WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Fear Street Part 2: 1978, now streaming on Netflix.
The first two installments of the Fear Street trilogy have made it clear that the town of Shadyside is cursed. Dubbed "Killer Capital USA," the town is known for its brutal massacres that happen every decade or so. While not everyone fully believes it, Shadyside’s murders are not just regular people going crazy. The killers are supernaturally motivated and possessed by a witch. Fear Street Part 2: 1978 seems to go a step further in clarifying that the witch’s curse is specific to Shadyside residents only.
Shadyside’s history of murders stems from the execution of a witch in 1666. Before Sarah Fier died, she made a deal with the devil so that she could cheat death. By cutting off her hand on Satan’s Stone, Sarah Fier maintained her thrall over the people that killed her, and ever since, she has periodically returned to possess innocent people and turn them into murderous psychopaths. It was her way of taking a bloody revenge on the people that killed her.
Back in 1666, the place where Sarah Fier was executed was simply the Shadyside Settlement. However, since then, the settlement grew and was separated into the towns of Shadyside and Sunnyvale. While Shadyside is known for its killings, Sunnyvale is the exact opposite. The introduction for Fear Street Part 1: 1994 explained that the town was entering its 30th year with no violent crimes. During the same segment, a newspaper clipping said that Sunnyvale had been voted “most beautiful place to live.”
Even though the two towns comprised the same settlement at one time, it seems like Sarah Fier has a particular dislike for the residents of current Shadyside. While it seems odd that the witch would be so specific in her revenge, Shadyside’s history of murders combined with Sunnyvale’s history of success seems to be sufficient proof. In fact, Fear Street Part 2: 1978 seems to show that the witch does not allow her murderous minions to kill Sunnyvalers, except in very specific situations.
In 1978, Camp Nightwing is the local summer camp, and it attracts kids from both Shadyside and Sunnyvale. On the night of the big Color War, Tommy, one of the counselors, was possessed by the witch and killed 12 people. Interestingly, all of them were Shadysiders. Tommy had ample opportunity to kill Sunnyvalers, but he chose -- or was controlled by the witch -- to wait until the Shadysiders were alone and vulnerable.
During that night, there was one Sunnyvaler that was injured: future sherriff Nick Goode was stabbed in the back of the leg as he tried to protect Ziggy Berman. However, Tommy quickly gave up on him when Ziggy fled the scene. So, it would seem that, unless they specifically intervene, Sunnyvalers are safe from Sarah Fier’s curse.
Directed and co-written by Leigh Janiak, the Fear Street trilogy stars Sadie Sink, Kiana Madeira, Olivia Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr., Darrell Britt-Gibson, Ashley Zukerman, Fred Hechinger, Julia Rehwald, Jeremy Ford and Gillian Jacobs. Part One: 1994 and Part Two: 1978 are available now on Netflix. Part Three: 1666 will premiere on July 16.