Fear Street Part Two: 1978 is the second film in a trilogy that will be released weekly starting July 2. Leigh Janiak directed the second part, which is based on the Fear Street books by R.L. Stine. The cast includes Sadie Sink, Emily Rudd, Ryan Simpkins, and McCabe Slye.
– Mild Spoilers –
Fear Street Part Two: 1978 Review
Fear Street Part 2 starts from the last instalment. Deena and Josh arrive at C. Berman, aka Cindy’s house, to learn more about the curse that has a hold on Sam. We then go to a flashback – the summer of 1978.
Ziggy is your typical teenager, as in, she burns down flags and does graffiti on things. She’s full of teenage angst. Her sister, Cindy, however, is a different kind of annoying altogether. While the younger sister is more annoyed with the helplessness of being at Shadyside, Cindy wants to be like the people from Sunnyvale, in hopes that her life will be different from the people of the town.
The difference between the two towns forms the lifeblood of Fear Street Part Two. It drives the wedge between the two facets of campers in Nightwing, and the reason why Ziggy is bullied and abused. In one of the earlier scenes, poor Ziggy is hunted, tied and burnt and called a witch all because of where she is from. It’s brutal to watch, more so because her bully seems unfazed, as if this is an expected outcome.
That is more evident between Cindy and Alice, her childhood (estranged) friend. While the former wants to act more goody-goody, Alice seems to have given in to how Shadysiders are. She’s always on drugs and has loud sex at the councillors’ office. Their lives are just so different, yet they are pushed by the same force.
Also Read: Netflix’s Fear Street Part 1: 1994 Review: Kiddie Fun
However, that is where Fear Street Part Two’s novelty kind of ends. Even though the movie goes into creepier stuff later, it never really feels scary. If anything, it feels like the creators are taking the story a little too seriously, and thus it loses its charm pretty soon. As I had felt in the last movie of the trilogy, Fear Street Part Two doesn’t feel scary or creepy.
Additionally, the Sarah Fier lore, too, is less interesting here. The characters’ quest to find out more about the witch seems forced and less interesting. The campers’ bickering with each other gets on the nerves after a while, especially Alice and Cindy.
Fear Street Part 2 feels more like a slasher than a horror. Ok, granted that slashers are kind of a part of horror, but you get my point. The supernatural horror aspects are quite tame and don’t evoke many scares. But the insane amount of blood that gets thrown about can be quite fun. Also, Stephen King gets referenced so many times, so for fans, that’s a plus.
Sadie Sink is the best part of Fear Street Part Two. Her anger, frustration and angst just come to the surface wonderfully through Ziggy. You understand her feelings towards people around her, life and herself. Her performance is so believable that you empathise with her.
Also Read: Horror Movies With the Scariest Opening Scenes: Jaws, Scream and More!
Summing up
Fear Street Part 2 is interesting, bloody and gory, all because of Sadie Sink’s amazing acting and screen presence. However, that doesn’t mean that it chills and thrills – no, it doesn’t. It’s still pretty much a kiddie story, one with an insane amount of blood and axe-wielding.
Next week, we will get into Sarah Fier’s life and how the curse came about. It should be interesting, at least the preview seems to be so. Maybe the horror part, too, will be amped up later.
Fear Street Part Two: 1978 is streaming on Netflix.
Also Read: Netflix’s Fear Street Part Three: 1666 Review: Ties the Knot