Film 2493 - Fear Street: Prom Queen

Intro: I was looking to extend the horror movie streak a bit longer, but had no idea what to watch. So I turned to Netflix, hoping its catalogue would save me. And, for the purpose of what I was looking for, it did.

Film 2493: "Fear Street: Prom Queen" (2025), directed by Matt Palmer
Watched: On the computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: When I was a kid, I was a huge fan of R. L. Stine's "Goosebumps". I had most of the books, I read them constantly - even re-read one or two a bunch of times - and it was such a beloved franchise to me. So when I was scanning through Netflix's catalogue looking for something horror-related to spook up my evening, finding out that "Fear Street: Prom Queen" was based on the work of the same author was 100% the decisive factor. And sure, it wasn't mind-blowing, but I had enough of a decent time.
I'll be completely honest: this is not a good movie, but there's a certain vibe to it that I resonated with: the nostalgia. I love the 80s and I love horror movies, so the two elements combined definitely worked for me. But - and it's a big but - the acting isn't great, the plot twist at the end is a weak payoff for all the mystery set up throughout the plot, and overall "Fear Street: Prom Queen" feels more like - you guessed it - a Netflix production than an actual movie that would hit theaters and justify its existence by having something to say rather than simply filling out the catalogue.
I was happy to see Katherine Waterston again, though, and Lili Taylor is always guaranteed to deliver in the horror genre.
Cast: India Fowler, Suzanna Son, Fina Strazza, Chris Klein, David Iacono, Ella Rubin, Ariana Greenblatt, Lili Taylor, Katherine Waterston.
Box Office: /
Worth a watch?: I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, but if you're looking for something silly and easy to watch that falls under the horror umbrella, then go for it and see if it sticks. I think the original "Fear Street" is so much better, but the 80s prom night vibe could be a turn-on for some(one like me).
Awards: /
Key word: Winning.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2458 - Scream 7

Intro: I was really excited to see this movie after the big success of the previous new entries. So we got to the cinema as soon as we could because we didn't want to miss it.

Film 2458: "Scream 7" (2026), Kevin Williamson
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: I'm a massive fan of this saga, even when it's bad, but this time I wasn't pleased: "Scream 7" is too bad to be enjoyable.
Too many new details in the story come from things we never actually see happen on screen: Sydney has a new life, a new family, and even a teenage daughter who was never mentioned before (or at least I don't think she was? Did I miss something?). I understand that this is fiction and the story doesn't always have to be completely grounded in reality, but your main character can't suddenly become a different person from who they were in the past, and a teenage daughter can't just be added to someone's life whenever it's convenient for the plot. I don't know, it felt sloppy to me, like a choice made only to serve the story now that the characters from the previous two movies have been written out because of the controversies following Melissa Barrera's public statement against the genocide in Palestine (and the subsequent exit of Jenna Ortega from the franchise in support of Barrera being let go).
I understand it must have been complicated to basically reboot the whole story in order to shift the focus back to Sydney, change the location, and introduce new killers, but it all feels barely connected, and Ghostface's motivation here is so stretched that it completely ruins the surprise at the end when you find out who's behind the mask. It all feels really anticlimactic. Not to mention that all the cameos feel more like fan service than actual parts of the plot.
All in all, an extremely weak new outing for this slasher saga, a movie that tries to continue the legacy of the franchise but misses the mark entirely. "Scream 7" feels empty and in desperate need of new ideas that, clearly, haven't been found yet.
Film 1123 - Scream
Film 2057 - Scream
Film 2184 - Scream
Film 2414 - Scream
Film 1249 - Scream 3
Film 326 - Scream 4
Film 2091 - Scream
Film 2178 - Scream
Film 2179 - Scream VI
Film 2458 - Scream 7
Cast: Neve Campbell, Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Anna Camp, David Arquette, Michelle Randolph, Jimmy Tatro, Mckenna Grace, Asa Germann, Celeste O'Connor, Sam Rechner, Mark Consuelos, Tim Simons, Ethan Embry, Matthew Lillard, Joel McHale, Courteney Cox.
Box Office: $214 million
Worth a watch?: A horror movie that mimics its predecessors but never quite captures the same highs the series reached in the past. A misstep for the franchise, although I'm sure this isn't the last we see of Ghostface considering this is already the highest-grossing film in the series so far.
Awards: /
Key word: Deepfake.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2394 - I Know What You Did Last Summer

Intro: I was really excited to see this movie as I am a fan of the original from the 90s.

Film 2394: "I Know What You Did Last Summer" (2025), Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh, Debbi
Thoughts: Not that the OG one is a masterpiece, but it's definitely one of those movies that I grew up with and fall into that 'so bad is good' category. Not to mention that the title is iconic.
That said, there's nothing iconic about this sequel/reboot, the story isn't great and, actually, the ending kinda ruined the franchise for me. I'm sure this "I Know What You Did Last Summer" 2025 is better than the other sequels that came out before (and I haven't seen, nor am I planning to), but I honestly think there was no need to bring back this IP if the end result is so meh.
Cast: Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, Tyriq Withers, Sarah Pidgeon, Billy Campbell, Gabbriette Bechtel, Austin Nichols, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Brandy Norwood, Freddie Prinze Jr., Jennifer Love Hewitt.
Box Office: $64.8 million
Worth a watch?: Only for the fans of the franchise. It's nice to see the orginal cast back, but some of the storylines are questionable.
Awards: /
Key word: 4th of July.
Trailer
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Bengi