FEAR STREET PART ONE 1994

US, 2021, 107 minutes, Colour.

Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr, Julia Rehwald, Fred Hechinger, Elizabeth Scopel, Gillian Jacobs.

Directed by Leigh Janiak.

The Fear Street Trilogy is based on young adult novels by writer R.L.Stine, better known by younger readers and parents for his Goosebumps series. , The three parts form one film, the main setting in 1994, flashbacks to 1978, flashbacks to origins in 1666 and the second part of the third film announcing Fear Street 1994, Part 2.

Behind the stories of 1994 and the sequel, 1978, is the folklore of witches and curses so prominent in communities of that era like Salem and the witch trials and executions. There are flashbacks – and the third film will give the origins story. Meanwhile, there is a book of curses, a car accident which dislodges the grave of the executed which, Sarah fear, and dislodges the skeleton of her hand.

The tone of the film is set by an initial massacre, a book sure a book store assistant and her boyfriend, her being killed, his going on a rampage, shot by the police, but killing people in a shopping mall.

The other setting is a rivalry between two towns, Shadyside and Sunnyvale, light and darkness. There is interactions, hostilities between the young people of the two towns.

Principal focus is on Deena (Kiana Madeira) and her brother, Josh (Benjamin Flores Jr), avid in doing research about the town’s history. There are other friends, Simon and Kate, deal drugs. Sam (Olivia Scott Welch) has moved from Shadyside to Sunnyvale, is hurt, goes to hospital, and her gay relationship with Nina is gradually acknowledged.

There are further possessions, murders, the touch of the gory, Samantha herself becoming possessed and Deena planning to kill her and revive her. However, she is revive but possessed, having to be tied up. The first part in is here on the second part opens immediately at this juncture.

1. The title, the tone? Young adult stories? R.L.Stine and his imagination, horror stories?
2. The 1994 setting? The trilogy and the stories going back in time and dates? The story as a culmination?
3. The New England tradition of witches, Salem, executions, curses, resurrections, living on and perpetuating the curses?
4. The tone, the opening, However, the bookstore, relationship with Ryan, his killing her, going on a rampage, the police shooting him? His later resuscitation?
5. The town of Shadyside, the contrast with neighbouring Sunnyvale? Light and darkness?
6. The story of Sarah Fier, witch, the 17^th century, execution, the burial, her grave, her curse?
7. The young teens in the town, Deena, her relationship with Sam, gay, closeted? Her brother, Josh, books and research? Giving the information about Sarah Fier? Friends with Simon and Kate, drug dealing? The teen atmosphere?
8. The vigil, the brawl between the group from Shadyside and the wealthy teenagers from Sunnyvale, the football jocks? The vision of Sarah Fier?
9. Peter, under suspicion, the jocks, going to the hospital, Sam, their deaths?
10. The revenge and retaliation, the car, the disturbing of Sarah Fier’s grave? The blood on Sam?
11. The reputation of C.Berman, surviving 1978, her phone call at the end, the warning?
12. The revelation about Sam, the curse, killing? Getting the prescription drugs, the decision to kill and revive Sam? Her throwing up the pills? Deena trying to drown her? The deaths of Simon and Kate, the police attributing to them the responsibility because of their drug dealing? Sam and her being possessed by Sarah? Deena overpowering her and tying her up? What then?