Movies

12 Major Changes in Fear Street: Prom Queen Compared to R.L. Stine’s Book

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Warning: This article includes SPOILERS for Fear Street: Prom Queen & R.L. Stine’s The Prom Queen!

Though the movie “Fear Street: Prom Queen” is inspired by R.L. Stine’s “The Prom Queen”, it deviates substantially from the Fear Street book. While Goosebumps might be R.L. Stine’s best-known series, it’s not his only one to be transformed into a movie. Netflix’s 2021 “Fear Street” trilogy encapsulates the spirit of R.L. Stine’s YA horror series without directly adapting specific books. Instead, the trilogy combines plotlines, settings, and characters from seven distinct books.

Instead of directly following the fifteenth book in the series titled “The Prom Queen” by R.L. Stine, the standalone movie on Netflix called “Fear Street: Prom Queen” loosely adapts its storyline. In both the novel and the slasher film, a murderer targets prom queen candidates in Shadyside. The characters in the 2025 film share similar traits with those in the book, but they have different names. Despite this resemblance, the movie does make significant departures from R.L. Stine’s original storyline.

12. The Fear Street: Prom Queen Timeline Is Different From The Book

R.L. Stine’s The Prom Queen Has A Longer Timeline

A key feature of Netflix’s “Fear Street: Prom Queen” is that the majority of the plot unfolds over just two days, the days leading up to and including the prom. The initial murder occurs the night before prom day, while the movie concludes shortly after the prom has ended. This represents a notable departure from R.L. Stine’s “The Prom Queen”.

In the narrative of the book, events unfold six weeks prior to the prom and conclude on the night itself. However, it’s worth noting that none of the murders depicted by Stine occur during the actual prom. Instead, the last attempt by the killer happens a day beforehand. This alteration seems logical as covering six weeks within an hour and a half movie would have been excessively prolonged.

11. The Potential Victims Know About The Killer In R.L. Stine’s Book

The Prom Queen Candidates Get Paranoid About The Killer Coming After Them

In my take on “Fear Street: Prom Queen,” it’s not until midway through the movie that the townsfolk realize a deadly predator is among them. Initially, everyone assumes Christy has eloped with an older man, and the grandeur of the prom serves as a smokescreen, diverting attention from the unsettling disappearances. Yet, R.L. Stine’s “The Prom Queen” cleverly keeps its potential victims alert to the killer’s presence right from the start.

As a fervent fan, I can’t help but notice how skillfully this narrative technique ratchets up the tension and unease in the tale. The contestants for prom queen begin to discern a chilling pattern, causing them to fear they might be the next victim. This clever manipulation of suspense results in several heart-pounding moments where Elizabeth, our protagonist, finds herself questioning whether those around her intend to end her life prematurely.

10. The Fear Street Book Only Has 1 Killer

Fear Street: Prom Queen Makes The Whole Falconer Family Into Killers

In the movie “Fear Street: Prom Queen”, it borrows elements from the “Scream” series by unveiling several characters beneath the ominous red raincoat and mask. Meanwhile, Tiffany is attending prom with Tyler, but her parents are engaged in a lethal rivalry off-screen. The closing scene of “Fear Street: Prom Queen” reveals an unexpected twist as Tiffany attempts to commit a murder on Lori.

In my humble opinion as a movie reviewer, R.L. Stine’s “The Prom Queen” features a singular murderer, none other than Simone – an intriguing character who bears striking resemblance to Tiffany in the original novel. Interestingly, her parents, portrayed as charming individuals, are oblivious to Simone’s heinous deeds until the shocking revelation unfolds at the climax of the narrative.

9. Fear Street: Prom Queen Gives The Main Character A New Backstory

Lori Has A Tragic Background That Influences Her Actions

Netflix’s “Fear Street: Prom Queen” revolves around a teenager named Lori Granger, who is determined to restore her family’s standing in the community by becoming the prom queen. Her mother, Rosemary, carries an unspoken stigma due to townsfolk believing that she was responsible for Lori’s father’s death. Ostracized and disliked by Tiffany and her circle of friends, Lori finds herself on the fringes of society in Shadyside.

The narrative history of Lori in Fear Street: Prom Queen was specifically crafted anew for the Netflix movie, as opposed to being based on Lori’s backstory from R.L. Stine’s The Prom Queen. Unlike Elizabeth from the book, her life is not filled with tragedy. Instead, she enjoys a loving family, has a long-distance boyfriend, and is friends with other prom queen candidates in this film adaptation.

8. Lori Is Into Tiffany’s Boyfriend In Fear Street: Prom Queen

The Killer’s Boyfriend Plays A Role In Both Stories

In “Fear Street: Prom Queen,” I found myself caught up in the simmering tension between Lori and Tiffany, largely due to their shared boyfriend, Tyler. Their furtive glances and clandestine conversations, especially as the prom approached, seemed to fan Tiffany’s resentment towards Lori, making her dislike Lori more than any other potential prom queen contender.

In the story The Prom Queen, the relationship between Elizabeth and Justin’s equivalent, Justin, stands out as distinct. Despite finding Justin appealing, Elizabeth doesn’t harbor romantic feelings for him. Surprisingly, Justin asks her to the prom, an invitation she politely declines. Instead, her heart is set on attending with her boyfriend, Kevin.

7. The First Dead Girl Is A Stranger In R.L. Stine’s The Prom Queen

Christy Is A Prom Queen Candidate In Fear Street: Prom Queen

In “Fear Street: Prom Queen,” the initial victim of the infamous Prom Killer is Christy, one of the prom queen contenders. Her death scene resembles that in “Scream,” establishing a chilling atmosphere throughout the movie.

In R.L. Stine’s Fear Street book, it turns out that the initial victim isn’t connected to the subsequent murders. The young girl found dead at the beginning of the story hails from a different town altogether and was discovered in the Fear Street woods. It remains uncertain who is responsible for her death.

6. The Killer Has A Different Motive In Fear Street: Prom Queen

The Killer Prom Queen Candidate Murder For Different Reasons

While both “Fear Street: Prom Queen” and R.L. Stine’s “The Prom Queen” feature a prom queen candidate transforming into a murderer, their motivations differ significantly. In the novel, Simone eliminates the other prom queen contenders because her boyfriend, Justin, had been unfaithful to her with all of them except Elizabeth. Her intent is to make Justin experience the anguish of losing everyone he cares about.

Conversely, the horror movie on Netflix primarily revolves around the theme of prom, with its backdrop and narrative both heavily focused on it. The protagonist’s parents and the rival prom queen contestant resort to violent means in their efforts to ensure Tiffany becomes the prom queen.

5. The Killer Fakes Her Kidnapping In R.L. Stine’s The Prom Queen

Tiffany Appears In Fear Street: Prom Queen, But Simone Isn’t In Most Of R.L. Stine’s Book

In Fear Street: Prom Queen, it’s no surprise that the Falconers are unmasked as the killers, despite being engaging to watch. However, in R.L. Stine’s The Prom Queen, the revelation of the killer is startling because it’s widely believed that Simone has perished.

In the story, it’s Simone who is the first contender for prom queen who seems to have met a tragic end. Yet, it turns out that her apparent demise was staged, as her room has been ransacked and there’s a puddle of blood on her floor, but she’s very much alive and well.

4. More People Die In Fear Street: Prom Queen

The R.L. Stine Book Caters To A Younger Audience

In comparison, while R.L. Stine’s “The Prom Queen” is suitable for teenagers, Fear Street: “Prom Queen” carries an R rating. A key difference between them lies in their handling of violence. In the former, only three characters meet a violent end – a stranger at the outset and two prom queen candidates. The depicted violence primarily consists of stabbings.

From my perspective, in the realm of Fear Street: Prom Queen, there are approximately 13 murders depicted on-screen, with the possibility that one more character might succumb to injuries later. The violence in this story is intensely graphic and diverse. The Prom Killer doesn’t shy away from inflicting gruesome acts such as sawing a man’s face with a circular saw or hacking Christy into pieces using an axe.

3. The Killer’s Lair Is In A Different Place

The Killer’s Lair Hints At Her Identity In The R.L. Stine Book

In R.L. Stine’s “The Prom Queen,” unlike in “Fear Street: Prom Queen,” the killer’s secret hideout isn’t located beneath Shadyside High School. Instead, this lair carries personal significance to the killer and is situated elsewhere.

Following her staged abduction, Simone has taken refuge in the backstage loft above the school auditorium. Frequently used during school productions where she was a leading actress, this vantage point allows her to observe and track her targets more effectively.

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2025-05-24 17:39

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