FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NOT YET SEEN FEAR STREET PART 2: 1978, THIS IS A NON-SPOILER REVIEW.

Another week, another installment of Netflix’s exciting, new horror trilogy Fear Street.  This time we are flung to the 70’s to hear the story of how C. Berman survived the evil witch at summer camp all of those years ago.  Our heroine from the first installment Deena listens closely, as she tries to figure out a way to save her girlfriend Sam and stop the Shadyside curse. 

WHAT DO THESE TWO FEAR STREET FILMS HAVE IN COMMON?

TED SUTHERLAND and SADIE SINK in FEAR STREET PART 2: 1978 – Cr: Netflix © 2021

As with the first film in this trilogy, Fear Street: 1978 is a joyous celebration of nostalgia and another decade of horror.  Director Leigh Janiak and her co-writer Zak Olkewicz have taken the classics from the beloved slasher genre, like Friday the 13th and Sleepaway Camp and given it a modern twist.  Not only have both of these movies been self-aware romps… but, they have been equal parts scary and silly.  Which makes for another solid roller-coaster ride, albeit one that is a little more forgettable and inconsequential, than the first.

WHAT DOESN’T WORK AS WELL?

EMILY RUDD and SADIE SINK in FEAR STREET PART 2: 1978 – Cr: Netflix © 2021

Our two leads here, Sadie Sink and Emily Rudd as the Berman sisters, are both extremely charismatic and carry the film with ease.  But, they are never given the character development that breakout star Kiana Madeira’s Deena had in the first (luckily Madeira still has her part to play in this movie).  The fact that the movie is also a story being told and we basically know what happens from the very beginning, also lower the stakes significantly.

The other issue that I have with Fear Street: 1978, is that I don’t believe the story being told ever comes to a satisfying conclusion or that it’s finale makes much sense.  I understand that it’s a silly horror film, but the way it all plays out is still absolutely incredulous.  It will be interesting to see how people stack this one up to the first.

HAVE THEY UPPED THE ANTE IN THIS SECOND FILM?

FEAR STREET PART 2: 1978 – Cr: Netflix © 2021

What does work here is that the filmmakers have upped the ante with everything else from the first; the kills are gruesome and glorious, the classic seventies music adds so much flare, the body count has at least doubled, the direction is even more kinetic and the jump scares are far more plentiful.  Although it doesn’t add up to much more than a slick and ridiculous rollercoaster ride… that doesn’t take away from the amount of fun that is to be had here. Lastly, Fear Street: 1978 ends on the perfect cliffhanger to keep us all clamoring for more.  And I for one, cannot wait to see how this all comes together.

FEAR STREET PART 2: 1978 – Cr: Netflix © 2021

Fear Street Part Two: 1978 Premieres on NETFLIX Friday, July 9th.

Are you looking forward to see how this trilogy continues? What did you think of the first?

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