Review of Fear Street: 1994 (2021) by Theredsky — 11 Jul 2021

It’s fine. There really isn’t a whole lot to say about this film as it is the first part of a trilogy and my opinion could change when the trilogy is over but it’s definitely a weak first act. I liked some of the references to films like Scream and The Shining but that’s the main selling point to me.

I liked watching and seeing what films they were referencing but everything else was kinda bland. The film isn’t super long but it feels like it is. It peaks at the beginning with the Scream homage with Maya Hawke but it fails to keep my interest after that.

I didn’t find the characters all that relatable or engaging however that could change with the other 2 films in this trilogy. The tone is all over the place. It’s got some great horror moments and some interesting set up with the creatures being attracted to only one person but the film takes a break from all this action for two steamy scenes.

This would be fine if we weren’t shown that the monsters were relentless and pretty quick to catch up to their prey. The soundtrack also adds to this tonal inconsistency. The songs are good but their placement is weird and it feels like it’s trying too hard to be like Stranger Things.

I liked the film’s use of violence though and how relentless it is. Some of these scenes are pretty brutal and it’s refreshing to see that this film has a massive “No One Is Safe” sign on it. Don’t get too attached to these characters.

The film’s use of neon colors was pretty refreshing especially in the beginning. It’s a shame they abandoned this style for a majority of the film and only really bringing it back in the end. I would recommend checking this out if you want something that feels like Stranger Things or if you want homages to classic horror films but don’t expect something on the same level as those.