Fear Street: Prom Queen takes the series to Shadyside's 1988 school dance. Rivalry over the crown and a masked killer targeting candidates should provide a lively retro slasher. After enjoying the earlier trilogy, I hoped for a stronger new chapter.
Instead, the film struggles to decide between knowing satire and straightforward horror. Familiar teenage types, secrets and rivalries do not become a clever use of convention. Weak dialogue and routine scares make the story feel thinner as it progresses.
The resolution is especially forced. Its attempt to be surprising lacks the emotional groundwork needed to make the motivation convincing. I will leave the identity of the killers out here; the construction of the reveal is the problem.
The performers bring more life than the writing. Lori's sympathetic presence helps individual scenes, while Katherine Waterston adds some authority without receiving enough substantial material. Matt Palmer's direction does not find a consistent register to connect the performances and genre mechanics.
The production design has the shoulder pads, neon colours and cassette players, but the period feeling stays superficial. It resembles a themed party more than a fully imagined atmosphere. Music also fails to give the scenes the energy I wanted.
For me, this is a step backwards. There are workable ideas and some bloody entertainment, but little fresh purpose. A slasher still needs effective people, rhythm and suspense, even when the ingredients look easy to assemble. Prom Queen leaves too much of that potential unused.