Fear Street is a Cult Classic for the Books

(In Picture: Cast of Fear Street; from all 3 parts)

{Spoilers Ahead!}

What Leigh Janiak does with R.L. Stine's classic Fear Street books is truly groundbreaking and something that will hold a special place in the Horror genre. I, and so many other's believe this Film Trilogy Event made history in the world and that it will be something to look back upon in years to come. Stick around to find out what these films mean to people and how it changed the perspective for the Thriller/Slasher genre.

For decades upon decades the 'Final Girls' have either been; One: White and Straight, or you know, not girls at all and rather a guy. Or on the occasion that there is a gay character or multiple queer characters in the horror film (which is actually more common than you may think), at least one of them always ends up dying. As for the perpetrators in, well, any genre really, they almost always seem to be a person of color, maybe not so much in Horror movies but we see the 'bad guys' in film as a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) more than we should. But Fear Street whips that whole narrative around by making a queer woman of color who survives the main protagonist and a white male cop the antagonist.

Fear Street may not be your traditional horror movie slasher where all but one(1) survives but that's the exact reason as to why it is deemed historical. Throughout the three films, it takes us on a decade and even century journey, or rather, centuries. The 'Shadyside Curse' has been around for nearly 300 centuries before the right group comes along and breaks it. As Kiana Madeira (plays Deena Johnson) has stated plenty times before, these films are about how history repeats itself and it shows the cruel reality of what happens to people who are so-called different. Much like the show Outer Banks and how people are split up based off of their economy (Kooks - rich; Pogues - poor), Fear Street takes a similar approach: The Shadysiders and the Sunnyvalers. Shadyside represents the outsiders, the misunderstood ones, the ones who always, no matter what, get the short end of the stick (as the cast has described it many times.) But before they were split into two, it was one, and that was Union. So we go back in history with the characters to see how the Shadyside Curse first became a curse. It's not what we thought though, and I think that's the scariest part of the whole trilogy; gathering what happened to Sarah Fier still happens to-day to oppressed people, maybe not so brutally in some places, but pain is still brought nevertheless.

It happens way too many times where people like me, a queer person, and others who get called "different" only have the side characters to identify with and relate to. We all know side characters don't always get as well written as the leads so it's hard to try and force ourselves into those little boxes when they get so little screen time and backstory and when they are mistreated. It makes us feel of little importance at times and it doesn't feel great. But for once, we finally feel seen and connected and like we have so much worth in this world as we are given Deena Johnson and Sam Fraser. And most importantly, Sarah Fier - a girl, just a girl who died for simply loving another girl and getting called a witch for 300 centuries for being accused of 'witchcraft' but all she was, was a misunderstood girl. Not only do we finally get a well-written relatable main character that we can actually see ourselves in but we also get a queer love story that is written so beautifully and performed so well in a way where it's not written for or by the male gaze but rather, a normalized couple who is the heart, soul, and core of a whole Trilogy. The people who are.. not the normal perspective, aren't the enemies for once but the victims (still) but also, the heroes.

Now let's dive in to what a few Stans and Fans of the film event had to say about the impact of it all.

Sam Fraser(Olivia Scott Welch; left) investigating the curse with Deena Johnson (Kiana Madeira; Right) and their Friends

"I feel that Fear Street is groundbreaking and doing very well because not only does it bring something new to horror movies and film with the poc [person of color] and queer characters making it to the end, it also gives us some nostalgia from old classic horror movies we love[d], like Scream or Friday the 13th." states Ariel Lynn, 21. Fear Street does bring a nice sense of nostalgia from old traditional and classic horror films that is honestly just so fun and refreshing. And they don't try and 'copy-cat' it either, they make it certain and obvious that they are referencing those classics.

"Fear Street is definitely groundbreaking for not only it has really great representation but it also broke a lot of stereotypes in the horror movie industry, specially the Bury your Gays trope, it's amazing to see two queer women being final girls and being front and center of a horror movie. It also addresses, in 1666[Part 3], the part how queer women in villainized, accused as a witch for loving another woman, it is great to finally shine a light on that topic and let people realize that oppressing people has to stop cause it's been going on for far too long." The Fear Street fan continues on "And as someone who loves horror movies, I love all the kills and deaths that happened in the movie[s], it is very creative." @luthxrfier from Twitter concludes.

Sarah Fier (left) figuring out what Hannah Miller's (right) pastor father is saying in some other language and or what the bible has to say

Another fan says "To me Fear Street is so groundbreaking because I get to see myself on screen in every part of it, as a mixed race lesbian woman, things has certainly not been easy and until now it really felt like no one was seeing me or that maybe there really wasn't someone I could relate to. But during the nuances of the 3 movies things had changed for me, I was able to to see myself in the way Deena was trying so hard to keep Sam around, in the way she was pictured as both Hannah and Sam's mom as a nasty predator who wouldn't daughters of others be straight, I saw myself in the way Deena was responsible for Josh, more like a mom or a household, I guess I saw myself on every scene whether it was good or sad." The fan continues on "So now I have a new point of view, like there is some kind of a silver lining because the cast Kiana and Olivia[Deena/Sarah and Sam/Hannah], the crew really worked hard so that people like me could be on top shining through at the end of the day and as I said before, it's not something you get to see everyday." the fan concludes. New points of views is something so important and things we shouldn't take advantage of because it gives us a new glass to look through in hopes for better understanding someone with different shoes than you. The Deena and Josh(Deena's brother played by Benjamin Flores Jr.) dynamic is also another part very well-written. Especially in the final movie when Josh explains his code to Deena and what it's importance is and means and the look Deena gives him and the hug they share. As a person who holds the impact of media dear to them for important reasons and has siblings(and family) of their own, that was such a relatable moment that I hope to share with all of my family members at some point. When someone tries their best to understand and accept you, especially those close to you, it truly means the world and more than words could ever explain in great depth and extent. A hug and look to show support and acceptance can be greater than any worded response.

Deena hugs brother Josh after he explains his 'code' that helps him survive

"Fear Street is groundbreaking in today's society because it breaks so many troops[...] It Changes"

"I think that it is [groundbreaking] because of all the representation that usually isn't shown. Not only queer relationships as the principal ship but also black characters being the final girl. This is completely different to what we are used to seeing and the films are filled with plot twists." States a Fear Street fan. All three films do have some major plot twists and surprises but the biggest one is the real truth of the 'Shadyside Curse' possibly the most terrifying part that gives you goosebumps (pun intended) through and through.

"I think Fear Street is groundbreaking in today's society because it breaks so many troops that had been used above all in horror movies. Usually the black characters don't make it to the end of the movies and the queer ones die or have a bad ending, but in this trilogy, it changes, the black characters make it to the end and the queer ones get a happy ending. Also, they're the main characters. It obviously helps the [black/poc and LGBTQIA+) communities to feel represented on screen in a more realistic way and it shows that everyone is equally valid." Says Aina, a fan of the horror Trilogy.

Finally, Maya, 16, vocalizes "Honestly, I wasn't expecting much from Fear Street in the beginning, I just thought it'd just be another comedic slasher with no real purpose but it really blew me away. I've seen plenty of movies and for me it was the gay representation that really stuck with me. Of course there are queer people in media but they were always off to the side and were often killed off at some point in the movie. To be able to see Sam and Deena get their happy ending" [in a Horror Trilogy! (Not one but TWO queer females survive)] "was so satisfying and honestly I'm so surprised at how good it felt to see that. I didn't know how much I needed that." The fans continues "The way they used characters like Cindy (From Part two: '78 movie played by Emily Rudd) to portray that even when someone does work as hard as they can to move up, sometimes it just isn't enough. Shadysiders were the product of environment and they were always ridiculed because of where they came from and who they were. It didn't matter that she did everything she could in the end, it didn't matter because she was a shadysider. Also, the way the Goodes managed feed into and use people's fears in order to do some good for themselves was truly terrifying. We got to see the way one small lie unfolded into something so much worse for later generations. We're given multiple instances where we see how history just seemed to enter a never ending cycle. I think Fear Street was able to touch on that really well with the way they used Nick Goode, the sheriff, who because of his position of power is automatically marked as a good human being while other shadysiders were marked as sub-humans because of a story. What I'm trying to get at is how Fear Street was truly terrifying because of the deeper meanings. 1666 was especially the scariest because of this and it was utterly devastating." Maya concludes.

Deena and Sam getting their Happy Ending after brutal trauma

If there's one thing Fear Street gets and does right, it's the deeper meanings and the intricate details throughout all 3 films. For instance, Sam and Cindy dating the guy just because they think they are supposed to or because it's the right and rational thing to do. Fear Street accomplishes 'connecting with audience' more than any other film. Fear Street gives hope for a brighter and better future for the horror genre. Deena is a woman of her word, from saying she'll get Sam cheeseburgers and listen to the Pixies to killing her if she got blood on her sweater and so am I, with that, I can promise you this Trilogy is worth your time to look into if you haven't already. My love for these films only continue to grow like the red moss that represents Sarah and Hannah's along with their reincarnates, Deena and Sam's love.