SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers about “Fear Street: Prom Queen,” now streaming on Netflix.

Growing up in the U.K., director and co-screenwriter Matt Palmer of "Fear Street: Prom Queen" wasn't as immersed in R.L. Stine's teen horror novel series that birthed the Netflix film franchise. While the U.K. had "Goosebumps," Stine’s more popular series for younger audiences, "Fear Street" didn’t leave as indelible a mark across the pond.

Nevertheless, fate intervened when Palmer was approached to direct "Prom Queen," the fourth chapter in the "Fear Street" saga, even before producers had finalized which of the ten titles they'd adapt next. This particular book resonated with him, despite his years having long passed high school.

"The idea was simple yet electrifying—what if you tried to craft a teen movie in the John Hughes mold, where the kids were akin to those in 'The Breakfast Club,' but there was a maniac wielding a power tool running amok?" he muses. "Moreover, we wanted to anchor the film with characters like Lori (India Fowler) and Megan (Suzanna Son). In slasher movies, characters often feel like mere cogs in the narrative wheel. But what if we made the audience genuinely care about them from the outset? That way, when the threat arrives, the stakes feel palpable."

Palmer was delighted with the source material but relished the opportunity to secure R.L. Stine's approval to tweak the script. His first move was to modernize the dialogue, breathing life into characters who felt more contemporary and relatable.

"It's fascinating because while we're crafting a movie set in the past, it must resonate with today's audience," he explains. "In the original book, the girls primarily talk about boys, but in this adaptation, they engage in deeper conversations with each other. It's a testament to how far we've come; this movie proudly passes the Bechdel Test."

A pivotal change involved the killer's identity, ensuring even die-hard fans of the book would be caught off guard by the film's conclusion. The revelation that Dan and Nancy Falconer (Chris Klein and Katherine Waterston) orchestrated murders to crown Tiffany (Fina Strazza) prom queen only deepened the shock when Tiffany herself was unveiled as a homicidal maniac.

Palmer confesses that the vision for the ending crystallized early in the process. "When I pitched it to the producers, their immediate question was 'Who did it?' My response was, 'These two people committed the act, and here's what the killer says: "People never remember the details, they only remember the winner."' This clarity guided our writing process, preventing us from overthinking the plot—'These are the culprits, and there is one twist.'"

An unexpected twist lies in the film's mid-credits scene, where blood from Nancy's battered head forms a symbol—the Witch's Mark, a recurring motif in the previous "Fear Street" trilogy linked to demonic sacrifice.

Palmer reveals that this Easter egg originated from an earlier, more expansive concept. "Initially, the killers were engaged in satanic practices to achieve their goals," he elaborates. "When that approach fell short, they resorted to more conventional methods. There was also a plan for a sequel set in 1990, delving into the Satanic Panic era. We considered weaving characters from the first movie into this narrative and including a post-credit sequence, but ultimately decided to keep the story concise and focused."

"I aimed to create a movie under 90 minutes because I adore horror films that strike swiftly and exit just as quickly," he adds. "We stayed true to the story being told, yet hopefully, this leaves room for fans to connect it to the preceding films or theorize about its implications. Who knows? Perhaps the 1990 movie will emerge, shedding further light on this cryptic Easter egg."

Is a direct sequel to "Prom Queen" likely to materialize?

"Potentially," Palmer responds. "But I’ve already had the privilege of directing an '80s retro slasher within the 'Fear Street' universe. I don’t want to be greedy. I’d gladly return to this world, but I’m equally thrilled to see other directors take the reins. The producers seek visionary filmmakers, and I’m excited to witness the franchise's evolution."

Watch the "Prom Queen" trailer below.