Netflix slasher drops just in time for prom season and was filmed in Ontario

Netflix’s latest slasher film, set in the 1980s, was filmed entirely in Ontario.

Fear Street: Prom Queen, released on May 23, is the newest standalone chapter in the popular Fear Street franchise. While previous films explored the cursed town of Shadyside in 1994, 1978 and 1666, this story is set in 1988, and the killer is crashing the prom.

For most, prom night is a time for crowns, corsages and extended curfews. It’s when sequined dresses shimmer under the lights, cameras flash and the evening promises lasting memories. But in Shadyside, even the most magical night of the year can spiral into a nightmare.

Directed by Matt Palmer and based on R.L. Stine’s 1992 novel The Prom Queen, the film follows a group of teens preparing for the best night of their lives. As prom queen candidates start disappearing one by one, it becomes clear that someone is out for blood and only one will make it to the coronation.

Filming took place across Toronto and Hamilton from March to May 2024. One of the key locations was the now-closed Delta Secondary School at 1284 Main Street East in Hamilton, which was used for both interior and exterior shots of Shadyside High.

Although other specific filming locations weren’t revealed, viewers familiar with the region may spot recognizable landmarks throughout the film.

The ensemble cast includes India Fowler (The Nevers), Suzanna Son (Red Rocket), Fina Strazza (Paper Girls), David Iacono (The Summer I Turned Pretty), Ella Rubin (The Idea of You), and Ariana Greenblatt (Barbie), alongside Chris Klein (American Pie), Lili Taylor (Outer Range) and Katherine Waterston (Fantastic Beasts).

Fear Street: Prom Queen blends neon-drenched nostalgia with brutal kill scenes and classic whodunit suspense — complete with 1980s fashion, synth-heavy needle drops and a twisted final reveal.

Palmer co-wrote the script with Donald McLeary. The film was produced by Chernin Entertainment and executive produced by Yvonne Bernard, Joan Waricha and Jane Stine.

Whether you’re in it for the mystery, the mayhem or the high school drama, Fear Street: Prom Queen is now streaming on Netflix, just in time for prom season.

—Photos via Netflix’s Tudum