had been announced for principal characters, with McLeary and Palmer hired to adapt The Prom Queen and Palmer as director. Filming took place in Toronto and Hamilton from March to May 2024.

Fear Street: Prom Queen Review – What Went Wrong?

A Horror Movie Review by George Wolf

If you’ve been waiting for Netflix to bring their bloody Fear Street fun to the 1980s, Prom Queen is here to gag you with a spoon (or stab you with a hatchet). But after some satisfying time traveling to the 90s, the 70s, and 1666, part four of the series proves the devil is in the details.

Really, one big detail.

After adapting the original trilogy of R.L. Stine’s Fear Street books, writer/director Leigh Janiak gets only an executive producer credit here, and her absence stands out like a new zit on the night of the big dance.

It’s 1988 in the cursed town of Shadyside, and outcast Lori Granger (India Fowler) tells us she is running for Prom Queen. Seems the town is still whispering about what Lori’s Mom did to her Dad years ago, and Lori wants to prove her worth. Standing in the way? Only Queen Bee Tiffany (Fina Strazza) and her “Wolfpack.”

That, plus the masked, red poncho-wearing marauder who starts picking off the Prom Queen candidates one by one.

Director and co-writer Matt Palmer provides the requisite kills, but can never capture the fun that has made Fear Street such a blast to visit. To start with, the time stamp is off. Where’s the big hair, the slang and the fashions from the late 80s? The production has also switched music supervisors, leaving us with needle drops that are a few years off the mark.

The homages to classic horror, Heathers and Mean Girls seem to be here more as an expected requirement than an understood assignment. Plus, the killer’s identity is not much of a surprise while solid performers such as Katherine Waterston and Lily Taylor are wasted with shallow, throwaway roles.

Is there an After Prom? Maybe that’s where the fun is.

Further Reading

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