Do Revenge (2022)

Good acting, aesthetic, and posh Gen-Z high school world-building keep this party going amidst some inconsistent writing (see the unnecessary narration, the one-off sympathizing of Max, the confusing and unfounded twist, the drastic reconciliation to happy ending that reeks of privilege, the cheesy and easy re-pairing off in the credits). There are some great emotional moments (see Drea and Nora in bed) but they don’t always feel connected or justified. Or maybe I just don’t get teens anymore.

Fear Street: Part One – 1994 (2021)

It’s not particularly stylish (the aesthetic is neither consistent nor enjoyable, but maybe that’s the 90s?) or well-crafted (the intriguing Shadyville vs. Sunnyvale narrative is dropped quickly; the kids vs. cop dynamic feels unwarranted), but its slasher thrills are solid (the multi-faceted grocery store showdown is intense) and the refreshing batch of teenage characters add a really unique and gritty edge to it all (lots of swearing, drugs, angst, hormones, and questionable decisions).