Yesterday, April 29, 2025, I was sipping my evening chai when I got the notification that sent my heart racing: Netflix released the first full trailer for Fear Street: Prom Queen, the latest chapter in the Fear Street franchise, and I’m already counting down to its May 23 premiere. As someone who grew up sneaking R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books under my blanket with a flashlight—my mom would’ve flipped if she knew I was reading “scary stuff” at 10—I’ve been a fan of Stine’s chilling world for years. The Fear Street trilogy back in 2021 had me glued to my screen, and now, seeing this new trailer, I’m ready to return to the cursed town of Shadyside. Let me break down why this trailer has me so gripped and what it promises for fans of horror like me.
A Bloody Prom Night in Shadyside
The trailer for Fear Street: Prom Queen throws us right into the late ‘80s at Shadyside High, where prom season is in full swing. The school’s clique of “It Girls” is battling it out for the prom queen crown with their usual mix of charm and cruelty, but things take a dark turn when a gutsy outsider, Lori Granger, gets nominated. Suddenly, the other girls start disappearing, and the trailer makes it clear this isn’t just high school drama—someone’s out for blood. We see flashes of a masked killer in a red hooded cloak, blood splattering across a dance floor, and a prom night that looks more like a nightmare than a celebration. It’s set to the ironic backdrop of Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven Is a Place on Earth,” which gave me chills as I remembered how music in the original trilogy made every kill even more haunting.
The story is a direct adaptation of Stine’s 1992 novel The Prom Queen, the first time the Netflix series has pulled straight from one of his books. I remember reading that book in high school—my best friend and I passed it back and forth during lunch, whispering about how creepy it was that the prom queen candidates were getting picked off one by one. Seeing it come to life on screen feels like a full-circle moment for me, especially since the trailer captures that same sense of dread I felt turning those pages. Director Matt Palmer, who also co-wrote the script with Donald McLeary, told Netflix’s Tudum that the film digs deep into high school and family life, exploring challenges that still resonate today. That mix of nostalgia and relevance has me hooked—I can already tell this isn’t just going to be a slasher; it’s going to hit close to home.
A Cast That’s Already Stealing My Heart
The trailer gives us a good look at the cast, and I’m already rooting for these characters (even if I know some of them won’t make it to the end). India Fowler plays Lori Granger, the underdog who’s thrust into the spotlight, and there’s a moment where she shows up to prom looking stunning but clearly on edge—like she knows something’s about to go wrong. I loved Fowler in The Agency, and I can’t wait to see her take on this role. Suzanna Son plays her best friend Megan Rogers, who seems like she might be hiding something—I got major red herring vibes from her in the trailer, especially with that line, “It’s Shadyside—when’s it all going to go wrong?” Then there’s Fina Strazza as Tiffany Falconer, the vindictive queen bee who has it out for Lori. I’ve been a fan of Strazza since Paper Girls, and she looks like she’s going to nail the mean-girl role.
The cast also includes some heavy hitters like Ariana Greenblatt as Christy Renault—I adored her in Barbie last year—and veterans like Katherine Waterston and Lili Taylor, who I’m guessing play some of the adults in Shadyside. David Iacono, Ella Rubin, and Chris Klein round out the ensemble, and I’m curious to see how their characters fit into this bloody mess. The trailer hints at a lot of interpersonal drama, which makes me think we’re in for some juicy character moments before the kills start piling up. I’ve always loved how Fear Street balances teen angst with horror—it reminds me of my own high school days, minus the murders, of course.
A New Era for Fear Street—But Where’s the Connection?
What’s fascinating about Fear Street: Prom Queen is that it’s a standalone story, set in 1988, between the events of Fear Street: 1994 and Fear Street: 1978 from the original trilogy. The 2021 films were so tightly connected, weaving a curse across centuries that kept me on the edge of my seat. I watched all three in one weekend with my cousin, and we were obsessed with how the story unfolded from 1994 back to 1666. But this new film seems to be doing its own thing, focusing on a fresh mystery rather than tying directly into the curse we saw before. That post-credits scene in Fear Street: 1666, where someone stole that sinister book, had me hoping for a continuation, but the trailer doesn’t hint at that—yet.
Fans on X are buzzing about whether there’ll be cameos from characters like Christine Berman or Nick Goode, who’d be in their 20s in 1988. I’d love to see some familiar faces, even if it’s just a nod to the trilogy, but I’m also excited for a new story. The trailer promises classic ‘80s slasher vibes with a modern twist, and I’m here for it. It’s rated R for “strong bloody violence and gore, teen drug use, language, and some sexual references,” so I know it’s going to be just as brutal as the first three films. I still can’t get the bread slicer scene from Fear Street: 1994 out of my head—that was the stuff of nightmares! The trailer’s glimpses of an ax-wielding killer and blood-soaked prom decorations tell me I’ll be hiding behind my hands again.
What’s Next for Fear Street?
The release of this trailer feels like a big moment for the Fear Street franchise. The original trilogy was a bold experiment—three films dropped over three weeks in 2021, each one a hit with fans and critics. I remember reading that they spent 12 collective weeks in Netflix’s Top 10, which is huge for a horror series. Now, with Prom Queen, it feels like Netflix is testing the waters for a new era. R.L. Stine has said there are three more Fear Street movies in development, which has me buzzing with excitement. I’ve always loved how Stine’s books are an anthology of spooky stories, and I’m hoping we get more standalone films like this one—maybe even adaptations of other classics like Silent Night or Sunburn, which fans on X have been mentioning.
But I can’t help wondering why it took so long for this fourth film to arrive. The trilogy was such a success, and horror fans were clamoring for more. Why the four-year gap? Maybe it’s because this film has a new creative team—Matt Palmer is taking over from Leigh Janiak, who directed the first three. I loved Janiak’s vision, so I’m curious to see how Palmer’s style will differ. Some fans on X are also speculating that Netflix might be planning to use Fear Street as a way to give newer directors a platform, which I think is a great idea. If Prom Queen does well, it could pave the way for more regular releases—I’d love to see a new Fear Street film every year.
Counting Down to May 23
The first trailer for Fear Street: Prom Queen has me absolutely terrified in the best way possible. It’s got everything I love about the franchise: gory kills, ‘80s nostalgia, and a group of teens fighting for their lives in the cursed town of Shadyside. The cast looks amazing, the story feels personal, and I’m already dreading (and craving) the scares to come. May 23 can’t come soon enough—I’m already planning a watch party with my friends, complete with ‘80s snacks and a lot of screaming. This film feels like it’s going to be a bloody love letter to slasher fans, and I’m so ready to see how it all unfolds. What do you think about the Fear Street: Prom Queen trailer? Are you as excited as I am? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
