In the summertime of 2021, Netflix unleashed the bold “Worry Avenue” trilogy with charming outcomes. Based mostly (loosely) on the YA horror sequence by “Goosebumps” maestro R.L. Stine, the three movies have been slasher pastiches that appealed to these of us who grew up haunting the video retailer horror part for “Friday the thirteenth” sequels and the unique “Scream.” Beneath the steering of director Leigh Janiak, who additionally co-wrote the movies, the three “Worry Avenue” movies — “Worry Avenue: 1994,” “Worry Avenue: 1978,” and “Worry Avenue: 1666” spun a sprawling, detailed mythology set within the fictional, cursed city of Shadyside, the place dangerous issues occur regularly.
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The three movies have been intelligent, enjoyable, and gave us a successful solid of likable characters. Greater than that, they left room for extra. The groundwork was laid for Netflix to return to Shadyside for extra tales of YA terror. And but, it took the streaming service an unusually very long time to move again to “Worry Avenue.” Sadly, now that we’re in Shadyside as soon as once more, the outcomes are solely disappointing. Not one of the ingenious power on show within the earlier three movies is seen in “Worry Avenue: Promenade Queen,” a gory misfire that underwhelms even because it sheds copious quantities of blood.
“Worry Avenue: Promenade Queen” half-heartedly mentions some occasions from the earlier trilogy (significantly the summer time camp slaughter seen in “Worry Avenue: 1978”), however then strikes on to inform its personal stand-alone story, ignoring the curse of Sarah Fier that was so important to the trilogy. And that is superb. But, “Promenade Queen” is to date faraway from what got here earlier than that it begins to really feel like a sequel in identify solely. There may be, after all, loads of precedent for this, particularly within the horror style (simply take a look at the totally bizarre “Hellraiser” franchise). However I had a lot enjoyable with the unique trilogy, and so little enjoyable right here, that I can not assist however assume that one thing went fallacious.
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Maybe issues would’ve labored out higher if Leigh Janiak had returned. As a substitute, Matt Palmer helms this entry (Palmer additionally co-wrote the script, with Donald McLeary), and the flat, somewhat low cost look of the movie does it no favors. This film is not simply dangerous, it appears to be like dangerous, as if the manufacturing solely had the funds to shoot in a single fastened spot. That is such a pointy distinction to the earlier three movies, which felt uniquely massive.
Worry Avenue: Promenade Queen heads to the Nineteen Eighties
In “Promenade Queen,” it is 1988, and the scholars of Shadyside Excessive are gearing up for the promenade. We be taught that there are a number of candidates gunning for the coveted prize of Promenade Queen. The seeming shoe-in is wealthy imply lady Tiffany Falconer (Fina Strazza), who has a complete clique of imply ladies additionally hoping to be queen.
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Then there’s the wildcard, Lori Granger (India Fowler). Lori is a little bit of an outcast in Shadyside, principally as a consequence of the truth that city gossip has lengthy accused Lori’s mother of murdering her dad (and getting away with the crime). Lori inexplicably thinks that if she wins the crown of Promenade Queen, all her social and monetary issues will likely be solved, which I assume is the kind of confused logic that works once you’re a youngster caught in a cursed, dead-end city.
Whereas Fowler is okay working with what she’s given right here, Lori is unfortunately a bland, uninteresting closing lady. There’s simply not a lot to the character, save for the truth that she’s finest associates with the horror-loving Megan (Suzanna Son), who likes to make bloody props and spends all her free time studying problems with “Fangoria.” It is roughly implied that Megan has an enormous crush on Lori, however the movie does not actually appear desirous about exploring that. Apart from, Lori has a crush of her personal, on Tyler (David Iacono), who simply occurs to be Tiffany’s boyfriend — though it is fairly clear that this highschool energy couple does not actually like one another.
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There’s loads of blood spilled, however not sufficient to make Promenade Queen fascinating
“Promenade Queen” rushes by way of its fast runtime, dropping us on the promenade nearly instantly as a masked killer begins bumping off the sexy teenagers one after the other, working his (or her?) approach although the Promenade Queen candidates and their boyfriends with admittedly ugly outcomes. If “Promenade Queen” has one factor going for it, it is that it does not shrink back from bloody kills, and it seems the vast majority of them are achieved with sensible make-up results somewhat than weightless digital gore. However after some time, even that begins to lose its allure.
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Not serving to issues is a severely lackluster script that fails to inject something of substance. “Promenade Queen” is neither humorous nor scary, and it certain looks like it ought to’ve not less than tried to attempt to be a kind of issues if not each. At one level, bitter enemies Lori and Tiffany interact in a dance-off within the heart of the promenade, a second shot and executed so poorly that I am unsure what the final word objective is. Who thought this was a good suggestion?
As a giant fan of the unique trilogy, I stored ready (and hoping) for “Worry Avenue: Promenade Queen” to win me over. But the movie stays curiously lifeless, and never even the presence of reliable, proficient individuals like Lili Taylor and Katherine Waterston (sporting appropriately big ’80s hair) can save such a disappointing affair. After the unique “Worry Avenue” trilogy, I used to be itching to return to Shadyside. It was not well worth the wait.
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/Movie Ranking: 4 out of 10
“Worry Avenue: Promenade Queen” is streaming on Netflix Could 23, 2025.
