A double of "Scream" or an original horror? A typical slasher or the beginning of something cult? We tell you what "Fear Street Part One: 1994" is all about.

Netflix continues to experiment with formats and forms, and this time offers a horror trilogy "Fear Street" based on the works of cult writer R.L. Stine, releasing one film per week. The first part is subtitled "Fear Street Part One: 1994". And it's quite a trashy ride, in a good sense.

Obvious Stylization of 90s Teen Horror

In the small town of Shadyside (aka Shittyside, according to neighbors from prosperous Sunnyvale), tragic mysterious events occur with regular frequency. So in 1994, a maniac in a Halloween mask appears and, for no apparent reason, goes on a killing spree in a supermarket.

Whether you want it or not (but most likely you do), "Fear Street Part One: 1994" immediately evokes nostalgia and associations with a number of 90s teen slashers, particularly the decade's biggest hit, "Scream." Moreover, director Leigh Janiak (incidentally, wife of Ross Duffer of "Stranger Things") does not mindlessly copy her predecessor but rather pays homage, because the point here is not the masked killer or irony about the genre.

The characters, mostly in the spirit of the 90s, are quite stereotypical, but with a nod to modern trends — the classic romantic couple at the center of the story are lesbians, the nerd who knows best what's happening is a chubby black guy, and the slacker paints his nails and wears women's clothes. Oh, times, oh, morals!

Among the actors, one can single out Maya Hawke (as the most famous face in the cast) and Kiana Madeira, known to Netflix fans from the series "Trinkets." The rest are typical, but strictly fulfilling script functions, nothing more.

Stereotypes have also carried over into the plot, but with one caveat (more on that later). You're unlikely to be surprised by any plot twists if you've seen at least 5-7 teen slashers from the late 20th century. You can have fun while watching by betting on which characters will die in what order. Chances are you'll be able to predict that too.

But It's Not That Simple

The film could be called mediocre and lowbrow. After all, it's far from the level of "Scream," and it's noticeably less inventive than, say, "The Final Girls." But there are two "buts":

• The film doesn't take itself too seriously. The playful and superficial tone of the narrative seems to say, "Hey, viewer, we're just fooling around, come join us!";

• The subtitle "Fear Street Part One: 1994" transparently indicates that this is only the beginning of a trilogy. This fact alone is not surprising, but the fact that the authors decided to tell the story from the end (the second part will cover 1978, and the first 1666) is at least intriguing. After watching the first part, we already know what should happen in the sequels. How these circumstances will affect the viewer's experience, we'll find out very soon. But we can already say thanks for the suspense.

Is It Worth Watching "Fear Street Part One: 1994"?

The 90s atmosphere with music from The Prodigy and Garbage, familiar character types and plot devices for slasher fans, and an attempt to create an unconventional narrative with a reverse timeline across a trilogy — all this sets "Fear Street Part One: 1994" apart from other summer premieres and can not only evoke a wave of nostalgia but also deliver long-forgotten emotions. After all, even lowbrow cinema can be good.

Trailer:

P.S. Notably, Leigh Janiak previously worked on the series "Scream." Such is her love for Wes Craven's cult work.