Fear Street Part One: 1994
Fear Street Part One: 1994 is a supernatural slasher film that serves as the first installment in a trilogy, based on R.L. Stine's popular book series. Directed by Leigh Janiak, the movie is set in 1994 and follows a group of teenagers in the cursed town of Shadyside as they uncover the truth behind a series of brutal murders plaguing their community for centuries. The narrative centers on a queer love story between two lead characters who become entangled in a centuries-old witch's curse. The film combines elements of classic 90s slasher horror with a modern sensibility, featuring graphic violence, strong language, and mature themes. It is designed for an older teenage and adult audience due to its intense content.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
HighThe film explicitly features a central queer romance between two main characters, Deena and Sam, which is a driving force for the plot and character development. The creators intentionally made them queer leads and heroes, aiming to provide significant LGBTQ+ representation in the horror genre.
The protagonist, Deena Johnson, is introduced writing a breakup message to her closeted girlfriend, Sam Fraser, who has moved to the rival town of Sunnyvale. Later in the film, Deena and Sam reconcile and publicly confirm their relationship. They share intimate moments, including kissing and being shown in bed together, reinforcing their romantic bond.
Violence
HighFear Street Part One: 1994 features strong, graphic, and bloody violence consistent with a hard-R slasher film. Many characters are subjected to brutal and explicit deaths, including stabbings, shootings, and dismemberment.
The opening scene depicts Heather, a bookstore employee, being fatally stabbed multiple times by Ryan Torres (Skull Mask killer), who then proceeds to murder six other mall employees with visible gore. In a particularly gruesome scene, Kate is brutally killed when the Skull Mask killer pushes her head through a bread slicer, and Simon is shortly thereafter killed with an axe to the head.
Profanity
HighThere is frequent and strong profanity used throughout the film's dialogue, including an 'uncensored litany of curse words' and consistent use of the F-word, reflecting a more mature and unfiltered speech pattern.
The film features frequent use of strong expletives, including the F-word, uttered by teenage characters in various intense and casual situations. The dialogue reflects a 'pre-PG-13 era' where teenage characters' language was portrayed with less censorship.
Witchcraft & Occult
HighWitchcraft and occult themes are central to the film's entire plot. The narrative revolves around a centuries-old curse placed by a witch, Sarah Fier, which results in the supernatural resurrection and possession of killers.
The central conflict of the film is explicitly attributed to a curse laid upon Shadyside by Sarah Fier, a witch executed in 1666, which causes periodic mass murders. Sam Fraser becomes possessed by the witch's spirit after her blood makes contact with Sarah Fier's bones, leading to violent attacks against Deena. The protagonists actively engage with this occult premise, devising a plan to temporarily 'kill' and revive Sam to break the curse.
Substance Use
HighThe film includes significant depictions of drug dealing and drug use among teenagers, as well as references to alcoholism, highlighting the presence and consequences of substance abuse in the community.
Characters Kate and Simon are established drug dealers, shown selling prescription pills to students and having a hidden stash of drugs and money. Kate is even seen enlisting young children she babysits to help bag pills. The characters devise a plan to temporarily 'kill' Sam by intentionally causing an overdose with prescription drugs, which Simon procures from a drugstore, and then reviving her with EpiPens. Deena's alcoholic father is also mentioned, and she is seen gathering his empty beer cans.
Scary & Intense Content
HighAs a slasher horror film, the content is consistently scary and intense, featuring graphic violence, numerous jump scares, and a pervasive atmosphere of dread with characters being relentlessly hunted by supernatural killers.
The movie opens with a suspenseful and violent scene where a masked killer brutally murders a bookstore employee and several other people in a mall. Throughout the film, characters are subjected to intense chase sequences and life-threatening encounters with resurrected killers, leading to gruesome deaths such as Kate being killed by a bread slicer.
Anti-Christian Themes
HighThe film's core mythology centers on a historical witch's curse and supernatural forces, positioning occult practices as the primary driver of evil within the narrative. While not explicitly mocking Christian beliefs, it normalizes and relies heavily on witchcraft and supernatural intervention as real and potent forces.
The entire premise of the film hinges on the historical execution of Sarah Fier as a witch and the subsequent curse she places on the town of Shadyside, which is the source of all the recurring violence and evil. The characters actively seek to understand and manipulate this curse through occult means, such as interacting with Sarah Fier's bones and performing rituals to 'kill' and revive a possessed person, rather than seeking any form of spiritual or divine protection.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumThe film contains romantic interactions between teenage characters, including kissing and implied intimacy. While not explicitly depicting sexual acts, there are suggestive moments and a scene where characters strip to their undergarments.
Deena and Sam, the lead couple, share intense kissing scenes and intimate moments, with reviews noting an 'almost-sex scene' and a 'mid-film sex scene in a locker room' described as intimate rather than overtly sexual. Additionally, Deena, Sam, and Kate are shown stripping down to their bras to check for blood on their bodies, though this is presented without explicit fanservice intent.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumTeenage characters frequently exhibit disrespect and rebellious behavior towards authority figures and societal expectations. This includes defying rules, engaging in illegal activities, and demonstrating cynicism towards adults and their town's norms.
The teenagers of Shadyside, including main characters like Kate and Simon, are depicted as engaging in drug dealing and other illicit activities, partly as a means to escape their perceived cursed town. The film also features a brawl between Shadyside and Sunnyvale students, where Deena acts aggressively by attempting to throw a cooler at a rival car. The absence of meaningful parental supervision is noted, contributing to the unsupervised and rebellious actions of the teens.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
17+ due to strong bloody violence, pervasive strong language, explicit drug content including overdose scenarios, significant occult and witchcraft themes central to the plot, and explicit LGBTQ+ romance with some sexual content.
Additional Notes
Fear Street Part One: 1994 is part of a trilogy, with subsequent films exploring different time periods (1978 and 1666) that delve deeper into the origins of the curse. The film prominently features '90s pop culture references and music. The depiction of violence and horror elements is intense and consistent across the film. Parental guidance is strongly advised due to the mature and graphic nature of the content.
Related Reviews
Is Fear Street Part One: 1994 right for your family?
These concerns are a starting point — what many Christian parents care about. Want to screen for other themes? Define your own concerns.
Screen any book, movie, or show — even titles no one else has reviewed.
“StoryScanner gives us clarity and confidence. It's become our go-to for checking books at the library and movies on family night.”
— Cristi & Brian, Dallas TX
“StoryScanner has been such a BLESSING for researching books for our children. You can set filters for your concerns, enter a book title, and it lets you know what's present.”
— Christian Book Reviews for Families (Facebook)
No credit card required