We don’t get many speculative fiction about pre-colonial villages, which is it a shame, because when it’s down well, (see: The Witch and The Crucible, it’s a master piece of terror and storytelling. That time period is rift with subject to illicit fear, because the settlers and pilgrims were literally scared of everything, every thought, and every strange happening. What unfolds in Part 3 (1666) of this anthology is the story of the settlers that made Sunnydale and Shadyside what it is was.
What I liked: The village of Union coming undone (get the imagery there?). We can only speculate the true depths of horrors our early settlers experienced as they struggled to make sense of the disasters that befell them. What the viewers glimpse on screen is but a taste of that madness.
My favorite line of the whole film, spoken by our spunky protagonist: “They think we’re guilty, so we are.” It captured what I felt was happening all along between Sunnydale and Shadyside. The film’s premise is – if you view something as else there’s no way you could escape from that so why try. The victims of Shadyside had been under that thrall for so long. Our protagonists in each film tried to come out from under that pressure. So if they fear you, they just don’t embrace your weird. So be weird anyway. I might be reading too much into it, but I appreciated that message greatly.
Sara Fiers hanging was the brutal ending to the second act. Although it was highlighted with a monologue (that wasn’t really necessary), it was an end to a horror movie chase that was pure and exciting because it wasn’t someting supersaturated throughout the film.
I really liked the surprised 1994 Part 2 story continuation. I expected the events of 1994 to be interwoven into the 1666 story like it did Part 2 did (1978). Somehow I was still caught me off guard and I liked it. I especially liked how 1994 Part 2 continuation was the final act this film needed. It gave us a fight with the Big Bad we were all waiting for – complete with super soakers, green blood and all the neon monster mall running you’d want.
What I didn’t Like: 1666″Fear Street” Part 3 was historically inaccurate. I doubt homoerotic feelings (as displayed by our two female protagnosits) were that open (or allowed to be). I imagined such things were quickly internalized, but given that this i fiction i get it. Given that it’s still two lesbian protagonists that unrivals the town generations before feels lazy to me.
Actors return to play the same characters they’ve been playinb. They are typecasts within their own anthology, which isnt a stretch for some of these actors. They were truly wasted beyond just one liners.
Verdict: Let your freak flag fly! For something stuck in develipment hell for years, the Fear Street Anthology did great to get our attention. It’s fun to watch even if its not a classic.