PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Summer is a time for vacations, staying up late, catching up on TV, and watching movies. As a kid, I tried to rent every horror movie I could. Before the internet, I just relied on word of mouth or VHS covers to help me make my decisions. The ’80s was a big time for horror villains for me, two of the two most memorable being Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees. It wasn’t until later in my youth when I discovered other horror icons and the beloved genre known as slasher movies, especially summer camp slashers.
Recently, Netflix released Fear Street: Part 2 – 1978. The synopsis of the film:
Shadyside 1978. School’s out for summer and the activities at Camp Nightwing are about to begin. But when another Shadyside is possessed with the urge to kill, the fun in the sun becomes a gruesome fight for survival.
Leigh Janiak (Honeymoon 2014, Fear Street: Part 1 – 1994 2021) returns as the director for the second film in the series, which is a great decision. I think it’s helpful having somebody who knows the scripts and the cast, plus she’s familiar with the storyline. This gives her a better grasp on how this new story should be told. Fear Street: Part 2 – 1978 is a continuation of part 1 (read our review of the first film here), so if you haven’t seen the first film, you might be lost. Even though there was a recap in the beginning of this one, it still helps to watch Fear Street: Part 1 – 1994 as there are some interesting throwbacks to the past and future of this franchise.
Being set in the ’70s is great for Fear Street: Part 2 – 1978 as it was a time where so many were growing up and trying to fit in. It’s refreshing that the film doesn’t feel hokey or forced like they’re trying too hard to show that they’re all living in that decade. The characters are relatable, dealing with issues that we all know so well. My only complaint regarding the movie is with the soundtrack, which was something that bothered me with the first film. At times, the music is on the nose, but in some scenes, it seems like it’s just being used to be used. Backed with an extensive library of summer camp slasher movies, Fear Street: Part 2 – 1978 does a great job keeping the faith and love of these type of films alive, but at the same time, making it its own. It was interesting to see how they set up the third film in the series and even possible sequels for a Fear-verse. The movie is on Netflix right now along with the third and hopefully not last from our beloved R.L. Stine Fear Street series.
