Fear Street: Prom Queen tops Netflix charts despite critics saying it's a night to forget.

The newest Netflix original movie has made a mark on the streaming site, and it's very bloody. Fear Street: Prom Queen has dominated the streaming charts in just five days after its debut on Netflix. This film has been ranked either one or second on Netflix's Top 10 This Week streaming rankings in Canada and the United States. It has performed less successfully in countries such as India, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, and South Korea.

Despite receiving negative feedback from critics and fans, this slasher film has been a commercial success. Websites that collect reviews reveal acceptance scores of only 33% for critics and 27% for audiences. After four years, it appears that Fear Street has returned with its most glamorous and gruesome story yet. But for many, the glamor and gore are insufficient to make it a success.

The film is the fourth installment of Netflix's horror series. This series is based on R.L. Stine's books of the same title. It serves as a standalone sequel to the first three Movies. The story is about prom season at Shadyside High. The school's popular "It Girls" are vying for the crown. However, when an unexpected outsider is nominated and other females begin to disappear without a trace, the class of '88 is plunged into a disastrous prom night.

Unpacking the plot of Fear Street: Prom Queen and its familiar slasher film tropes.

A look at the story's setup and why it could feel like other horror films you've seen.

The film begins with Lori Granger (India Fowler) explaining how things are. She warns us that Shadyside is cursed with horrible ways to die. This typically involves masked attackers wielding sharp equipment. Lori is running for prom queen despite not being one of the popular girls. Tiffany Falconer (Fina Strazza), a cruel girl with a fan base known as the Wolf Pack, is the most likely winner. They're all running for prom queen, but Tiffany will get my vote. Christy (Ariana Greenblatt), the school's cannabis dealer and bad girl, is another potential queen candidate. She feels a little redundant in the film, save to provide enough moments and a prospective victim for the killer.

Lori's lone companion is Megan (Suzanna Son), who excels at art and enjoys horror films. She creates horrible props to play tricks on her classmates. Lori bears a huge burden from her history. Her father was murdered on prom night, when she was still in her mother's womb. Everyone thinks her mother did it. Tiffany, the cruel girl, takes every opportunity to remind Lori of this rumor. This even occurs in class, with everyone listening. Tiffany gets away with it because her father, Dan (Chris Klein), is a fumbling teacher. Lori works a tough job at the cafe where all the other kids hang out. She needs the money to buy a prom outfit from a thrift store. To complicate matters, Lori and Tiffany's boyfriend Tyler (David Iacono) have feelings for one other. Tyler may be tired of the mean-girl bullshit, or he may simply be a minor character in a formulaic slasher story.

A masked killer wearing a red raincoat with a synth soundtrack has been lurking around Shadyside. This is ideal for inhabitants who need to air out their insides, especially if they are suffocating in high-waisted acid-washed jeans. The time is ideal because it is prom night. The school gym is packed with youngsters preparing to be hacked up to the tune of Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams". This happens despite the vice principal's (Lili Taylor) prayers. The bizarre element is that the killer appears to be targeting Tiffany's prom queen rivals. However, the killer creates a few more dead bodies in order to keep the list of potential suspects from becoming too limited. Place your bets if you want to know who comes next.

Comparing Fear Street: Prom Queen to Other Slasher Favorites, and Its Overall Quality

Why this new Netflix film may not stand up to the horror classics it tries to imitate.

Fear Street: Prom Queen feels like a slasher film attempting to pay homage to classics such as A Nightmare on Elm Street and Halloween. It also includes an image that seems identical to one from Halloween, gazing through closet door curtains. The killer resembles the bad guy from I Know What You Did Last Summer. Megan has a poster for Fulci's Zombie in her room to persuade you that the film is worth watching. The youngsters also visit a movie theater to see Phantasm II and Miracle Mile. I'd like to take the phrase Miracle Mile out of this movie's mouth. As Lili Taylor's character would do to a child who had called the Lord's name in vain. Miracle Mile is a crazy and cult masterpiece. To put it bluntly, Fear Street: Prom Queen is NOT.

It, like the previous Fear Street flicks, is a rip-off of other films, but unlike them, it is nearly hard to watch. It's a jumbled muddle of ambiguous direction, plot, and writing. The audio and editing are quite bad. Everything's messy. But, well, the movie contains many references. The most obvious reference is to scores of 1980s pop tunes. These tracks attempt to hold the film together like watered-down glue. There are also numerous references to important horror films that you should watch instead of this one. That is the fundamental issue. The picture aspires to be cool but does not put in the effort to acquire that title. I do not believe this film will be a memorable addition to the slasher genre.

Director Matt Palmer, like other filmmakers who value slasher classics, ensured that the film has a grainy 80s aesthetic. It appears to have been ran through a Camp Crystal Lake Instagram filter. But horror fans may wonder, what about the deaths? Well, you will see a lot of them. One might want to compliment the gore and amazing effects. However, they have a fairly typical feel about them. Decapitations and disembowelments have never been more boring. The film's attempts at comedy are considerably poorer. The film's many non-funny moments undermine any sense of fright it may have created. It also has one of the stupidest dance-off sequences ever captured on film. Prom Queen is a poor film. It showcases Netflix at its worst. I wanted to feed it into a machine that chops things up. That would be a satisfying kill.

Who are the actors portraying the characters in Fear Street: Prom Queen?

A closer look at the cast, both familiar and new, in this latest horror installment.

Many of the principal actors in Prom Queen are fresh to high-profile roles. Lori Granger is played by India Fowler, who is best known for her role on The Agency. Megan Rogers is Suzanna's son from Red Rocket. Tiffany Falconer is played by Fina Strazza, who previously appeared in Paper Girls. Gerald is Brennan's Next Step closing character. Melissa Mckendrick plays Ella Rubin in the television series Until Dawn. These actors are given their most prominent roles yet.

However, the slasher flick does feature several performers you may remember. David Iacono from Dead Boy Detectives appears in the movie. Chris Klein, from American Pie, is here. Lili Taylor appears in season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again. Katherine Waterston, best known for her role in Fantastic Beasts, appears. Ariana Greenblatt from Barbie and Ahsoka rounds out the cast as Christy Renault. Horror films frequently feature a mix of new and familiar faces. It has some well-known actors as well as newcomers.

The creator of the Fear Street books, R.L. Stine, has intimated that Netflix is not ready to end the series. He wrote numerous Fear Street thrillers. This implies there is a lot of material to adapt into films. While Netflix has not officially confirmed another Fear Street film, Stine revealed in January that the company had engaged writers for three new films. He said, "The writers are working. So I've crossed my fingers." This means that, even if Prom Queen did not impress reviewers, Netflix may have enough public interest to keep going.

Why You Might Want To Skip This Prom And What Other Slasher Movies You Should Watch Instead

Looking For Better Alternatives To Your Horror Movie Night That Are Streaming Now

I'd advise you to skip Fear Street: Prom Queen. Even Chris Klein's revisiting of a plot centered on a high-school election is insufficient to save it. Instead, if you want to see a fantastic slasher film, don't worry. There are many better streaming options available. These movies have received superior reviews and will provide a more fulfilling scary experience. Here are some of my top slasher choices to see right now. They've all been approved by Rotten Tomatoes.

Fear Street: Prom Queen is available to watch on Netflix. While it has acquired an audience, I believe there are many other slasher flicks that provide a more satisfying experience. A movie can receive a lot of attention without necessarily being a fantastic film. This appears to be the case here. If you're searching for a good horror flick, consider one of the other possibilities I've listed. You'll probably have a much better time.