The Fear Street trilogy continues with the second part in the series, channelling its inner Friday the 13th, as the story finds its way to Shadyside’s Camp Nightwing. Set 16 years before Part One, C. Berman recalls a massacre caused by the witch Sarah Fier, the root of the town's historic problems. Fear Street Part 2: 1978 builds upon the strong foundations set in the first film and delivers another solid slasher romp.
Written by Alex Gilston
Fear Street Part 2: 1978 picks up right where the first instalment leaves us. Deena and Josh are frantically looking for answers, and this leads them to the house of C. Berman (Gillian Jacobs), one of a handful of survivors of the Camp Nightwing massacre of 1978. As she starts recalling that fateful night it becomes clear that they are connected to the first film’s events. The underlying threads of the series start to connect satisfyingly and hook you in right to the last seconds of the film.
In Shadyside, 1978, Camp Nightwing is in full session with a cast of characters, counsellors and children alike, plucked right out of the slashers of old. Stranger Things alumni Sadie Sink plays Ziggy Berman, a child attending summer camp and sister to one of the camp’s counsellors. She plays the role well and similarly to the first part the group of actors brought together make for some great ensemble moments.
The writer and director of the trilogy, Leigh Janiak, replicates the 70’s setting with the same ease as the 90’s time period. Swapping the Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails, with David Bowie and Kansas. The attention to detail when it comes to the authenticity of when these films are set is one of the most impressive things to note so far and is something to look forward to with the final film in the trilogy which goes back to 1666.
Slasher fans are, once again, treated to a stunning collection of gory kills. Part Two goes even further down this route than its predecessor, not holding back at all, with the camera hanging heavily on every cut, hack, and puncture. The first murders are built up in a way that leaves you longing to find out who will succumb to the Nightwing Killer’s gleaming silver axe next.
It’s pleasantly surprising to see that the quality of this instalment lives up to the first. The shifts in tone fit with the different setting and work in all the right ways whilst not straying too far away from the series’ overall story line. Fear Street Part 2: 1978 is another treat for fans of the genre and is a tremendous celebration of some of the most classic horror films of all time.
Comments