As soon as horror fans got the chance to watch Part 1 of Fear Street, it was hard not to compare it to the first movie in the Scream franchise. Fear Street: Part 1 is set in 1994 and Scream was released in 1996, and both stories are part of the slasher subgenre. Scream is so iconic and the trilogy based on R.L. Stine's book series has gotten people's attention as well.
While these movies feel similar in look and tone, there are some clear differences and reasons why they each excel. It's fun for horror lovers to compare each movie and see how each one tells a great, scary story.
Fear Street: It's Diverse And Inclusive
Fear Street: Part 1: 1994 includes much more diversity and inclusivity than the original Scream. Sam and Deena are the major relationship in the story, and the main characters include Deena and her brother Josh.
While Scream has a great cast of characters, from final girl Sidney to her friend Tatum, Dewey, Sidney's boyfriend Billy, and reporter Gale, it's not a diverse movie at all. While Scream talks about teenage life and does it well, it doesn't feel inclusive.
Scream: An Iconic, Memorable Opening Sequence
There's definitely no question that the opening scene of Scream is the movie's best and that horror fans praise it all the time. When Casey Becker thinks that she's just having a nice movie night at home with some popcorn, her evening turns dark and sinister when she gets a call from a killer.
Her world turns upside down when she sees her boyfriend die, and the image of Casey's dead body hanging from a tree is incredibly haunting. Fear Street: Part 1 does nod to Scream as Heather runs from a killer in a mask and costume, but it can't stand up to the original, of course.
Fear Street: A More Detailed Small Town
Fear Street does one thing much better than Scream: its depiction of small town life. Shadyside seems like a really tough place to live, as people don't have a lot of money or opportunity, and families struggle every day. Teenagers dream of getting out but have no idea how to do so, as they lack resources.
There is also the constant mention of nearby town Sunnydale, where perfect rich people call home. Scream takes place in a nice town, but not much is known about it besides the gruesome murder of Sidney's mother that happened in the past, and it doesn't stand out.
Scream: It Doesn't Take Itself Too Seriously
Scream is a funny movie with a meta tone and while some characters are smart, the movie has a fun tone and doesn't take itself too seriously. This is why fans love it so much all of these years later.
While Fear Street is fun and entertaining, nothing can really compare to Scream when it comes to tone. There are so many elements that horror fans enjoy, from the phone calls that Sidney constantly gets to the feeling that the killer could be anywhere, from the school bathroom to Sidney's house.
Fear Street: A Love Story To Get Invested In
Sam and Deena are beloved characters and fans want to know everything about their love story from the very beginning of Fear Street: Part 1. They experience a lot of tension and pain, as Sam moves to Sunnydale and Deena feels left behind, wondering if their lives are now too different for them to ever get back together. Sam feels guilty but she can't help but want to live in a nicer place.
While Sidney and Billy's romance is a hallmark of Scream, fans can't really hope for them to be together since even before learning that he's one of the two killers, he pressures to have sex and seems like a controlling partner to.
Scream: Ghostface Is A Better Slasher Movie Killer
In terms of the types of killers who appear in slasher movies, Ghostface definitely wins over the spirit of Sarah Fier. While there's a killer in a similar costume and mask in the opening scene of Fear Street, it can't compare to Ghostface.
And while Sarah Fier is terrifying since she possesses people to go on killing sprees, and it seems like it's impossible to stop the horrors of cursed Shadyside, there's nothing like seeing Ghostface in every Scream movie. It's fun to learn who each new killer is in each movie.
Fear Street: A Stronger Ending
The conclusion of Fear Street: Part 1 is great, as Deena realizes that Sarah Fier has possessed Sam and that she's going after her. Deena wants to track down C. Berman so she can figure out how to beat the curse, and fans learn that Part 2 is set at Camp Nightwing in 1978. This feels like a satisfying ending and also makes people want to watch the next movie, so works well.
Scream doesn't have an ending that sets up a sequel, as it seems like all is well and there's nothing else to be afraid of. Billy and Stu have been caught, Sidney and Gale and Dewey survive, and Sidney can now pick up the pieces of her life and begin to heal. It would have been cool to see some hints that the horror isn't over.
Scream: Discussion Of Horror Movie Rules
Those who count Scream among their favorite movies are always going to mention the horror movie rules that Randy talks about. This is a memorable scene and one of the most entertaining parts of the movie.
While fans can watch Fear Street and see elements from classic horror stories and think about how they are being used in a new way, there is something special about Randy's rules. He's a powerful character who makes a big impact on the story since he explains the building blocks of any good (or bad) horror movie and he essentially lays out what is going to happen next.
Fear Street: It's Part Of A Larger Mystery
While Ghostface can be seen as a better killer than the people who get possessed in the Fear Street universe, Fear Street: Part 1 excels in creating a larger mystery that feels expansive and terrifying.
It's tragic that the killings in Scream are tied to Sidney's family, but since the motivation behind the horror is so personal, it might not pack as big a punch as learning about Sarah Fier's impact on Shadyside, including those attending camp in the '70s.
Scream: It Has A More Straightforward Structure
The first movie in the Scream franchise has a very obvious and straightforward structure, as audiences learn about Sidney's family, see her struggling in her relationship with Billy, and then the killings start. She runs from Ghostface, tries to figure out what's going on, sees people die, and finally, learns that Billy and Stu are behind everything.
Fear Street: Part 1 is a bit more all over the place, as there are scenes at a football game between Shadyside and Sunnydale, in various homes, at school, in a school bus, and the hospital. The structure makes more sense when thinking about the three movies as a whole.