Latest news with #FearStreet
USA Today
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Fina Strazza went from 'Fear Street' to 'John Proctor.' Will she conquer the Tonys next?
Fina Strazza went from 'Fear Street' to 'John Proctor.' Will she conquer the Tonys next? Show Caption Hide Caption The 'Fear Street: Prom Queen' film left R.L. Stine asking one question Acclaimed author R.L. Stine chats with USA TODAY's Ralphie Aversa about the Netflix film adaptation of his book, "Fear Street: Prom Queen." Fans of Netflix's 'Fear Street' horror movies have good reason to tune into the Tony Awards on Sunday. Fina Strazza, who plays a villainous mean girl in the 1980s-set slasher film 'Fear Street: Prom Queen' (streaming now), snagged her first Tony nomination for actress in a featured role for 'John Proctor Is the Villain.' The Broadway show has seven nods going into the June 8 ceremony at Radio City Music Hall, including best play and lead actress for Sadie Sink. The 'Stranger Things' star also has ties to 'Fear Street' after appearing in two of the three movies in the 2021 film trilogy. Strazza, 19, is 'feeling good' but 'still in a little bit of a haze about the nominations,' she says over a recent video chat. 'Can't quite wrap my head around it still.' In the play, Strazza stars as Beth Powell, a devout, by-the-book overachiever at a rural Georgia high school circa 2018 in the wake of the #MeToo movement. She and her fellow students are studying 'The Crucible,' Arthur Miller's 1953 play about the Salem witch trials, and over the course of a narrative peppered with pop music references, the kids wrestle with the themes of the play, its connection to their own lives and how John Proctor probably wasn't the hero everyone thought he was. 'It's about these young teenage girls grappling with how to be young feminists in a community that they've never been taught how to be, and how to think critically and how to take up space when they've never really had that encouragement,' says Strazza, who had her Broadway breakthrough at 8 years old when she was the youngest actress to play the lead role in the musical 'Matilda.' For the past two years, 'there's not been a single day that I haven't thought about this play,' Strazza adds, and she sees firsthand how its story has affected young theatergoers. 'It's been really kind of heartbreaking but also empowering to see how relevant the story still is, even though it takes place seven years ago. We kind of all feel like we're still in the same place. And I feel that audiences have been leaving the theater every night with this kind of vigor and drive to keep up a fight in this world. It's been really meaningful to be a part of that.' Strazza's also enjoyed working with Sink, and those two go way back: Strazza starred with Sink's brother Mitchell in 'Matilda' and their families have been friends for years. 'I've always been very proud of her to see how much she's done,' Strazza says. 'I've been following in her footsteps a little bit with 'Fear Street' and now with this. I'm happy to be on this little path behind her. She's just the most grounded and sweetest person ever. I really enjoy being around her.'
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
5 best 1980s slasher movies to watch after 'Fear Street: Prom Queen'
The 1980s were the heyday of the slasher movie, when dozens of films about masked killers slashing their way through unsuspecting, often teenage, victims made their way into theaters and onto video store shelves. That's exactly the vibe that director and co-writer Matt Palmer aims to capture in Netflix's new hit horror movie 'Fear Street: Prom Queen,' the latest installment in the 'Fear Street' franchise. 'Prom Queen' is set in 1988, and its story of a killer stalking the prom queen finalists at Shadyside High could be lifted wholesale from a 1980s slasher movie. I found 'Prom Queen' to be a fun, if disposable viewing experience, but as a longtime slasher-movie fan, I mainly felt inspired to go back and watch more of the real thing. If you're interested in checking out the origins of 'Fear Street: Prom Queen's" style, here are five of my favorite 1980s slasher movies to stream now. Easily the best '80s slasher movie (and one of the best horror movies ever made), writer-director Wes Craven's haunting, hallucinatory suburban nightmare introduces Robert Englund as supernatural serial killer Freddy Krueger, a deceased child murderer who now has the ability to attack people in their dreams. Freddy is a horror icon, and Englund makes him instantly unforgettable as he terrorizes the teens of seemingly placid Springwood, Ohio. Freddy is matched by determined teenager Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp), who is convinced that her classmates are being killed in their sleep, even if no one else believes her. Nancy is a fierce but vulnerable hero, and her inner strength in standing up to Freddy is what gives 'Nightmare' its emotional power. The subsequent franchise is uneven, but Craven's original film is a masterpiece. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Rent/buy at Amazon or Apple The first 'Prom Night' is a lesser Jamie Lee Curtis horror entry, but this quasi-sequel — which was originally produced as a wholly unrelated movie — is much more entertaining, with a campy sense of humor and a welcome oddball tone. It's the best prom-related slasher movie, featuring the ghost of a murdered prom queen taking her revenge 30 years later. Mary Lou Maloney (Lisa Shrage) possesses the body of a current student and embarks on a reign of terror, all with the goal of being crowned prom queen once again. As in 'Fear Street: Prom Queen,' the title is worth killing for, and director Bruce Pittman stages some inventive deaths as Mary Lou murders her way back to the top of the social hierarchy. Watch on Prime Video Summer camps are a common setting for slasher movies (including 'Fear Street: 1978'), and 'Sleepaway Camp' is one of the most memorable, not just for its notorious shock ending. It's appealingly off-kilter even before then, starting with Desiree Gould's unhinged performance as the controlling aunt who sends introverted main character Angela Baker (Felissa Rose) off to sleepaway camp, where she's relentlessly bullied by the other campers. As Angela's tormentors start dying one by one, often in creatively gruesome ways, writer-director Robert Hiltzik keeps the audience on edge, questioning Angela's mental state and her status as both a victim and possible perpetrator. The movie's handling of queer identity is both bold and potentially problematic, but it looks more groundbreaking as time has gone on. The mix of sexuality, trauma and vengeance makes 'Sleepaway Camp' into a stark, brutal experience. Watch on Prime Video Noted mystery novelist Rita Mae Brown originally wrote the script for this clever film as a slasher-movie parody, and while director Amy Holden Jones presents it in a more straightforward manner, it's still full of sly humor. It might be a stretch to call 'The Slumber Party Massacre' feminist, but the filmmakers shift the perspective of the typically male-dominated genre, and there are plenty of opportunities to poke fun at the killer's very phallic weapon, a giant drill. There are also plenty of opportunities for the teen-girl characters to take their clothes off, as they get together for a sleepover at one girl's house while her parents are away. A massacre ensues, courtesy of an escaped murderer, but there are at least as many fake-outs as actual murders, and Jones maintains a playful visual style even as things get nasty. Watch on Prime Video The high point of the mostly glum 'Friday the 13th' franchise is this goofy sixth installment, which brings in self-aware humor to liven up yet another story about hockey-masked murderer Jason Voorhees taking out a series of interchangeable victims. The series has been around long enough at this point to have its own recognizable formula, and writer-director Tom McLoughlin toys with audience expectations, making cheeky references to the movie's own absurdity. McLoughlin also makes Jason (played this time by C.J. Graham) into a completely supernatural force, bypassing any need to explain his frequent resurrections. While past installments could be salacious and sexualized, 'Jason Lives' captures more of a throwback monster-movie vibe, making it almost wholesome in comparison to the frequently sleazy slasher genre. It's a lively, bright spot in a franchise that is more often grim and repetitive. Watch on Pluto TV
IOL News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
'Fear Street: Prom Queen' is a nostalgic horror that misses the slasher thrills
A terrifying scene from 'Fear Street: Prom Queen', which is set in 1988. Image: X/@mcumagik A little bit of nostalgia can be a sweet escape, but not when it's served cold and bland. "Fear Street: Prom Queen", Netflix's latest addition to the "Fear Street" franchise, tries to blend '80s camp with teen slasher horror but ends up limping somewhere between laughably corny and painfully dull. Set in 1988, the film follows Lori Granger, played by India Fowler, a shy outsider at Shadyside High with dreams of winning the coveted prom queen title. Haunted by a vicious rumour tied to her family, Lori believes that if she can snag the crown, she'll finally shake her bad rep and change her destiny. She's tired of being the town's punchline, so in a bid to reclaim her narrative, she signs up to compete against the usual suspects: the mean girl, the influencer, the try-hard, and the token rebel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Alongside her horror-loving best friend Megan (played with decent charm by Suzanna Son), Lori embarks on a journey that quickly takes a sinister turn. One by one, the prom queen hopefuls start dying because Shadyside, surprise, surprise, is cursed. Again. It all sounds promising, especially for slasher fans who enjoy a high school setting with blood-splattered prom dresses and cheesy one-liners. But where the concept screams classic horror fun, the execution is anything but. Director Matt Palmer goes for the retro look- neon lockers, dated pop hits, and big hair - but forgets the fundamental rule of horror: build tension. The film flatlines in the scares department. Death scenes feel rushed and uninspired, with little creativity or suspense. The film follows Lori Granger played by India Fowler, a shy outsider at Shadyside High with dreams of winning the coveted prom queen title. Image: X/@mcumagik The killer looks like they wandered out of a Halloween clearance bin, and even the goriest moment, someone fumbling with a door after losing their hands, is more comedic than chilling. Worse still, the characters are as bland as the plot. We're reintroduced to the typical American high school ecosystem: the stoners, the geeks, the plastic queens and the loners. There's no fresh spin, no attempt at subversion, just recycled tropes we've seen since the first Scream trailer hit the airwaves. Lori is sympathetic, sure, but her drive to become prom queen feels oddly dated and disconnected from any modern sensibility. In a world on fire, this storyline feels like it belongs in a burned-out VHS tape. Everything feels watered down. Even the big twist (yes, there's always one) is more 'meh' than 'mind-blowing.' Visually, the film does attempt to stay true to its retro setting. The outfits, neon lighting, and synth-heavy score do give a nod to '80s horror classics. But style without substance doesn't cut it. If you're going to bathe your film in nostalgia, at least give it some teeth. "Fear Street: Prom Queen" has no edge. No chills. No urgency. It feels like a horror film made by people who watched horror movies once and decided that was enough. It might appeal to fans of the franchise desperate for more content, but for everyone else, or most of us, it's a forgettable flick. In short? If you're hoping for a proper scare or even a guilty-pleasure slasher thrill, keep looking. This one's more prom fail than prom queen. Rating: ** significant flaws but some merit
Metro
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Netflix horror sequel soars to number 1 after viewers stay up to watch
A new horror movie sequel has dominated the global charts on Netflix, despite scathing reviews and a dismal Rotten Tomatoes score. Fear Street: Prom Queen was released on the streaming service on May 23, becoming the fourth instalment of the terrifying franchise, based on RL Stine's book series. The latest slasher was set in 1988 and starred Ariana Greenblatt, Chris Klein, India Fowler, Ella Rubin, Suzanna Son and Fina Strazza, with Matt Palmer taking over as director from Leigh Janiak – who helmed the previous three. It followed students at Shadyside High as they prepared for their prom, despite dead bodies piling up around town. Fans clearly watched the new horror in their droves as it quickly topped Netflix's most-watched chart, with more than 10.7million views in the last seven days, and over 16m hours watched. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. However, the success may be a surprise as the Prom Queen sequel has been panned by critics and viewers alike, and currently commands a 27% Rotten Tomatoes score. Sharing his thoughts on the platform, Chris P fumed: 'It was like they took all the cool parts from a bunch of recent horror movies and put them all in one movie hoping it was pass as original. It didn't.' Christina B agreed: 'It was terrible. Terrible. Just. Terrible. Has absolutely nothing to do with Fear Street, or the curse, or anything. Just a basic slasher… but even then it was poorly done. 'Not even in a campy way. It was just bad. Cannot recommend, especially if you are a big fan of The Fear Street Triology [sic].' 'This show is an absolute stain on the fear street trilogy,' Alex B said. Gregg C commented: 'It's impossible to understate how bad this is.' Twitter users echoed similar sentiments, sharing their disappointment that they had stayed up for a 'snoozefest'. 'Stayed up to watch the new fear street and it was just mid,' Jenna wrote. Mika posted: 'Fear street prom queen is the worst movie I stayed up late to watch.' As Ria added: 'Fear street prom queen was a waste of time. Literally stayed up for a snoozefest.' The first three Fear Street instalments hit our screens in July 2021, with part one – set in 1994 – focusing on a group of teenagers battling against an evil force after a series of slayings. Part two was set in 1978, and returned to Shadyside as a killer began a murderous spree, while the third flick swapped between the 1600s and the 90s, showing the teens trying to save their town. More Trending The official synopsis for Fear Street: Prom Queen reads: 'Welcome back to Shadyside. 'In this next installment of the blood-soaked Fear Street franchise, prom season at Shadyside High is underway and the school's wolfpack of It Girls is busy with its usual sweet and vicious campaigns for the crown. 'But when a gutsy outsider puts herself in the running, and the other girls start mysteriously disappearing, the class of '88 is suddenly in for one hell of a prom night.' Fear Street: Prom Queen is available on Netflix now. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Netflix fans rave over 'perfect cast' as The Thursday Murder Club trailer drops MORE: Matthew Goode insists Downton Abbey remark 'was not meant to be derogatory' MORE: This London Underground horror getting a reboot is your ultimate travel nightmare
Tatler Asia
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
These new horror movies prove the slasher genre isn't dead
'Fear Street' trilogy Divided into three parts ( 1994 , 1978 , 1666 ), the trilogy, based on R.L. Stine's popular Fear Street book series, traces the origins of the Shadyside curse back to the execution of Sarah Fier. Accused of witchcraft, her vengeful spirit possesses others to kill on her behalf. Part of the trilogy's appeal is its reverence for slasher and horror movies that came before, evoking nostalgia in fans of the genre. Part 1: 1994 borrows elements from the Scream franchise. Part 2: 1978 , set in summer camp, pays homage to the Friday the 13th movies. And Part 3: 1666 incorporates elements of folk horror. 'Scream' (2022) Jenna Ortega steps into her scream queen era in this clever, Gen Z-driven revival of Wes Craven's legendary slasher series. Set 25 years after the original Woodsboro killings, a new Ghostface begins targeting a group of teens. The attacks draw legacy survivors Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and Dewey Riley (David Arquette) back into familiar—and deadly—territory as they help a new generation of victims survive the carnage. See also: How Jenna Ortega nails gothic fashion with a nod to 'Beetlejuice', 'Wednesday' and more 'Scream VI' After surviving the latest round of Woodsboro horrors, sisters Sam and Tara Carpenter (Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega) try to rebuild their lives in New York City. But a change of scenery doesn't mean they've escaped the nightmare as Ghostface emerges to stalk them anew. In a direct callback to the original Scream sequel, familial revenge serves as the motive behind the killings in this update. Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) returns with Scream 4 alum Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere)—now an FBI agent—to assist in the investigation. 'Fear Street: Prom Queen' R.L. Stine continues to terrorise a new generation with the latest addition to the Fear Street universe. Set once again in the cursed town of Shadyside, Prom Queen follows Lori Granger (India Fowler), an outsider at her high school who soon finds herself fighting for her life when the prom court starts turning up dead, one by one, at the hands of a masked assailant. With its blood-soaked blend of teen drama and mystery, Prom Queen nods to horror classics like Stephen King's Carrie —minus the pig's blood and psychic meltdown—and the 1980s cult classic Prom Night . Don't miss: In 'Nosferatu', true horror lies within the human 'Final Destination: Bloodlines' Already hailed as the best entry since the original, the opening set piece alone is guaranteed to fuel the anxiety of a new generation of viewers. The latest instalment in this horror movie franchise takes generational trauma to the next level, introducing a clever twist: life—and death—are inherited legacies. But as much as that adds a fresh new layer to the mythology, it's the deaths that steal the spotlight, each one unfolding like a morbid Rube Goldberg machine. 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' (2025) Instead of a reboot, fans are getting a direct sequel when I Know What You Did Last Summer hits cinemas on July 18. While the film introduces a new cast of characters—led by Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders and Jonah Hauer-King—it's expected to revisit the original movie's core premise and tropes: a group of teenagers bound by a dark secret are picked off one by one by a hook-wielding killer. Legacy characters Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Ray Bronson (Freddie Prinze Jr) return to confront the past and help uncover who's behind the new wave of murders.
