Review: 'Fear Street Trilogy - Part 3: 1666' Takes on Salem for a Grand Finale

What a wild ride this "Fear Street" trilogy has been. The filmmakers took on the task of adapting a beloved book series, lovingly paying homage to classic horror movies from different time periods and weaving one story across three movies. Being able to successfully do any of those things is a tall order. The final chapter, "Fear Street Part 3: 1666," sticks the landing, offering a satisfying conclusion to the series.

Don't let the title fool you: Just because a good portion of the film is basically a horror movie version of "The Crucible" doesn't mean that it's hokey. This chapter might actually contain one of the gnarliest scenes of the trio, perhaps more than any horror movie since "Hereditary." It's also a welcome return to see many of the actors from the previous films, presumably playing their ancestors this time around. Fan favorites like Julia Rehwald (Kate) and Sadie Sink (Ziggy) appear briefly in the Puritanical village.

As seen at the end of "1978," Deena is transported back in time, into the body of Sarah Fier. She quickly assembles the remaining pieces of the story as to why the town was initially cursed, and the events leading up to Sarah's hanging. With this knowledge, she is transported back to her present day to put a stop to the curse once and forever.

"1666" packs a lot of story into its runtime, clocking in at just under two hours. Despite this, the movie moves the quickest of the three, with little downtime as the characters prepare to save Shadyside and Sam from the Sarah Fier curse. In doing so, the soon-to-be iconic Skull Mask makes his re-entry to the series, along with all of the other baddies from the first film.

Gillian Jacobs is the MVP of this film, though there isn't much that is developed about the adult Ziggy. She has all of the makings of a final girl, even though she isn't actually the final girl who gets to have the heroic, climatic battle. The growth in her character, who was a shell of childhood herself in the previous film, is mostly due to Jacobs' acting. Even when unsure of herself, in Jacobs' capable hands Ziggy exudes confidence and grit. Hers becomes one of the most gratifying character arcs.

A few questions are left unanswered, but in general "1666" does a good job of tying the trilogy up. Originally the films were planned for a theatrical release before being bought by Netflix. The streaming service is a natural fit for the trilogy because "Fear Street" feels like a bingeable limited series. Each of the films lead right into the next, providing more scares than any of the other horror shows.

If Netflix is smart, this wouldn't be the last we see of the Shadysiders. There are nearly 50 books to draw inspiration from, so the possibilities are endless. Wbe e would front and center for more!

"Fear Street Part 3: 1666" is now streaming on Netflix.