MovieChat Forums > Fear Street: 1994 (2021) Discussion > Hmm... Not anything like the books?

Hmm... Not anything like the books?


I just watched it. It's not bad and all, but it feels more like Netflix supernatural horror movie with little Fear Street reference. There are barely supernatural/witch stuff in the Fear Street books.

reply

I liked it, but have to admit I never read the books, so adherence to the source material wasn't a factor for me. I did kind of garner that it wasn't a straight up adaptation though.

I read all the goosebumps books but always thought the fear street ones would be weak copies. I didn't realise they were just in a different style and geared towards older readers, Im sure I would have devoured them in my young years.

reply

It's a great movie if you've never read the books, for sure. I enjoyed it, just didn't give me enough vibes.

FS books are more fun to read than Goosebumps books. Lots of these books are psychological thrillers that you have to find out who is the killer and then there comes the twist. I'm 24 y/o and still read the books lol.

reply

Nice, I will try and rundown some fear street books from the library. I'm 29 and have no qualms about reading some shit that is most likely geared towards much younger folk then me. I'm not ashamed to say I read a goosebumps book just a couple years ago. I found it in an old box in my garage and read it for nostalgia vibes.
What fear street book should I read if I'm only going to read one? Because I'm probably only going to read one.

reply

"All-Night Party" is the best Fear Street book, hands down. Gave me some Evil Dead vibes, and good shocks as well. If you want some lightly, in the beginning, "The New Girl" is a good book which is the first book in the series, for example. Or The Surprise Party.

reply

I'll go for all night party if I can find it. Sounds like a glowing recommendation. Fingers crossed it's at the library. If it ain't I'm sure it's only like ten bucks from book depository. I will read it. I have a stack of books I've yet to read, but I'm more excited to read this one that I don't have.

reply

I used to read goosebumps as well and Sweet Valley Kids in elementary and still read a bit in highschool but by highschool I was reading the fear street, christopher pike, and loved sweet valley high saga/thriller series.

reply

I know! I was super disappointed that there were only a few nods to fear street books. I really wish they had created the movies based on individual books. The books are amazing and don’t even need changes made to them.

Some nods I caught from the books were the cheerleader trilogy where they have the bus wreck and land on the grave. Character named deena. Some of the books on the shelves.

Other than that it’s not very fear street :(

Not going to lie,I’m a little disappointed.
I think people will love them if they’ve never read the books but for fans of the books it’s a let down

reply

I enjoyed it, but see what you mean. I found myself thinking at the end that there was very little reference to Fear Street itself. "Shadyside" would've been a more apt title.

reply

A lot of movies do that.
Lawnmower Man had to buy the rights from Stephen King even though it had nothing to do with the film. DC Comics gave the producers of Karate Kid permission to use the name. Again nothing to do with the source material.

reply

So the dull prolonged lesbian drama was nothing to do with the books. For some reason that doesn't surprise me

reply

No way was this anything like Supernatural at all, I watched all 10 seasons of that show and read both Fear Street and Christopher Pike growing up. I gave this a 4/10 out of generosity but the characters are unlikable, they should just have set this in 2021 to explain the horrid despicable characters.

I don't know where the 6/10 rating comes from. If you check the reviews most were negative ranging from 1-4/10.

reply

Growing up, I never got into the Goosebumps books, because I didn't really care much for the supernatural stuff. I loved the Fear Street books, because, as far as I remember, they were real human killers and victims. I've always preferred serial killers to ghosts/spirits, because, to me, it's scarier because it can actually happen.

So this trilogy was a letdown for me, unfortunately :( I mean, it was okay for what it was, but they shouldn't have called it Fear Street, in my opinion.

reply