Madison Messenger - July 18th, 2021

PAGE 4 - MADISON MESSENGER - July 18, 2021
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‘Fear Street’ proves to be fun throwback slasher
In 2015, hallowed ground
shook as xennials and millennials
learned of plans to develop
films based on R.L. Stine’s
“Fear Street” books.
“Will they adapt the cheerleader series first?” they
wondered. “Or will they go to the start of the first horror,
then build the universe from there?”
It didn’t matter so much, they collectively agreed, as
long as they could finally see this strange world brought
to life, thanks to the partnership between Chernin Entertainment
and 20th Century Fox.
In the years that followed, a team of writers and directors
making waves in the independent horror genre
were brought on board, and a cast of promising teen actors
and veteran character actors inked deals to animate
(or reanimate, in many cases) characters of yore.
As the development progressed, news started to
trickle out that the writing team (Phil Graziadei, Leigh
Janiak, and Kyle Killen) would not be doing straight
adaptations of Stine’s popular trilogies. Instead, they
would create a new world loosely based on the “Fear
Street” series that would serve as a tribute to the collection
and the slasher films of the era.
Though the shaking lessened, interest was still high.
Then, in 2020, just as the first of the three movies
was slated for release, the pandemic shuttered movie
theaters and put planned distributions on hold. Not
wanting to see their trilogy of terror shelved for the foreseeable
future, Chernin Entertainment pulled its distribution
and inked a deal with Netflix.
Several weeks ago, Netflix started to unveil snippets
of the “Fear Street” movies. The teasers began to generate
buzz. Not only did these films—which take place
during three specific years—look decent, they also were
going to be released over the span of three weeks in
July. A strange move perhaps, especially coming from
a binge-friendly service, but one that made sense given
their commitment to releasing a new film each week for
2021.
On July 9, “Fear Street Part I: 1994” made its debut
on the streaming platform. While it is a decent film true
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the reel deal
Dedra Cordle
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to the spirit of the books and
entertainment released during
that time, it is weighed down
by the fact it serves primarily
as a setup for the rest of the
trilogy.
“Fear Street Part I: 1994”
often comes across as an overly
long pilot in a limited television
series rather than the first installment
of an epic thriller
with a trail of terror that spans
centuries. It tries to establish
the current timeframe while harkening back to others.
It makes for a frustrating view, but one with good intentions.
It begins where all of the action took place during
this time—at a mall. Teenaged Heather (Maya Hawke)
is finishing her shift at B. Dalton bookstore when she
begins to experience odd events. First, she hears scuttling
noises, then horror books begin to fly off the
shelves. Suitably creeped, she seeks safety at another
store where her friend works but finds a pool of blood.
She later meets her demise at the hands of a figure
wearing the face of a recently deceased friend.
In any other town, this murder would have received
plenty of attention from the media, police, and school
where Heather was a student. But this is Shadyside,
Ohio, the “Murder Capital of the United States.” The
less that is said or written about this crime, the better.
Just because the town would rather not dwell on the
trauma doesn’t mean they don’t acknowledge it. They
do schedule a candlelight vigil before an all-important
football game against their rivals at Sunnyvale, but
that brings out the fisticuffs.
After the altercation, some Sunnyvale students race
after the bus full of Shadyside athletes and band members.
Fed up with their threatening behavior, Deena
(Kiana Madeira) opens the emergency door to toss a
cooler of water at them, but this causes their vehicle to
crash into the woods. Feeling contrite—mostly because
her ex-girlfriend, Sam (Olivia Welch), was a passenger—
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she gets the bus to pull over for assistance but the damage has been
done.
Though no one was harmed during this incident, the teens manage
to unearth the burial site of Sarah Fier, a town witch who is
said to have laid a curse on Shadyside before she was burned at the
stake in 1666.
Shortly after the incident, reanimated killers from the town’s
past begin to haunt Deena, Sam, and their friends, Kate (Julia Rehwald)
and Simon (Fred Hechinger). Though several others are on
the menu as well (basically anyone who gets in the way), the spirits
seem to be particularly angry with with this little group.
With no idea how to stop the spirits, the teens turn to Deena’s
outcast brother, Josh (Benjamin Flores Jr.) who is well versed in
Shadyside’s murderous past. With centuries worth of news clippings
on the town terrors at their disposal, they have to figure out
how they can stop the curse and the cycle of violence that has been
plaguing the town.
Due to the structure of trilogy series, the first installment often
feels like the weakest link, so it is hard to fully judge “Fear Street
Part I: 1994” until its companion films are seen. (“Part II: 1978
dropped on July 16, while “Part III: 1666” drops on July 23). But it
could have been more creative with how it set up the trilogy, rather
than rely on the method of low stakes, back-end action and slowroll
development.
Gripes aside, “Fear Street Part I: 1994” is a fun throwback
slasher that is entertaining enough to watch with its 90s style,
slang, and music. Though some viewers will likely be torn as to
whether they want to continue with this series, I think I’m going to
stick with it until the end.
Grade: B-
Dedra Cordle is a Messenger staff writer and columnist.
corrections
• The July 4, 2021, edition of the Madison Messenger included photos
from A&R Alpaca Farm’s visit to Mount Sterling Public Library. Angela
McFarland appeared in one of the photos. Her correct title is
Friends of the Library treasurer.
• The July 11, 2021, edition of the Madison Messenger included a
story about Janet Merritt who will turn 100 years old next month. The
correct name of the facility at which she served as a hospital aide is Orient
State Institute. Also, she participates in exercise classes at the
YMCA in Englewood, Fla.; she does not work there.
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