Netflix’s ‘Fear Street’ Killer: Shocking Inspiration from Classic Slasher ‘Alice, Sweet Alice’!

by

As a dedicated cinephile, I’m thrilled to find myself back in the heart of horror with Netflix’s latest offering, “Fear Street: Prom Queen”. This movie marks the fourth installment in their chilling “Fear Street” series, inspired by R.L. Stine’s beloved book series of the same name. While the newest addition to this franchise might not be winning over the critics just yet, it’s been making waves atop Netflix charts, as expected.

In an intriguing revelation before the film’s release, director Matt Palmer shared one of his primary sources of inspiration for the movie. This time, we’re taken back to 1976, a year that saw the arrival of the cult horror classic, “Alice, Sweet Alice”. It seems this chilling tale from the past has left an indelible mark on Palmer and the “Fear Street” universe.

In a recent chat with Bloody Disgusting, director Palmer discussed the horror movie “Fear Street: Prom Queen.” Earlier, he had spoken to Netflix about some of his inspirations, mentioning movies like “Scream,” “Happy Birthday to Me,” and “Sleepaway Camp.” This time, however, he focused on the impact of the lesser-known slasher film “Alice, Sweet Alice” on the killer’s costume design in this movie.

Initially, we pondered, ‘Which jacket color complements the red lockers best?’ We considered yellow, but found it too obvious since Alice, our model Alice, had previously used it. We experimented with blue, but then one of our designers suggested a bold move – red on red. This wasn’t an option we initially considered, as we were aiming for something other than red. However, when we saw the result, it was a ‘Wow!’ moment! It looked fantastic!

Interestingly enough, the director of Alice, Sweet Alice shared that he had long desired a red raincoat, yet couldn’t incorporate it into his film due to similarities with Don’t Look Now. Consequently, our story found itself returning to the very place where Alice, Sweet Alice yearned to be, clad in that coveted red raincoat.

As a cinephile, Alice, Sweet Alice left an indelible mark on me. Particularly, the exhilarating chase scene featuring the raincoat-clad antagonist resonated deeply. Additionally, being a devotee of the giallo genre, I felt a distinct echo of that style in certain aspects of the film, elements I had longed for from the outset.

(Official plot synopsis:) The events of this horror movie revolve around a high school prom night that turns into a terrifying nightmare when an ancient evil is unleashed. A group of students must band together to survive and find a way to stop the horror before it’s too late.

As I step back into the chilling atmosphere of Shadyside High, I can’t help but feel a shiver run down my spine. The latest chapter in the grisly Fear Street saga is upon us, and this time it’s prom season that’s drenched in blood. The pack of It Girls at our beloved school are once again weaving their sweet yet venomous webs, vying for the crown in their usual ruthless fashion. However, an audacious outsider has thrown a wrench into their plans by being unexpectedly nominated to the court. As one by one, the girls start mysteriously vanishing, the class of ’88 is in for a terrifying prom night they’ll never forget.

‘Alice, Sweet Alice’ Deserves Its Place Among Slasher Horror’s Seminal Classics

Alice, Sweet Alice, from the early days of the slasher genre, is known for not adhering to the typical formula of masked killers whose identity is unveiled at the end. Instead, Director Alfred Sole crafts an American giallo film that delves into psychological terror rather than sticking to genre conventions. The movie is also notable as Brooke Shields’ debut, and it boasts one of the most spine-tingling endings in ’70s horror cinema.

Read More

2025-05-27 00:32