Netflix's Fear Street series is a compelling addition to the teen slasher genre, following a group of teens evading a serial killer. That killer turns out to be a malevolent force that's been haunting their town for centuries, and his latest killing spree begins in a shopping mall. Maya Hawke's Heather becomes the first victim of the Shadyside Killer in Fear Street Part One: 1994, gripping viewers with her final moments.
It's these moments that pay homage to the '90s slashers that have paved the way for modern horror, and the series continues this trend in its sequels. Fear Street Part One: 1994's cold opening uses Heather's death to reference Drew Barrymore's Casey Becker in Scream, as both actors were rising stars upon their movies' debuts. Hawke's opening does more than just honor the movies that came before, though. It also successfully sets the tone and plot for the film trilogy, and it deserves way more credit.
Maya Hawke's Opening Kill In Fear Street Part One: 1994 Deserves More Respect
It Accomplishes A Lot In A Brief Scene
A memorable cold opening kill is the perfect setup for a horror film, and Fear Street: 1994 nails it. The Netflix film uses Hawke to draw the audience in, a clever move considering her rising fame from her role as Robin in Stranger Things. Unfortunately, this initial kill tends to be overlooked compared to other deaths in the Fear Street series — and especially when it comes to horror movie openings overall. Fear Street Part One: 1994's approach is thrilling and ambitious, sharing similarities with classic slashers but adding something fresh to the enjoyable cat-and-mouse game.
Fear Street Part One: 1994 jumps right into the action, teasing the audience with intrigue and mystery through this opening death.
Confining Hawke's character to a mall rather than a house makes for a unique opening compared to other slashers, and it establishes the '90s setting of the film incredibly well. Hawke delivers a great performance as Heather. Despite her limited role, she portrays a memorable and likable character, and that much is obvious from her brief moments on-screen. Fear Street Part One: 1994 jumps right into the action, teasing the audience with intrigue and mystery through this opening death — and driving home the movie's brutal stakes from the jump.
How Fear Street Part One: 1994's Opening Kill Set The Tone For The Horror Trilogy
It Establishes The Setting, Stakes, & Continued Horror References
Fear Street: 1994’s cold opening sets off a chain of events connected to the past, as each installment is set during different time periods, with the trilogy eventually coming full circle. This scene offers the perfect introduction to Shadyside's dark and mysterious history, raising all kinds of questions about the Shadyside Killer. It also establishes the stakes of the Fear Street trilogy, with Heather's unexpected death teasing how ruthless the movies will be, even when it comes to their young cast.
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The movie's first scene strikes the perfect balance of horror, action, and mystery, setting the tone of everything that follows. Hawke's cold opening also showcases a respect for the slasher genre overall, which continues to be demonstrated throughout Fear Street Part Two: 1978 and Fear Street Part Three: 1666. Hopefully, Fear Street Part One: 1994's opening gets more recognition for how much it accomplishes one day. Its use of Hawke's character was truly brilliant.
Fear Street: Part One - 1994
- Release Date
- June 28, 2021
- Runtime
- 108 minutes
- Director
- Leigh Janiak
Cast
Kiana MadeiraDeena
Olivia Scott WelchSamantha Fraser
WHERE TO WATCH
Fear Street: 1994 is the first installment of a trilogy based on R.L. Stine's book series. Set in the infamous town of Shadyside, the film follows a group of teenagers confronting a malevolent force responsible for a string of gruesome murders, entwining them in a historical struggle against evil.
- Writers
- Phil Graziadei
- Sequel(s)
- Fear Street: Part Three - 1666
- Franchise(s)
- Fear Street
- Studio(s)
- Netflix
- Distributor(s)
- Netflix
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