Can a fair meaner “Carrie” truly finish properly for the promenade queen? In Netflix’s new “Concern Avenue” adaptation, Matt Palmer argues sure and no with a whip-smart teen horror film co-written by the director and Donald McLeary. A fair gorier “Heathers” topped within the pitch-black comedy period of “Bottoms,” “Concern Avenue: Promenade Queen” is anchored in the identical vicious and girly roots as the unique movie trilogy from 2021 — albeit lacking a number of the scope and magnificence inherent to Leigh Janiak’s three-part slasher epic. Nonetheless, Palmer and McLeary’s take is giddy and grotesque, a intelligent subsequent chapter with a recent killer whose bloody raincoat isn’t the one element to scream “I Know What You Did Final Summer time.”
References don’t make film any greater than they make film evaluation, however “Concern Avenue: Promenade Queen” efficiently makes use of style homage to carbonate R.L. Stine’s easy recipe for extra fizzy-minded audiences. The punch(line) is intoxicating and pridefully chunky, funneled by way of a messy spiral of a script that’s chockfull of exposition dumps you’ll count on… and several other amputations you received’t. From a girl muttering her method by way of a deadly head-wound to cinema’s cruelest use of a slippery doorknob, “Promenade Queen” blitzes by way of acquainted pop-comic vignettes, solely pausing to make its loathsome characters’ adolescent nightmares just a bit bit freakier.
Flecks of Jamie Lee Curtis’ “Promenade Evening,” Rose McGowan’s “Jawbreaker,” and even Clea DuVall’s “However I’m a Cheerleader” rain down on this snappy ensemble effort like confetti. It’s 1988 in Shadyside, the place it’s about to be promenade night time for a similar cursed city explored within the earlier installments. Miracles are uncommon right here, however outcast Lori Granger (India Fowler) isn’t taking place with no struggle in the case of her college’s race for promenade queen. She’s one in all a half-dozen contestants in a closely symbolic race that each one six ladies say they’re decided to win. The chances are essentially the most stacked in opposition to Lori, who along with sharing the identical title as Michael Meyers’ favourite sufferer (yeah, yeah, completely different spelling) suffers every day as Rosemary’s child — actually.
Crossing off cliched character traits like orders on her waitressing pad, Lori is the daughter of a disgraced widow cop. Rosemary Granger (Joanne Boland) stands accused of murdering her husband years earlier than. Now, narrating over a moody synth rating (which, for good or dangerous, sounds so much like “Stranger Issues”), Lori explains that being named queen is the quickest and surest technique to restore her mom’s fame. Even tossing in some lore a few ruined promenade a long time earlier, our last lady’s motivation makes subsequent to no sense. And but, Palmer proves a worthy protector of the “Concern Avenue” legacy, embracing any limitations in his comparatively fast worldbuilding by way of the shrugging consolation of camp.
Meet the Wolf Pack. Sure, the Wolf Pack. Extra Joan Crawford than Regina George, queen bee Tiffany (Fina Strazza) is nearly as good at crafting insults as she is milking their each syllable upon supply. Even straight-A scholar Linda (Ilan O’Driscoll) will get strains like, “I’m gonna lower the bitch who did this!” in a clique as bone-deep merciless as it’s liable to passive-aggressive infighting.One-note stoner Christy (Ariana Greenblatt), loyal “lap canine” Melissa (Ella Rubin), and yappy gossip Debbie (Rebecca Ablack) full Tiffany’s forged of henchmen, reverse their chief’s tough-to-read boyfriend Tyler (David Iacono, giving a strong nod to John Travolta’s Billy Nolan). They’ve all acquired plus-ones and fogeys they’re bringing to the “Promenade Queen” potluck, however with no weapon of alternative, the killer will get particularly inventive turning a assorted and cheeky assortment of deaths right into a single murderous meal.
Generally one after the other, however simply as usually two by two, Shadyside’s worst bullies grow to be meat baggage — satisfyingly swallowed up by motion scenes, set items, and gross-out gags on par with the newly revitalized “Last Vacation spot.” Megan (Suzanna Son), Lori’s horror-loving finest pal, does wonders for the comedic tone, rising on the heart of the primary scare and pleasantly pulling focus the entire method by way of. A queer-coded class clown with the SFX expertise of style wizard Rick Baker, she handily earns Most Seemingly Fan Favourite by way of a handful of deranged pranks. Suffice to say, not since Squidward Tentacles celebrated April Idiot’s Day, has a joke gone so outrageously far.
To say nothing of her destiny, peppy scholar reporter Concord LaFay (Cecilia Lee) stands out as one other character “Concern Avenue” would possibly take into account bringing again, if the standalone didn’t work so properly. Giving their teen co-stars a powerful backboard, the grownup forged boasts Emmy winner Lili Taylor as Vice President Dolores Brekenridge alongside eclectic movie presence Katherine Waterston (“Babylon,” “Alien: Covenant”) as Tiffany’s mother, Nancy. Rife with purple herrings however not particularly advanced, “Promenade Queen” makes it mark by performing with intention. It’s territory you’ve seen numerous Sissy Spacek-types dash by way of earlier than, and also you’ll want elements of Shadyside’s science curriculum got here with a chemistry learn. However when whole dedication collides with sufficient gore and guts, this splendidly energetic soiree sidesteps drained tropes to succeed in a royally darkish place. Shout out editor Christopher Donaldson, who manages that enthusiasm like a weed-smoking chaperone.
Flirty and fiendish, “Promenade Queen” is the choose if you wish to giggle, gag, and chant, “KISS” with out leaving the home this weekend. One dance sequence appears to recall “Sugar & Spice” on objective, whereas one other channels the “Depraved” hat dance by mistake. There’s a meat cleaver/cranium gag that appears nice till it will get overused. And the identical could possibly be stated of goofy Principal Wayland (Darrin Baker) who repeatedly drops the phrase “wowzers.” (Was that in style within the ’80s? Or, like, ever?) These tiny flaws play extra like charming imperfections on “Concern Avenue,” the place Palmer’s contribution guidelines as definitive proof there may be extra enjoyable available adapting this spooky e book collection. Introduced again at simply the correct time, Netflix ought to make these motion pictures an annual affair — even when Lori doesn’t dwell to be promenade queen.
Grade: B+
“Concern Avenue: Promenade Queen” is now streaming on Netflix.
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