Fear Street: Part Three - 1666 (2021)

Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: Fear Street: Part Three - 1666 (2021)
Original Title: Fear Street: 1666
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Length:  1h 54min
Rating: R
Director: Leigh Janiak
Writers: R.L. Stine, Kate Trefry, Phil Graziadei, Leigh Janiak
Based On: Fear Street book series by R.L. Stine
Actors: Kiana Madeira, Elizabeth Scopel, Benjamin Flores Jr., Randy Havens, Julia Rehwald, Matthew Zuk, Fred Hechinger, Michael Chandler, Sadie Sink, Emily Rudd, Olivia Scott Welch, Lacy Camp, McCabe Slye, Ashley Zukerman, Jordana Spiro, Jeremy Ford, Charlene Amoia, Mark Ashworth, Todd Allen Durkin, Ryan Simpkins, Ted Sutherland, Gillian Jacobs, Darrell Britt-Gibson

IMDb Blurb: In 1666, a colonial town is gripped by a witch hunt that has deadly consequences for centuries to come, while teenagers in 1994 try to put an end to their town's curse before it is too late.

Cat’s Point of View:

The third and final act of Netflix’s Fear Street trilogy made for a satisfying book-end to the three-film run of this story.

The first movie sparked so many questions, and the second offered few answers, whetting the appetite for more. Fear Street Part Three: 1666 offered not only an origin story to this tale of a curse enveloping twin cities, but also a fitting resolution in the “present day” where the narrative began in 1994.

Part Three offers revelations that aren’t quite as shocking as they likely were intended to be, and yet the twisty shenanigans still entertained.

I understand some of the detractors from this third installment complaining that it felt like this was 2 whole movies smushed together. In some ways, it could be seen that way. I, however, appreciate the way that the extended flashback occurred. It more viscerally brought us into the story of the origins of the curse that befell Shadyside. It pulled our present-day characters into the parallel scenario of the past.

The setting of 1666, while likely a year selected for the numerical significance with its dark connotations, did fall in a period of time when witch fever was still high between the general timeline of The Burning Times in Europe and the Salem Witch Trial era in the 1690s. The segment from the past felt plausible and harrowingly fitting to that time period.

The transition between the past and the present were done well. I enjoyed seeing how the familiar faces wove into the past and brought the situation in 1994 into greater focus.

Of course, the climax was as campy as you would expect based on the build-up from the first 2 teen slasher installments. There was still plenty of blood to be spilled and inventive plans to be hatched.

Over all, I really enjoyed the entirety of the experience of this trilogy. I do strongly suggest that anyone interested in Fear Street Part Three: 1666 go back and watch the movies in order. Just a reminder that they are a continuous story from Part 1 through Part 3. Netflix does offer skippable recaps, but why read the Cliff’s Notes when the whole of the tale is so entertaining? Each movie ends with a “to be continued,” and is nicely concluded with this third installment.

Sometimes trilogies don’t pay off in the way you would hope, and leave questions and missed opportunities in their wake. This was not the case with the Fear Street trilogy encompassing 1994, 1978, & 1666.

If you’re a fan of R.L. Stine’s work, or the nostalgic horror of campy teen slasher flicks, this trilogy and specifically its conclusion will be right up your alley.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 89%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 76%
Metascore – 68%
Metacritic User Score – 6.5/10
IMDB Score – 6.6/10

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4.5/5

Movie Trailer:

Fear Street: Part One - 1994 (2021)

Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year:  Fear Street: Part One - 1994 (2021)
Original Title: Fear Street: 1994
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Length:  1h 47min
Rating: R
Director: Leigh Janiak
Writers: R.L. Stine, Kyle Killen, Phil Graziadei, Leigh Janiak
Based On: Fear Street book series by R.L. Stine
Actors: Maya Hawke, Charlene Amoia, David Thompson, Ryan Torres, Noah Bain Garret, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Ashley Zukerman, Kiana Madeira, Benjamin Flores Jr., Julia Rehwald, Fred Hechinger, Matt Burke, Matthew Zuk, Olivia Scott Welch, Jeremy Ford, Elizabeth Scopel, Eric Mendenhall, Todd Allen Durkin, Jordyn DiNatale, Lloyd Pitts, Kevin Waterman, Emily Brobst, Keil Oakley Zepernick, Michael Chandler, Lacy Camp

IMDb Blurb: A circle of teenage friends accidentally encounter the ancient evil responsible for a series of brutal murders that have plagued their town for over 300 years. Welcome to Shadyside.

Selina’s Point of View:
I’m going to start by saying I was a rabid fan of R.L. Stine as a kid. I read every single Goosebumps that came out. Hit up the Scholastic book fair with the few dollars my mom gave me and bought out any R.L. Stine books I came across. Because of that, Fear Street: Part One – 1994 felt like a warm childhood hug.

It’s a horror that utilizes a bread slicer as a weapon, so I understand how strange that sounds. Cat and I have been discussing what goes into the definition of a “comfort movie” for someone, and I think this fits right into that discussion. My favorite comfort movie is Jurassic Park (1993), after all, and people get eaten in that.

But I digress.

I never read the Fear Street books, but the story still feels familiar. It’s reminiscent of 80s and 90s horror flicks like Friday the 13th (1980) and Scream (1996). It follows a lot of the same familiar horror movie rules and still manages to end in a way that’s a bit unexpected.

There are some plot holes that could be attributed to either the books or the adaptation. I have to hold it against the film, though, because I’m unfamiliar with the original material. Some people die in situations that don’t make sense, seeing how the secondary characters manage to stay safe as long as they do.

Despite that, the acting is on point, and the film is a pleasure to watch. For horror fans, I could absolutely see it being someone’s comfort flick.

Cat’s Point of View:
I was rather surprised to discover that we hadn’t already reviewed the Fear Street trilogy that had premiered as Netflix Original features back in 2021. I remembered that I had watched them and enjoyed them. I also recall distinctly writing about them. Alas, it was apparently just regarding my #12 entry on July 2021’s Top 20 list, where I placed all 3 together as a unit due to their release dates following only a week apart within that same month. I digress…

When the newest Fear Street movie, Fear Street: Prom Queen (2025) hit Netflix recently, it took me back to my fond memories of watching the first three. It would be weird if we covered the newest without visiting the trilogy that came first, though. Thus, here we are.

I was happy to watch Fear Street: Part One – 1994 again to refresh my memory. This time, my daughter was excited to watch with me. She hadn’t been into horror movies when these first released. We fell all the way down the rabbit hole and binged the trilogy. I’m only covering the first installment here, however.

Part One sets the stage for the overall adventure. There’s a good bit of lore both touched on in obvious and subtle ways. Some of the characters don’t seem to have quite as much depth in this first bit of story, but trust me when I say that things do develop as the overall 3-part story arc progresses.

From odes to the era in which this movie was set and the slasher genre to the details that highlighted the contrast between neighboring rival towns of Sunnyvale and Shadyside, this really felt like a R.L. Stine book come to life. Of course, he is the author of the Fear Street series these stories were adapted from.  One of the aspects I appreciated about these films, beginning with Fear Street: Part One – 1994, was that the production team wasn’t afraid to lean into the darkness and give the teen-scream series an R rating. Stine’s Goosebumps series felt more appropriate to the PG-13 range. R. L. Stine is great for offering chills for a wide age range.

One thing to note about this trilogy is that it is not, in fact, an anthology as I originally guessed. Each movie leads directly into the next. While the three films lean heavily into the time mentioned in their titles, they are exploring an interconnected story that spans hundreds of years. The end of each movie closes with “to be continued” and dives right into a sneak peek at the next installment. It was very easy to binge all three, and Netflix also offers an option to skip the recap in the next installment.

If you’re a fan of slashers, I’d highly recommend giving the Fear Street trilogy a try. 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 84%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 63%
Metascore –  67%
Metacritic User Score – 5.8/10
IMDB Score – 6.2/10

Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 3.5/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4.5/5

Movie Trailer:

Exhuma (2024)

 

 

Streaming Service: Shudder 

Movie Name/Year: Exhuma (2024)

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller 

Length: 2h 14min

Rating: Unrated

Director: Jang Jae-hyun

Writer: Jang Jae-hyun

Actors: Kim Go-eun, Choi Min-sik, Lee Do-hyun, Jung Yun-Ha, Yoo Hae-jin, Hong Seo-jun, Jeon Jin-ki, Kim Jae-cheol, Yeong-ran Lee, Lee Jong-goo, Park Ji-il, Kim Tae-Joon-Iii

 

Shudder Blurb: When a renowned shaman (KIM Go-Eun) and her protégé (Lee Do-hyun) are hired by a wealthy, enigmatic family, they begin investigating the cause of a disturbing supernatural illness that affects only the first-born children of each generation. With the help of a knowledgeable mortician (YOO Hai-jin) and the country’s most revered geomancer (CHOI Min-sik), they soon trace the affliction’s origin to a long-hidden family grave located on sacred ground. Sensing an ominous aura surrounding the burial site, the team opts to exhume and relocate the ancestral remains immediately. But as something much darker emerges, they soon discover what befalls those who dare to mess with the wrong grave.

 

 

Cat’s Point of View:

I was really excited about getting a chance to watch Exhuma this month. While it might have appeared otherwise, based on my personal Top 20 list for June, I can assure you that it wasn't absent for lack of anticipation or any early judgement on quality. The trailer made it clear that something interesting and ominous was going on in Exhuma. The only question for me was whether or not the Korean traditions, beliefs, and rituals would “translate” well to an un-initiated “western” audience.

 

 

To the credit of the entire production team from writing/directing all the way through set, cast, crew, and subtitle-writers. I had no trouble following along, even when events delved into matters I was unfamiliar with. Let me tell you, that was a lot. I knew next to nothing about Korean burial customs and any related rituals, beliefs, or superstitions before watching Exhuma. Of course, this story is about things going extremely awry, so it was, understandably, far and away from a normal situation. I found the insight into Korean traditions fascinating, and I forgot I was reading subtitles as I was watching.

 

 

As a related aside, the actors portraying shamans in Exhuma worked with their real-world counterparts to train in preparation for this movie, and the real shamans were available for consultation during production. This information has been made known through various sources and interviews, backing up the trivia nuggets on IMDb. I found one such article here, where a viewer interviewed an authentic Korean shaman to establish the legitimacy of the acted practices shown within the film. (Note, there are mild spoilers in that article so maybe check it out after you watch if you don't want to learn things that might give elements of the movie away.)

 

Exhuma's story was framed in what could essentially be called chapters, as if the movie was giving us a visual novel. The suspense and unease was palpable, and I appreciated how the supernatural was portrayed without need for enormous amounts of CGI. There were so many subtle layers involved.

 

 

I also appreciated how Exhuma explored a bit of generational trauma as it impacts individual people as well as a culture on the whole.

 

While Exhuma didn't have the edge-of-your seat action of Korean horror classic Train to Busan (2016), it was still a gripping tale worthy to be known as a significant offering to the genre from that region. If you're a fan of ghost stories from other cultures with a sprinkling of history involved, I'd recommend giving Exhuma a shot.

 

Exhuma released today, June 14^th, 2024 on Shudder.

 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 91%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 90%

Metascore – None

Metacritic User Score – 7.4/10

IMDB Score – 6.9/10

 

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5

 

Trust the Dice: Parental Advisory Rating   - PG-13

 

Movie Trailer:

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

 

 

Movie Name/Year: Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Length:  1h 55min

Rating: PG-13 

Director: Gil Kenan 

Writers: Gil Kenan, Jason Reitman, Ivan Reitman, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis 

Actors: Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray, Annie Potts, William Atherton, Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Celeste O'Connor, Logan Kim, Emily Alyn Lind, James Acaster, Chris Tummings, Kevin Mangold, Ian Whyte, Natalie Cousteau, Allison McKay 

 

IMDb Blurb: When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second ice age. 

 

 

Cat’s Point of View: 

There was really no question that I wanted to watch Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire as soon as physically and fiscally possible. I mean, it was my #1 pick for my March 2024 Top 20 article, after all. When a friend offered me a chance with an invite to an early matinee this past Tuesday afternoon, my response included “I’ll get the popcorn.”

 

I loved every second of this new sequel.

 

My friend had a slightly different take on it, but they seem to have taken one of the trailers a little too literally and were hoping for a spin leaning further into horror than comedy. This made for an interesting debate as we exited the theater. I countered with the fact that while the trailer teased that “every ghost they’ve ever caught will be unleashed” that it didn’t promise that they’d be fighting all or even the majority of them. That wouldn’t have even been feasible within the time constraints. That might be a great plot for a spin-off series – but it would have pulled away from concentrating on the big bad that earned this sequel’s frosty title.

 

 

Further, that the goofy comedy was a key aspect of this franchise going back to the very beginning. It’s meant to be family fun, if a little on the spicy side. Thus, of course, the PG-13 rating for Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) as well as this new installment. The original 1984 Ghostbusters came in under the wire within a month or so from when they even began to split the PG rating into a more advanced category. (I think the first sequel dodged the bullet with fewer sexual overtones and a more fantastical plot involving the pink goo taking away some of the intensity.)

 

To both points, as well, the note about “every ghost” was an ominous portent that did set up the plot elements that tied into the concept where failure to learn from history would make you doomed to repeat it. There were some excellent moments of déjà vu that I quite enjoyed as events unfolded. It also stood to reason that not all of the specters released in the original containment breach would have been caught in the interim; as well as not every spirit involved in the dirt farm incident was sealed away when Gozer was. I absolutely adored and delighted in each and every ghostly cameo.

 

 

I also had great appreciation for the fact that Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire provided such a seamless, if a little time-advanced – continuance from where Afterlife and its mid-credits scene left off. There didn’t need to be a lot of exposition into what was going on or how things got to where they were. Everything just worked – including the connections between original cast and new.

 

I was also very relieved that they didn’t try to bring ghostly Egan back again. There was one scene where I was worried, but it was a proving point that they wanted to honor him in a different way and moved forward to something else advancing the new plot.

 

I have realized that I generally agree with a fan theory that believes that Egan’s “spirit” – figuratively, rather than literally this time – within the team lives on with Winston’s head tech guy Lars, played by James Acaster (Cinderella, Springleaf, Seize Them!). He has the whole vibe of Egan’s character within The Real Ghostbusters (1986-1991) animated series, both on an aesthetic and team contribution level. It is clear that they were by no means trying to replace him or say that this new guy was some sort of stand-in, however. I took it as a natural progression out of necessity to fill the tech development void left with his passing, and a nod to other aspects of the Ghostbusters universe that just don’t often get acknowledgement. I loved that animated series and watched it religiously. I even have the #1 of the comic that was a spin-off from the cartoon. There were actually several elements within Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire that referenced (if sometimes loosely) plot and equipment details from the series. There’s nothing that officially solidifies that particular concept, as far as I know – but for now, it’s my own head-canon.

 

 

There were several other new characters that made a big impact within Frozen Empire. Kumail Nanjiani (Stuber, Welcome to Chippendales, Destroy All Neighbors), Emily Alyn Lind (Replicas, Doctor Sleep, The Babysitter: Killer Queen), and Patton Oswalt (Mystery Science Theater 3000, Heroes of the Golden Masks, Manhunt) are welcome additions to the franchise, and I really appreciated how each of their characters contributed to this story – whether on a plot or emotional level.

 

Gil Kenan (Monster House, Scream: The TV Series, Ghostbusters: Afterlife) has done a phenomenal job with these last 2 movies, and I can only hope that he continues to bring us stories from this beloved franchise. I also appreciate that he has maintained a dedication to continuing the vision that the creative minds that have come before him brought to us – as well as keeping up with a usage of practical effects wherever possible. There’s a really informative interview he did with Collider that goes into so much more, as well. (He has gone on record, as well, stating that he did want to incorporate elements from other corners of the Ghostbusters universe – such as the animated series within these new stories. The article is a good read.)

 

As you can tell, I’m extremely passionate about my Ghostbusters fandom. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire ticked all the required boxes on my personal approval checklist. If you’ve been a fan of the old-school cast or even the animated series, chances are you’re going to adore this new installment, too.

 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 44%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 84%

Metascore – 46%

Metacritic User Score – 5.7/10

IMDB Score – 6.5/10

 

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 5/5

 

P.S. – There is a mid-credit scene following this movie, but no further scenes after the credits end.

 

Movie Trailer:

History of Evil (2024)

 

 

Streaming Service: Shudder

Movie Name/Year: History of Evil (2024) 

Genre: Horror, Thriller

Length: 1h 38min 

Rating: Unrated 

Director: Bo Mirhosseni 

Writers: Bo Mirhosseni

Actors: Paul Wesley, Jackie Cruz, Zachary Branch, Ralph Rodriguez, Tordy Clark, Preston Flagg, Rhonda Johnson Dents, Jason Box, Ryan Baughman, Kyle Porter, Murphee Bloom 

 

Shudder Blurb: Shudder: In the near future, war and corruption have plagued America and turned it into a theocratic police state. Against the oppression, ordinary citizens have formed a group called The Resistance. One such member, Alegre Dyer, breaks out of political prison and reunites with her husband Ron and daughter Daria. On the run from the militia, the family takes shelter in a remote safe house. But their journey is far from over, as the house’s dark past begins to eat away at Ron, and his earnest desire to keep his family safe is overtaken by something much more sinister.

 

Rhonda Dents as “Trudy”, Paul Wesley as “Ron”, Murphy Bloom as “Daria”, and Jackie Cruz as “Alegre” in Bo Mirhosseni’s HISTORY OF EVIL. Courtesy of Shudder. A Shudder Release.

 

 Selina’s Point of View: 

Although the trailer for History of Evil was interesting, the movie made me a bit nervous. There were some red flags, mostly in the way it was marketed. When I sat down to watch it, it was with a healthy dose of skepticism. 

 

What I got was something incredibly tense and insightful.

 

History of Evil exists in a dystopian world where neo-fascists have taken over. We follow someone who seems to be the leader of the resistance as she gets out of political prison and is evacuated with her daughter and husband. Description-wise, this is obviously up my alley. Dystopias are my bread and butter. The movie probably would have been decent just leaning into that – at least for me. 

 

Paul Wesley as “Ron” in Bo Mirhosseni’s HISTORY OF EVIL. Courtesy of Shudder. A Shudder Release.

 

As it turns out, the intriguing world was nowhere near the best aspect of the film. 

 

From the very beginning History of Evil was tense, with only a few jump scares. By the end, however, my blood was running cold. Most of it was subtle. A look at how racism infects even the best of us if we continuously open ourselves up to the people who spread it. It showed how that kind of prejudice could be handed down and inherited. 

 

What could have been a basic haunted house story was made more tense by an unfamiliar world and the heightened realization of our own vulnerability to horrific thoughts. 

 

History of Evil was fantastic. It had a real message and was horrifying to watch.  

 

Bo Mirhosseni’s HISTORY OF EVIL. Courtesy of Shudder. A Shudder Release.

 

Cat’s Point of View:

History of Evil was intense and terrifying.

 

While I had felt that History of Evil had a lot of potential and looked like it would be pretty good based on its trailer, I hadn’t listed it on my personal Top 20 for this month just because of how heavy I anticipated it to be. I tend to go for escapism over things that are closer to reality. With the events in the world today and of yesteryear, I had felt the stirring echoes that this might just hit a little too close to home.

 

I wasn’t exactly wrong…

 

I am not sorry that I watched History of Evil, and yet it still haunts me hours after the credits rolled.

 

Let’s put aside any supernatural happenings or the history of the “safe house” featured as the film’s primary setting just for a little bit. History of Evil was rather bone chilling when looking at the potential dystopian future within this story. It felt like a possible future that would be horrifying if it came to pass – and yet entirely plausible. It was easy as pie to suspend my disbelief..

 

Paul Wesley as “Ron”, Murphy Bloom as “Daria”, Jackie Cruz as “Alegre”, and Rhonda Dents as “Trudy” in Bo Mirhosseni’s HISTORY OF EVIL. Courtesy of Shudder. A Shudder Release.

 

I’m not here for a political soapbox, however, so we’ll move on from the future, and let’s take a look back at history and the region of the setting. History of Evil was also steeped in the horrors of past hate crimes that were commonplace primarily in the deep south not long enough ago. I believe the story was set in Louisiana, and it was clear that they also filmed here… in my state. I recognized the architectural style of the house they stayed in pretty much immediately. My heart and stomach sank with every revelation that peeled back the layers associated with the property and the people that once lived there.

 

There are disturbing concepts and images within History of Evil but I don’t feel we should avoid them or look away. We SHOULD be horrified.

 

When you add sinister supernatural shenanigans into the mix and a great cast, this movie just made my skin crawl in just the way the best thought-provoking horror movies should. There weren’t so many jump scares. It was a simmer that just kept applying the heat that made me want to squirm. At the same time, I wouldn’t exactly call this a “slow burn,” either. It wasn’t hard for my exhausted ADHD brain to stay riveted to the screen.

 

History of Evil is going to stick with me for a good long time. You can check it out for yourself starting February 23^rd on Shudder.

 

Jackie Cruz as “Alegre” in Bo Mirhosseni’s HISTORY OF EVIL. Courtesy of Shudder. A Shudder Release.

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – None 

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – None 

Metascore – None 

Metacritic User Score – None 

IMDB Score – None

 

Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 4.5/5 

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4.5/5

 

Trust the Dice: Parental Advisory Rating - R 

 

Movie Trailer: