Shubhabrata Dutta
Helmed by Matt Palmer, Netflix’s slasher film ‘Fear Street: Prom Queen’ is a part of the streaming giant’s ‘Fear Street’ franchise, which is adapted from R. L. Stine’s eponymous novel series. The standalone movie is set in 1988 and brings the viewers back to the town of Shadyside. Shadyside High is just two days away from the senior prom, and the ladies, including an outsider, are up for the challenge, pulling all the strings they can to secure the crown. While some try to impress, others try to manipulate.
However, the curse that befell the town long back resurfaces in the form of a masked killer who starts slashing the candidates, one by one, giving the class of ’88 a prom worth remembering, though not worth reminiscing. The visuals of ‘Fear Street: Prom Queen’ help in the world-building and establishing the dark atmosphere of the school and the town, playing a vital role in the narrative.
Fear Street: Prom Queen Filming Locations
‘Fear Street: Prom Queen’ was filmed entirely in Ontario, specifically in Toronto and Hamilton. Principal photography began in the second half of March 2024 and continued for several weeks before wrapping up in mid-May of the same year. The production in Ontario is a massive shift from ‘Fear Street Part One: 1994,’ ‘Fear Street Part Two: 1978,’ and ‘Fear Street Part Three: 1666,’ all of which were shot in Georgia. The decision may have been the outcome of the requirement for more dedicated backdrops and cost efficiencies.
Hamilton, Ontario
The production team resorted to the non-functioning Delta Secondary School in Hamilton to film outdoor scenes and, seemingly, some indoor scenes of ‘Fear Street: Prom Queen.’ Located at 1284 Main Street East, the school has a modern Gothic architecture and was the oldest school in the city before it shut down. The fact that it is abandoned may have led the crew to opt for it to add realism and eeriness to the story. The crew also replaced the school’s Main Street East sign with that of Shadyside High.
Named after its founder, politician George Hamilton, Hamilton is a port city lying on the west end of Lake Ontario. It is home to the Hamilton Harbour, Dundurn Castle, Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, Canadian Football Hall of Fame, the Supercrawl arts and music festival, and the Hamilton Film Festival. The city also boasts many art galleries, which are a part of its continuously growing art scene, like the Art Gallery of Hamilton and the McMaster Museum of Art. Other projects shot in the region include ‘Motorheads,’ ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ and ‘The Boys.’
Toronto, Ontario
The crew seemingly utilized the studio facilities of Toronto to tape several indoor scenes of the movie. Known as Hollywood North, Toronto is among the largest and most modern production bases on the planet. Toronto is home to numerous studios that provide top-tier customizable sound stages and backlots, along with tax incentives. This naturally enabled the crew to recreate the 80s high school life and the fictional town of Shadyside as authentically as possible.
Other projects that have used Toronto as the backdrop include ‘Overcompensating,’ ‘Bet,’ and ‘Another Simple Favor.’ Some well-known tourist spots and landmarks that you can visit include the CN Tower in downtown Toronto, the Toronto Sign, the Humber Bay Arch Bridge, Casa Loma, the Scarborough Bluffs, and Kensington Market. If you are into festivals, you can enjoy the annual Taste of the Danforth festival, which celebrates Greek food and culture, the Toronto International Film Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals, and the Caribana festival.
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