Before reading this review, dear reader, please watch the first two films of Netflix’s Fear Street horror trilogy. If you don’t follow my advice you might  be confused about what’s happening and at a loss to understand why the main characters are playing two different characters.

This last installment deals with a 1666 witch hunt in Union, a colonial town later called Shadyside. As a result of horrible actions in 1666, Shadyside suffers from a curse passed down through the years. In a prologue and the last bloody section of Fear Street Part 3, viewers see teens in 1994 trying to put an end to the terrible curse.

Let’s take a look at the main characters to help you know who’s who. Kiana Madeira delivers excellent performances as Deena, one of the brave 1994 teenagers, as well as Sarah Fier, who ends up murdered as a witch in 1666. Olivia Welch is quite believable as Samantha and Hannah, both beloved by Deena and Sarah. Earning our empathy early on, Benjamin Flores Jr. plays Josh, Deena’s nerdy brother and also Sarah’s sibling Henry. Gillian Jacobs fascinates us as adult Ziggy and C. Berman. Ashly Zuckerman gives two impressive turns as 1666 Solomon and 1994 Sheriff Nick Goode. Many other actors provide this key cast with strong support.    

“Fear Street Part 3” reveals it all

about how things began to fall.

Women were subject to the men. 

Sarah Fier challenged that then.    

Why Shadyside gets such bad breaks

is a surprise, and the truth aches.

It’s not a witch keeping folks down.

It’s someone else who makes you frown.

  Quite confusing this movie is.

The most I’ve seen in film showbiz.

Most key actors play dual roles.

And slasher horror scars our souls.

As mentioned in my previous Fear Street reviews, this trilogy is based on the works of R. L. Shine, but don’t expect anything like his amusing Goosebumps books. Directed by Leigh Janiak from the screenplay by Phil Graziadei, Kate Trefry, and Janiak, Fear Street Part 3 makes your blood curdle, especially during the gory killer mall attacks. As in Part 1 and Part 2, this final offering should appeal to fans of slasher horror flicks.

There are plenty of surprises here, but so much is going on in too many dark scenes making it difficult to see what’s really happening. Also, I think this ambitious trilogy needed more humor to balance the brutal horror on screen.   

I'm inspired by fashion. I'm inspired by the moonlight. I'm inspired by sex and pornography and slasher films. --- Lady Gaga

(Released by Netflix and rated “R” for strong violence and gore, brief drug use, some sexuality, and language.)