Ryan, Fear Street: Prom Queen taps into that deliciously dark high school mythos. What initially drew you to this chilling installment of the iconic franchise?
For starters, I loved the original trilogy. The scares, the high intensity and survival aspect, the amazing deaths. That already had me hooked. And then the opportunity to go back and play a high school student in the 80s during prom night…what more could I ask for.
You play a pivotal role in this horror revival—can you give us a glimpse into your character without giving too much away?
I play Chad, one of Shadyside High’s jocks and prom king candidates. He’s part of the popular group at the school, a bit of a class clown, but overall he cares deeply for his friends. What I can say is he goes through a lot during prom night.
I was a huge fan of the original trilogy. I thought those movies were done so brilliantly, the way they jumped through different timelines and gave us the backstory into why all that crazyish was happening in Shadyside. And the performances from the actors were so real and authentic.
Filming horror often involves night shoots, intense stunts, and serious atmosphere—what was the energy like on set behind the screams?
The cast were usually cracking jokes and in good spirits. Even though the days ran into nights, the energy was up. I am proud and blessed to have had the opportunity to work alongside such talented individuals.
How did you mentally and physically prepare for a role that lives in such a heightened, adrenaline-charged space?
I actually created a playlist of 80s music that I thought Chad would listen to. In terms of physically I am a fairly active person so anything in that capacity I was already locked into. And I personally love the horror genre, so I was able to lock in and play fairly easily.
My favorite day was when the cast all got to go outside and experience the solar eclipse together. I found something about that personally so special. Especially considering a large portion of the shoot took place inside the gymnasium, so getting outside to witness that spectacle really while filming a horror movie really added to the experience for me. I would say the fact that this movie takes place over the course of prom night, a time in high school seniors’ life when it’s supposed to be a celebration of all the struggles from a grueling year has ended, instead is met with chaos and mayhem. Also, the 80s aesthetic really adds a nice touch. Very nostalgic.
Without venturing into spoiler territory—what kind of ride should audiences buckle in for? Are we talking slow burn, shock-and-awe, or full-on scream fest?
Expect a bloody good time and expect the unexpected. Prom Queen has such an amazing flow to it, I think people will be experiencing a lot of shock-and-awe.
There definitely was a lot of bonding between the cast. For example, the prom queens or Wolfpack formed and the prom kings hung out a lot, and we called ourselves the six-pack.
Any off-camera moments you’ll never forget?
I’ll never forget when me and David Iacono played a game of handball, best of 3. And I ended up beating him in the final game. But it came down to the wire.
Now that the film is about to hit Netflix, how does it feel to be part of something that’s equal parts fashion, fear, and fandom?
The best way I can describe this is grateful. Something of this caliber is such a blessing to be a part of. From the story, the cast, the franchise to the fans… I couldn’t be more grateful.
What do you hope people take away from it?
I hope people take away that you never know who might be out to get you….but also to enjoy the movie for all the thrills and kills, haha.
