Netflix breathed some new life into the horror genre with their slasher series, The Fear Street Trilogy. The series consisted of three films, telling one overall story with each movie giving the perspective of a different time in history. The Fear Street Trilogy is based on a series of books written by R.L. Stine of Goosebumps fame.
Many elements of this series do feel like Goosebumps for grown-ups, as it has the same kind of plot one would expect from the children's horror series but with a lot more blood and guts. It's worth noting that the trilogy doesn't directly adapt any of the books, but tells its own story with elements of the original stories. This is done very well and the overall story is very easy to get into. A lot of the kills and deaths are also very much on par with some of the more gross and gory horror films.
Behind all of that though, the overarching narrative that ties this all together is a love story. A very touching love story that is easy to root for because of its fragility and honesty. From close to the beginning of the first film when the characters are introduced, to the end of the final film when they finally defeat their curse, the love story and the issues surrounding the context of the story are at the forefront. It introduces a really compelling contrast of a really fun and violent slasher series, compared to a real and relatable love story with an important message.
The series tells the story of Shadyside, a town where everyone is seemingly doomed to tragedy. In Fear Street: 1994 audiences are introduced to Deena and Sam, two teenaged girls who love each other but are struggling to be together. Sam was born in Shadyside but moved to neighboring town, Sunnyside where only good things seem to happen. When awful things start happening to Deena, Sam, and their friends, it's learned that Shadyside's troubles caused by a curse set upon the town by a witch named Sarah Fier.
Sarah Fier was crucified in 1666 by the original residents of Shadyside, and cursed the members of the town that did this to her. The rest of the story revolves around the group figuring out not only what the curse really is, but how to stop it and save Sam and Shadyside forever. Of course, there ends up being far more to the story than what meets the eye. In the end, Sarah Fier is learned to not really be a villain at all. Deena realizes that Sarah was victim to the same kinds of prejudices that she and Sam are subject to, and that the real villains are sometimes a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Obviously, Deena and Sam are a lesbian couple. While in 1994 when they are alive things were certainly more accepting than 1666 when Sarah Fier was alive, they are still struggling. Deena seems to be mostly out of the closet, but Sam certainly is trying to deny who she really is at the beginning of the trilogy. Their story isn't quite the most relevant in the trilogy's second film, Fear Street:1978 but everything really does come together in Fear Street: 1666. It's learned that Sarah Fier herself was crucified for being seen engaging in lesbian acts. She was tortured and mistreated, solely for that. And the real villain all along has been the overly perfect Sunnyside p0lice officer Nick Goode.
The overarching story of learning what happened to Sarah Fier, and Sam and Deena coming together and saving Shadyside is on the surface a fun and well-thought-out horror trilogy. But at its core, there's a lot more meaning than that. Sam and Deena are not being accused of witchcraft for being gay. However, they are facing discrimination from Sam's mom. They also face discrimination in just being from Shadyside, because of the town's reputation. When Deena spends the first half of Fear Street: 1666 in the shoes of Sarah Fier and experiences what she went through, she is not only horrified but she can relate to it.
When the audience sees this, it feels very sad. In a way, it makes the viewers want Sam and Deena to succeed even more. And luckily, that pays off. When they finally defeat Nick Goode and end the Shadyside curse, they also openly decide to be together. It's very heartwarming. Because they are so young, and because it's known that they will face obstacles because of their sexualities, everyone wants them to end up happy.
The entire Fear Street Trilogy is really about how love can win over the worst of curses. It's about how harmful these prejudices can be. There are also elements of it being about society and the establishment. Nick Goode appears to be the most stand up person in the film, but he's secretly a villain. Just like how Sarah Fier was said to be this horrible witch all along, when actually she was unfairly murdered for her sexuality. Behind the nasty deaths and the over the top feel, the whole narrative here really is an important one and the level of understanding for the queer experience is something not often seen in slasher films.
The entire Fear Street Trilogy is available to stream on Netflix.