Here we are, folks, the final movie of Netflix’s Fear Street trilogy, which is arguably the best and most unique to date. Thankfully, the concluding film ties everything up pretty nicely and offers a much-needed resolution for many of the existing mysteries and plot points from the first two movies.

If Fear Street Part 1: 1994 was trying to be Scream and Fear Street Part 2: 1978 was evoking Friday The 13th, what about Fear Street Part 3: I666? Well, read on to find out.

A Different Beast

FEAR STREET PART 3: 1666 (L to R) EMILY RUDD as ABIGAIL and JULIA REHWALD as LIZZIE. NETFLIX © 2021

Fear Street Part 3: I666 is very different from the previous two movies, and it owes a lot of that to the new 1660s setting. The previous two movies relied on a lot of the music from their respective eras (1990s and 1970s) to set the tone during scenes, but there’s none of that in this movie. Well, the first half, at least, is when the movie takes place in the 1660s before returning to present-day 1994 in the latter half and climax of the film.

The first half of Fear Street Part 3: I666 not only takes place in the colonial era but also features many of the same actors and actresses from the first movie, including Kiana Madeira as Sarah Fiers, Ashley Zukerman as Solomon Goode and more. This is where the ongoing mystery of Sarah Fier and how she relates to the murders in the previous two movies are finally explained, though I won’t spoil them here.

Since there’s no contemporary music to set the tone, Fear Street Part 3: I666 relies on chilling instrumental/orchestral music for its atmosphere, which is frankly what the first two movies should have done as well. Unlike the previous two movies that paid homage and were similar to classic slasher movies, Fear Street Part 3: I666 looks and feels inspired by folk horror films like 1973’s The Wicker Man, 2015’s The Witch and 2019’s Midsommar.

FEAR STREET PART 3: 1666 (Pictured) KIANA MADEIRA as SARAH FIER. NETFLIX © 2021

Instead of just featuring a killer on the murdering spree, Fear Street Part 3: I666 explores darker themes like how religious extremism and desperation can lead to or even invite both evil and darkness, from without and within. It’s compelling subject material, and a lot more nuanced than what came before. I was surprised by this movie’s style and the amazing performances of the cast (they did a great job with the different accents and everything). It’s disturbing and horrifying, while also emotional and sad at the same time (I can’t really reveal why without touching on spoilers).

That said, everything goes back to conventional slasher territory in the second half of Fear Street Part 3: I666, as the movie finally fully returns to present-day 1994. However, what’s great is that with all the history and context provided via the second movie and the first half of the third movie, your perspective on the present-day has changed so much that you’ll be looking at existing characters in a completely brand new light. I’m not kidding, all that setup definitely feels worth it, as we head into the exciting climax of the Fear Street trilogy as a whole.

It is this that makes the Fear Street trilogy special, and why the first two movies can’t really stand alone on their own. With the perspective and context provided by everything that has happened prior to the second half of Fear Street Part 3: I666, everything has changed. Good plot twists can change everything you’ve seen, and this is true for the Fear Street trilogy. You might even be tempted to rewatch at least the first movie, after finishing the entire trilogy just to catch up on details you might have previously missed.

As for the climax of Fear Street Part 3: I666, viewers can expect a fun and action-heavy climax. I won’t say tense exactly, because it feels like it’s going back to the same Stranger Things vibe of the first movie, albeit with more blood and gore. Still, it’s extremely satisfying to finally see the payoff and I can bet that most viewers will enjoy watching it unfold too.

The Final Chapter

FEAR STREET PART 3: 1666 (L to R) GILLIAN JACOBS as C.BERMAN, BENJAMIN FLORES JR. as JOSH and DARRELL BRITT-GIBSON as MARTIN. NETFLIX © 2021

The Fear Street trilogy only truly works when experienced as a whole. Fear Street Part 3: I666 may not be a slasher like the other two movies, but it is the glue for the world of Shadyside, Sunnyvale and everyone who lives there. It very much works like a whole season of sorts, and Fear Street Part 3: I666 is the finale that brings everything together in one cohesive package.

Without it, the Fear Street trilogy wouldn’t work. With Fear Street Part 3: I666, the trilogy is more than just another new modern slasher franchise. It’s worthy of being called its own horror series, especially with that credits stinger scene at the end. Could there be more Fear Street movies in the pipeline? There are a lot of other eras to explore. I’d certainly welcome more Fear Street content in the future.

FINAL SCORE: 80/100

We received an early access screener of Fear Street Part 3: 1666 courtesy of Netflix Malaysia. It is now streaming on exclusively on Netflix.