Since the last decade has seen a new wave of horror films including “The Purge,” “Get Out” and “The Conjuring,” it was only a matter of time before an iconic teen slasher made its way into the genre.
Netflix’s “The Fear Street Trilogy” is a three-part film series released weekly on the streamer based on the book series by famed horror writer R.L. Stine. The movies follow a group of teenagers living in Shadyside as they take on the evil force that is behind the brutal murders of their small town. Breakout actress Julia Rehwald balances two roles as Kate, a high schooler who wants to get out of her small town, in “Fear Street Part One: 1994,” and Lizzie, a spunky village girl who is always down to have a good time, in “Fear Street Part Three: 1666.”
Teen slashers are a staple in the horror community but what sets the kids of “Fear Street” apart from the others is their tenacity to fight back. “The thing that’s admirable about these kids is that they really take the killers head-on,” Rehwald explained proudly. “I would say the majority of their time is actually spent thinking of ways to fight them off, and then actually fighting them off.”
As a breakout role, “Fear Street” is as good as it gets with its positive feedback and acclaim from fans and critics alike. The high praise came as a surprise to Rehwald, who admitted she didn’t fully grasp the skyrocket in popularity until she was in the thick of it. “I kind of knew it would be a big release,” she recalled. “And it was kind of crazy to go from 0 to 60—like having this be my first thing and having it blow up so big. I’m so grateful for everything as it happens.”
But the popularity of “Fear Street” is no accident, following the footsteps of Netflix’s hit series, “Stranger Things.” Steeped in nostalgia, the trilogy is not just appealing to movie buffs, with its references to iconic films such as “Scream” and “Friday the 13th,” but also to the young generation of today who are currently pulling influence from ‘90s, ‘80s and ‘70s aesthetics. Everyone, from the director to the crew to the actors, put their all into the project, only to have audiences receive it with open arms. “It just feels so nice to have something that you’ve made and worked really hard on to be appreciated by people so I’ve enjoyed everything as it comes along,” Rehwald said. “And I think we did really want to live up to the iconic vibe of ‘Fear Street.’”
Watch the full interview above to hear more of what Rehwald has to say and check out “The Fear Street Trilogy” only on Netflix.
