A mix of Scream and Stranger Things, Leigh Janiak’s Fear Street Part One: 1994 is a blood-spattered teen slasher done right! Yep, the retro frights, dripped in moody neon lights, are exceptionally delivered from start to finish. This all comes courtesy of a wickedly fun script full of cheeky self-awareness, legitimate surprises, and loads of 90’s nostalgia. And, if it’s “slice and dice” gore you’re after, well, it has got that too. Let’s just say the filmmakers didn’t waste an ounce of their “blood budget.” The movie’s cast of characters are also deserving of much praise, as our core cast of teens make for a confidently fearless bunch that you can’t help but root for. The one problem all the horror homages leads too, however, is an overwhelming familiarity at times. It’s not so bad that it becomes a “been there, done that” situation, but it does take some of the originality out of the equation. There’s also the fact that things end on a blatant “to be continued,” ensuring we all check out the following chapters. A smart ploy for sure, but frustrating, nonetheless. Regardless, this maiden Fear Street outing remains a bloody good one!