Netflix has always split the Horror Nation into two like a jagged chainsaw. Some enjoy the original content while others moan about the limited selection of genre content. Unlike Shudder and other horror specific streaming services, the red giant does have to cater to all facets of entertainment, at times leaving horror fans starving for fresh flesh films. When legendary author R.L. Stine optioned three of his popular works to be adapted, and horror hopes flew high. While the three films, spanning three separate eras, were well received, audiences could not help but question why one of the most popular decades of horror was left out. The 1980’s! Kicking off summer with a slasher, Netflix unleashes the next Stine adaptation with Prom Queen.
The seniors at Shadyside High School are getting ready for their big prom event. Tiffany Falconer, the most popular girl at Shadyside, along with her wolfpack of glamour girls are favorites to capture the coveted throne of Prom Queen while a few outsiders including Lori Granger pose an outside threat. Lori, ready to escape school along with the horror of her past, attempts to have one last good time before embarking on a dream to become a writer. When a queen candidate goes missing, the students start to suspect ghosts from the past have returned to put blood in the punch. Once the big night arrives a special guest intends to rig the election by eliminating the competition.
Prom Queen sums up all that is good and bad with the majority of Netflix original horror. Good performances, solid script, but held back by a lack of ambition to push the envelope. Director Matt Palmer spills enough blood to keep the viewer interested while the basic script from Donald McLeary leaves little to the imagination. The cast puts in a good shift with typical high school horror troupes written so wooden it would be no surprise if the performers got splinters on set. When Netflix abandons their agenda and lets the artist fly, the Horror Nation gets gems such as The Babysitter and House of Usher. When the production team is strangled with obvious restrictions the fans get a decent but bland entry such as Prom Queen.
Scream Score: 6.5/10