Fear Street Part Two:1978

Directed by Leigh Janiak

★★★½

Fear Street Part 2: 1978 - Key Art

Drawn from the blood of the camp slashers that preceded it, Fear Street Part Two: 1978 is another successful homage in the trilogy to the classic slasher films of the past while cementing itself as a future trope-manipulating classic. 

In the trilogy’s second outing we once again start in 1994 (the trilogy’s present and my birth year💁‍), as we catch back up with Deena, who is finally meeting Gillian Jacobs character, C Berman, in person. Berman begins to recount one fateful night at Camp Nightwing in 1978, which sends us back into the past and to the core of our film’s story. 

In 1978, we meet a bunch of sexed up and horny counselors, the Shadyside weird girl Ziggy, her straight-laced sister Cindy and her boyfriend Tommy Slater. And despite the archetypes found with these characters, which was undoubtedly intended, their characterizations run deep. 

Director Leigh Janiak once again is completely aware of the genre's tropes, and she knows the audience is too. So, instead of giving us what we expect from these tried and true character archetypes, Janiak consistently subverts where we think she will be going and it’s so refreshing, especially for this obsessive slasher fan. 

When it comes to the kills, Janiak does not disappoint. While there is no kill particularity as gruesomely unforgettable as in 1994, there is enough, somewhat mean-spirited, carnage to spare, this time thanks to our Friday the 13th Part Two inspired killer, who dons the iconic sack over is head , but wielding an axe rather than a machete. 

And honestly, the film as whole lives up to the one it follows in the trilogy. While not as completely as fresh as the first outing, 1978 cements itself as necessary viewing for any horror fan, old or new.