‘Fear Street: Prom Queen’ Director on the Ending’s Killer Reveal, the ‘Satanic’ Mid-Credits Scene and a Potential Sequel

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⚠️ BEWARE OF SPOILERS: The following content reveals plot points from “Fear Street: Prom Queen,” currently available for streaming on Netflix.

As a child in the U.K., Matt Palmer, the director and co-writer of “Fear Street: Prom Queen,” wasn’t very acquainted with R. L. Stine’s teen horror novel series that initiated the Netflix film series. While they had “Goosebumps,” which was Stine’s more famous series for younger readers, “Fear Street” didn’t have as significant an influence in the U.K. as it did in other regions.

Fortunately, Palmer was yet invited to helm “Prom Queen,” the fourth installment in the “Fear Street” movie franchise, prior to the producers finalizing which of their ten shortlisted titles they intended to adapt. This book resonated with him, despite his being beyond high school years.

The initial concept was something like, ‘What if we created a teen movie in the style of John Hughes, with characters reminiscent of those in ‘The Breakfast Club’, but added an element of danger – a maniac wielding a power tool? That was our starting point.’ Additionally, it felt fitting to anchor the film in the personalities of Lori (India Fowler) and Megan (Suzanna Son). A common criticism of slasher movies is that characters tend to serve merely as narrative devices. Here, however, we wanted to ensure that the audience would be deeply invested in the characters from the beginning itself. The question was, what if we made the audience care about the characters right from the start?

Palmer felt elated about the reference material and grateful for Stine’s approval to modify it for the screenplay. His initial step was revising the dialogues to develop characters that seemed more modern and well-rounded.

He points out that while they are creating a film set in the past, it still needs to be relatable for today’s audience. In the original story, the girls often discuss boys, but in this movie they talk more about each other, and it definitely satisfies the Bechdel Test criteria.

A significant shift in the plot occurred with regards to the killer’s identity, a revelation that would leave even devoted book fans stunned at the movie’s conclusion. It turned out that Dan and Nancy Falconer (played by Chris Klein and Katherine Waterston) were murderers, working to help Tiffany (Fina Strazza) win prom queen. The surprise was further intensified when it was disclosed in the climax that Tiffany herself was a dangerous psychopath.

Palmer confessed that he had conceived the final scene’s concept from the start. He explained, “When I initially presented my idea to the producers, they asked, ‘Who committed the crime?’ To which I replied, ‘These two individuals carried out the act, and this is what the culprit would say: “People seldom recall the specifics; they only remember the victor.”‘ This element was already set in place from the very beginning, making it simpler for me to write as we didn’t have to second-guess it — ‘These are the perpetrators, and there is one surprise’ — when we were crafting the story.

An unexpected aspect of the movie involves a short scene during the credits, where blood from Nancy’s injured head creates a symbol. This symbol, known as the Witch’s Mark, has significance in the earlier “Fear Street” trilogy, serving as a signal for a demonic sacrifice.

Palmer says the easter egg was originally more of an element in the film.

Originally, the killers were involved in a larger satanic ritual as part of their work, but this was reduced in the final script. Instead, they attempted to use satanic methods to carry out their actions but failed, resorting to traditional means with whatever tools were at hand. There was also an idea for a second film set in 1990 that would focus on a Satanic Panic theme. We considered linking characters from the first movie and adding a post-credit sequence, but ultimately decided to keep the film concise and impactful.

He explains that he aimed to create a film lasting less than 90 minutes, as he’s fond of brief, impactful horror movies. However, they primarily focused on the story being told, leaving some room for fans to connect it with the initial films or speculate about its implications. Perhaps, the 1990 movie could return and offer further insights into this intriguing Easter egg at the end.

So is this direct sequel to “Prom Queen” likely to get made?

Indeed, there’s a possibility, but let me clarify. I’ve also been given the opportunity to create an ’80s-inspired slasher within the ‘Fear Street’ universe. To be honest, I don’t wish to ask for more than my share. If the chance arises to revisit the playground once more, I’d jump at it. However, I’m equally thrilled about seeing other talented directors take the helm. The producers are keen on finding visionary filmmakers, and I can’t wait to see what fresh ideas they’ll bring to the ‘Fear Street’ franchise in the future.

Watch the “Prom Queen” trailer below.

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2025-05-24 02:16