The Fear Street trilogy is one of Netflix's most popular film series and welcome addition to the horror movie genre. The film series draws inspiration from R.L. Stine's Fear Street books and combines it with the best elements of horror. The final result is a wonderfully strange yet simple story of a misunderstood witch and an ambiguous curse.
The Fear Street trilogy presents many different plot points, characters, and twists that keep audiences engrossed. However, with the multitude of aspects that audiences must focus on, more minute details fail to be recognized. While this grants the Fear Street trilogy much rewatchability, many fans end up missing easter eggs, subtle themes, and other lesser-known elements.
10 Fear Street Books
It is common knowledge that the Fear Street trilogy is based on R.L. Stine's book series of the same name. Although, many viewers forget this fact and fail to recognize these books in the films. They make an appearance several times with the author's name Robert Lawrence - Stine's first and middle name - rather than R.L. Stine.
In part one, the fifth Fear Street book, "The Wrong Number", is seen being sold by Heather Watkins at the B. Dalton Bookseller store. Soon after as Heather closes up, various Fear Street books are seen lining B. Dalton's shelves. In part three, Deena Johnson tapes multiple Fear Street books to herself making makeshift armor.
9 Classic Horror Novels
While the Fear Street trilogy is centralized on R.L. Stine's famous book series of the same name, the movies pay homage to many other classic horror novels. Various works of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Jackie Collins, and R.L. Stine himself are seen or discussed throughout the trilogy.
In part one, the B.Dalton Bookseller store includes various works from these authors, most notably the Fear Street books by R.L. Stine and Insomnia by Stephen King. In part two, Ziggy Berman and Nick Goode bond over their shared interest in Stephen King's works while at Camp Nightwing.
8 Familiar Filming Locations
Many Fear Street trilogy fans will know that it was primarily filmed in Georgia, however, most will fail to recognize popular filming locations. These areas have been used to film a multitude of famous television series and movies. Only the most perceptive and knowledgeable viewers will recognize these memorable locations.
The North DeKalb Mall, known as the Shadyside Mall in the Fear Street trilogy, has been featured in Loki, Cobra Kai, and MacGyver. The police station seen in the Fear Street trilogy is the same as Hawkins Post in Stranger Things. Camp Rutledge, known as Camp Nightwing in the Fear Street trilogy, was featured in an episode of Ghost Hunters.
7 Popular Slasher References
The Fear Street trilogy features many notable classic slasher movie themes. Everything from astonishingly clumsy victims to slow yet suspenseful chase sequences is seen throughout. However, many will fail to notice direct reflections or inspiration from famous slasher films.
The intro sequence of part one is directly inspired by the infamous opening scene from Scream. Part two's setting and the general plot are immensely similar to that of most Friday the 13th movies. Another notable reference in part two is Tommy Slatter's The Shining-esque method of breaking down doors.
6 Slasher Killer Copycats
While the Fear Street trilogy is brimming with horror movie references it goes a step further in its slasher's designs. Any knowledgeable slasher film fan will recognize numerous similarities between the killers in the Fear Street trilogy and other infamous slashers. Many of the Fear Street trilogy's killers are copycats.
Ryan Torres, aka The Skull Mask Killer, bears a skeletal mask and robe similar to Scream's killer Ghostface. Tommy Slater's, aka The Nightwing Killer's, sack mask and use of an ax makes him nearly identical to Friday the 13th's killer Jason Voorhees. Both Billy Barker and Harry Rooker, aka The Milkman, resemble Halloween's killer Michael Myers as a child and an adult.
5 Ziggy Berman Lives
The Fear Street trilogy is chocked full of supernatural events and beings that defy reality. Everything from three century-long curses to immortal serial killers exists in this otherworldly horror trilogy. Despite these peculiar instances, by far the strangest yet forgettable event is Ziggy Berman's survival.
In part two, Ziggy and Cindy Berman succumb to the overwhelming number of killers at Camp Nightwing. Both sisters are dealt fatal injuries, yet Nick Goode inexplicably saves Ziggy with CPR. Regardless of the aid Ziggy received, it is unlikely she could have survived without intensive medical care, let alone CPR. So, the real circumstances behind Ziggy's survival are unknown although it may relate to Goode's deal with the devil.
4 Sarah Fier's Curse
From beginning to end, viewers are unsure of the reasoning or nature behind the witch Sarah Fier's curse. It is initially believed that Fier cursed Shadyside, but it is later revealed to be Solomon Goode. This revelation causes many viewers to believe that there never was a Curse of Sarah Fier, however, this is not the case.
Sarah Fier, in her last moments of life, placed a curse, not upon the land but the Goode family. This hex would forever plague the Goode family and ensure that the truth of their treachery would become evident. Fier's curse inspires vision's in the descendants of Shadyside's original settlers, guiding them towards the truth.
3 History Repeating Itself
Part three of the Fear Street trilogy reveals the origins of Sunnyvale and Shadyside. Throughout part three, viewers will notice numerous similarities between the past and present, chiefly the characters present. Alongside these familiar faces, many near-identical events take place throughout the films.
Both Samantha Fraser and her identical ancestor Hannah Miller endure their mother's scorn for having girlfriends. The original teenage settlers partook in hallucinogenic berries while their present-day counterparts indulge in pills nicknamed blueberries. Deena Johnson and her settler double Sarah Fier alike are ridiculed for sleeping in by their younger brothers.
2 Dozens Of Foreshadowings
Horror movies often present scenes that foreshadow a variety of future events. These hints at what is to come often allude to a character's death, an upcoming twist, or even an answer to an overarching question. The Fear Street trilogy, however, is riddled with various monumental foretellings.
Throughout the trilogy, characters jokingly say that they will murder one another. In part one, Deena Johnson comically claims that she will kill Samantha Fraser if she bloodies her sweater. In part two, Camp Counselor Kurt states that Sunnyvale will murder Shadyside in the color war. These harmless statements - and many others - became a reality as Deena killed Sam and many Shadysiders were killed.
1 Many Goode Clues
The most significant plot twist of the Fear Street trilogy is the revelations concerning the curse, Sarah Fier, and the Goode family. In part three, it is revealed that Solomon Goode made a deal with the devil, forever cursing Shadyside and ultimately framing Sarah Fier. While this major reveal is seemingly unexpected, there is a multitude of clues hinting at the truth.
The most apparent yet underlying indication is the mascots of each school, the Sunnyside Devils and the Shadyside Witches. Additionally, there are symbolic clues involving Nick Goode such as when he has blood on his hands or when a snake slithers on his lap. Another more blatant hint is when Nick Goode seemingly jokes about owning cans of spray paint used to tag the Shadyside Mall with the Sarah Fier poem.