Prom night in Shadyside has always been cursed but this time, it’s not the supernatural doing the carving. It’s the prom queen candidates themselves.
Netflix’s Fear Street universe is back, and its latest chapter, Prom Queen, slashes its way into 1988 with a blood soaked vengeance. Released on 23 May 2025, this standalone flick dives headfirst into high school politics, pageantry, and premeditated murder, served with a glitter dusted knife to the throat.
A Crown Worth Killing For
Set in a haze of Aqua Net, satin, and synthpop, Prom Queen follows Lori Granger (played by India Fowler), a classic Shadyside outsider thrown into the high stakes arena of prom royalty. But when fellow nominees start vanishing faster than last minute corsages, Lori finds herself trapped in a twisted contest where survival matters more than votes.
A sneaky mid credits scene hints that this massacre might connect back to the sinister lore of the original Fear Street trilogy, because Shadyside never really stays quiet, does it?
A Cast That Cuts Deep
The film stacks a slick ensemble:
- Suzanna Son (Red Rocket)
- David Iacono (The Summer I Turned Pretty)
- Ella Rubin, Chris Klein, Lili Taylor, Katherine Waterston, and Ariana Greenblatt round it out with varying degrees of menace and trauma.
Directed by Matt Palmer, the tone veers into cult slasher territory, equal parts Pieces, Heathers, and Sleepaway Camp with throwback gore and the kind of colour dripping production design that makes every kill pop.
Critics Are Split—and So Is the Audience
Reactions are as divided as a hacked up cheerleader. The Guardian called it “a kitschy rehash that undercuts the Fear Street potential,” while Den of Geek leaned in hard, praising its neon-drenched mood, synth laced soundtrack (Billy Idol’s ‘White Wedding’ makes a killer cameo), and pulpy commitment to the bit.
Fans of the original trilogy might find it a little less witchy and a little more grindhouse, but for those craving an R rated throwback slasher with a touch of prom night spite, Prom Queen delivers the carnage.
Fear Street: Prom Queen is now streaming on Netflix.
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