Fear Street Prom Queen Breaks Genre Tradition With Multiple Killers and Dark Secrets

In the year 2021, Netflix created a sensation with the release of the supernatural slasher movie series called the Fear Street trilogy. The first part, titled Fear Street Part 1: 1994, debuted on July 2, 2021, and the subsequent sequels followed close behind. Since then, other horror franchises have attempted to replicate this rapid release strategy for films, with A24’s X (2022), Pearl (2022), and MaXXXine (2024) being notable examples.

2021’s “Fear Street Part 3: 1666” hinted at future installments in the “Fear Street” series, which is why it came as no shock when a film titled “Fear Street: Prom Queen” (2025) was announced. What sets “Prom Queen” apart is that it actually precedes “Fear Street Part 3,” contrary to what the latter’s mid-credit scene might imply. This is because “Prom Queen” deviates from the timeline rules set in the initial trilogy, but it continues to enrich the lore of Sunnyvale and Shadyside by expanding the universe.

Every Shadyside Killer in the Fear Street Trilogy

The Original Trilogy Focuses on One Shadyside Killer for Every Generation

The film series, titled “Fear Street Part 1: 1994“, “Fear Street Part 2: 1978 “, and “Fear Street Part 3: 1666 “, is a connected storyline that unravels in reverse order. The narrative centers around the haunted town of Shadyside, which has been cursed by a witch’s spell dating back to the 1600s, as depicted in the films’ titles. As the trilogy progresses, the central character, Deena Johnson, gradually uncovers a chilling secret about the Shadyside curse.

For countless generations, life has been grim for individuals born in the town of Shadyside. Known as “Killer Capital, USA” due to its high rate of serial killings, Shadyside seems to offer its residents little chance at a better life, no matter their efforts. Many who aspire to leave Shadyside are ridiculed by fellow townsfolk under the belief that “no one escapes Shadyside.” Born in this seemingly doomed locale is almost as bad as a death sentence, as alcohol, drugs, incarceration, or a serial killer eventually take their toll.

Many residents of Shadyside attribute their town’s misfortune to a woman named Sarah Fier, who was labeled a witch in a settlement called Union. Over time, Union split into two areas, Sunnyvale and Shadyside. As the names suggest, Sunnyvale is a peaceful paradise while Shadyside is plagued by horror. Many believe that Sarah Fier cast a curse on Shadyside, causing even good people to become killers. This legend is widely accepted as the reason for the occasional appearance of a serial killer every decade. However, it’s been discovered that Solomon Goode, a resident of Shadyside, made a pact with the Devil and falsely accused Sarah Fier of being a witch to hide his own wrongdoings. In the story Deena uncovers the truth about the Goode family.

Deena: I was in a time travel situation, assuming the identity of Sarah Fier. It’s crucial to understand that Sarah Fier was not guilty; she wasn’t transforming Shadyside residents into killers or practicing witchcraft! Pay attention, Josh! Here’s what you need to know: Solomon Goode, an ancestor of Nick Goode, struck a deal with the Devil. He then falsely accused Sarah to hide his own Puritan misdeeds. The Goode family has been using us, Shadyside residents, as pawns in their sinister game. Solomon Goode gives a name to the Devil, who then possesses that individual. This possessed person kills and murders. The Devil feeds on the blood of slain Shadysiders. In return, Goode receives his desired favors. He ascends to the position of Sheriff. His brother becomes mayor. Sunnyvale flourishes under their rule.
Josh: And Shadyside doesn’t.
The Goodes repeatedly continue their actions, generation after generation, with one corrupt member following another. It’s a wicked tradition, carried on from Solomon to his offspring, from the firstborn to the present day, all the way down to Sheriff Nick Goode.
– Deena explains what Sarah Fier showed her in Fear Street Part 3: 1666

In every generation of the Goodes, it is the firstborn who offers a resident of Shadyside to the Devil as a sacrifice. Every 13 to 16 years, this chosen individual receives possession by the Devil, transforming them into a serial killer. As part of the bargain, the Devil grants the firstborn Goode whatever they desire, maintaining their power and ensuring that Sunnyvale remains an idyllic place to live. Interestingly, these Shadyside killers never survive their murderous rampages. This practice dates back to 1666 when Solomon Goode struck a deal with the Devil, sacrificing Cyrus Miller.

The trilogy doesn’t delve into every Shadyside Killer, but it does provide details about several of them. Goodman conjures spectral representations of certain killers to pursue Deena and her companions when they venture too close to the truth. Among the killers portrayed in the series are Skull Mask (1994), the Camp Nightwing Killer (1978), and Ruby Lane (1965).

Every Shadyside Killer Mentioned in the Fear Street Trilogy

Beyond the known assassins, there are also some mysterious shots depicted in “Part 2: 1978” and “Part 3: 1966”. In these instances, the current Goode, bound by the Devil’s pact, presents a fresh Shadysider. Each name carved into these stone slabs represents a sacrifice, and they reveal names that are not linked to the assassins previously mentioned. These extra names are:

Prom Queen Introduces a Few New Killers

But they Aren’t Traditional “Shadyside Killers”

In the movie “Fear Street Part One: 1994”, which unfolds in 1988, there’s a gap of six years since the first killing spree, known as the Skull Mask incident. This timeframe falls between two other massacres – the Camp Nightwing Killer in 1978 and the Skull Mask in 1994. However, it’s interesting to note that the series doesn’t specify an exact interval between these chosen killers. Instead, a new Shadyside Killer typically emerges every 13 to 16 years. The events of “Prom Queen” take place ten years after the Camp Nightwing incident, making it unlikely to fit the pattern of the Shadyside Killer. Also, the Prom Queen killer is not referenced in the original trilogy.

In terms of character dynamics, the “Prom Queen” storyline significantly departs from the narrative established in the initial “Fear Street” trilogy. Unlike the Shadyside Killers from the original series who were all singular entities possessed by the Devil and compelled to kill unwillingly, the murderer in “Prom Queen” is a trio rather than a single individual. As the number of Prom Queen candidates mysteriously dies, it’s not until the final revelation before the senior class that the identity of the killers is unveiled.

Multiple contenders are vying for the title of Prom Queen, among them Lori Granger, a young woman whose mother was falsely accused of murdering Lori’s father. Tiffany, often portrayed as a typical popular mean girl, is also in the running, along with all of Tiffany’s self-proclaimed friends, known as her ‘Wolfpack’. Christy Renault, who seems to have the most support, is a rebellious figure and drug dealer. Unfortunately, she meets an untimely end before prom night. As events unfold, it’s revealed that many of the candidates are eliminated by Tiffany’s father, Dan Falconer, who is desperate for his daughter to win the crown, as he believes winning the Prom Queen title will help erase the stigma surrounding his own dark secrets.

Following Dan’s arrest, Lori heads to Tiffany’s house, her neighbor next door. Despite years of being bullied by Tiffany, Lori chooses to rise above it all and offer help during this difficult night. Unfortunately, this act of kindness turns out to be a mistake, as when Tiffany’s mother, Nancy, arrives home, she is revealed to be in league with her husband. In a shocking confession, Nancy admits to having murdered Lori’s father, as he had left her for Lori’s mom. To make matters worse, Tiffany also discloses that she has been working hand-in-hand with her parents and takes pleasure in the murder.

This particular group of murderers stands out from the rest of the Shadyside Killers. Unlike them, this family isn’t under the control of the Devil, compelled to take lives unwillingly. Instead, they find pleasure in killing and may do so in the heat of passionate retaliation, or even as a means to acquire something desired, such as winning the title of Prom Queen.

Prom Queen Offers Some Intriguing World-building

It May Deviate From the Original Trilogy, But Prom Queen is Still Fear Street

In a separate tale yet connected to the Fear Street universe, “Fear Street: Prom Queen” unfolds. It subtly alludes to the initial Fear Street trilogy throughout its narrative. The story kicks off with Lori as the protagonist, who casually mentions the chilling events of Shadyside. As she wanders the halls of Shadyside High School, a memorial board for Camp Nightwing’s 1978 victims catches her eye. The movie also includes brief flashbacks featuring different slayers from Shadyside. Towards the end, when Dan Falconer is apprehended, one of the officers on the scene brings up the Camp Nightwing Massacre.

Drawing numerous connections to the classic Fear Street trilogy, it can be concluded that the series continues to expand an already extensive catalog of Shadyside’s misfortunes. In contrast to the reliance on devilish pacts, the plot unfolds with a chilling reminder that wickedness exists in all corners of society, not solely fueled by supernatural forces. The Falconers, for instance, are not under any external control or influence, instead, they seem to revel in violence and will go to extreme lengths to secure what they perceive as their rightful possessions.

In my critique as a movie enthusiast, I must say that the climactic scene in this film involves a character named Lori taking the lives of Tiffany and her mother, Nancy, under circumstances of self-defense. The instantaneous demise of Tiffany occurs when Lori delivers a powerful kick that propels her off the second-story balcony, landing her on an imposing eagle statue positioned below. To fend off Nancy, Lori seizes a substantial trophy and strikes her forcefully in the temple. This action doesn’t immediately claim Nancy’s life; instead, she collapses to the floor, paralyzed, and eventually succumbs to her injuries due to excessive bleeding. The film’s conclusion is relatively straightforward, featuring the typical ‘killer reveal’ and the ‘final girl’ triumphing over the antagonist. However, what sets this movie apart is the post-credits scene.

In a brief scene during the credits, we revisit Tiffany’s house, finding Nancy’s body slumped against a chair in her living room. A growing puddle of blood by Nancy’s side forms an eerie shape – the Witch’s Mark. This mark is a reminder of Solomon Goode’s initial pact with the Devil, and it hints that even though the Falconers weren’t the “Shadyside Killers,” their violence and deaths still nourish the Devil. Deena describes the Devil as feeding on the dead residents of Shadyside, so it seems that Goode’s deal might extend beyond just the Shadyside Killers. In other words, any evil or violence that occurs in Shadyside is enough to sustain the Devil.

2025-06-04 00:56