Fear Street Super Chiller: The New Year’s Party Review
3 reasons why you should read Fear Street Super Chiller: The New Year’s Party – and 1 why you should avoid!
R. L. Stine’s New Year holiday horror Super Chiller, The New Year’s Party was released in December 1995 (for New Year’s 1996). 30 years later, it is being reviewed here on the blog! As promised, within this review there will be 3 reasons why you should bother with this particular Fear Street. Even though it’s currently January, that reason alone shouldn’t be sufficient.
The first reason you should read this book is that it is structured very differently from what you might ordinarily expect from a book by R. L. Stine. While it is the norm for a Super Chiller to be split up into ‘parts’, this book has two parallel plots, which take place 30 years apart, set in 1965 and the presumed 1995. It is something I have not seen before as a loyal Stine fan, so if you’re looking for something a little more novel – then this is the next Fear Street for you!
Whilst we are on the topic of plot structure, let’s explore a little more – without any spoilers of course! This will conveniently segue into the second reason why you need to read this book.
Fear Street Super Chiller: The New Year’s Party plot
“Everybody pay attention”, the robber commanded. “This is an example of what happens when you don’t cooperate.”
Again, he pressed the gun barrel against Jeremy’s head.
Then he pulled the trigger.Fear Street Super Chiller: The New Year’s Party p.10-11
In The New Year’s Party, the story begins in 1965 with a practical joke that goes too far, resulting in a tragic incident involving two teenagers on New Year’s Day. This represents the second reason why you should read this book, because even through ‘hijinks’ such as these, there are some pretty dark moments in the book. Can you imagine being led to believe you’re about to die, just for a joke?!
The narrative then zaps forward to present day (presumably November 1995), and we meet and hear many of the story’s cast. Because there is no ‘goal’ as such for the protagonists in either the 1960s or 1990s story ‘arcs’, it is difficult to explain the plot in a way that gives a flavor of what the reader will be getting into, while avoiding spoilers. I would just advise anyone who wants to enjoy this book to treat it like a classic ghost story. The narrative is an account of events leading to a climax, rather than the typical “hero’s tale” format.
Fear Street Super Chiller: The New Year’s Party review
The New Year’s Party starts strong, but veers into campier territory as the book progresses. Early on, readers witness a dark moment where a kid is led to believe he’s on the verge of death. Only for it to turn out to be a practical joke! It’s a grim setup. One that gets worse as part one reaches its climax. The tension quickly dissipates as we move into part two. This part almost entirely comprises of a group of ’90s teens indulging in an endless string of practical jokes – and that’s it.
Short stories and novellas can often get away with being somewhat aimless, relying on atmosphere, dread, or compelling prose to keep readers engaged until the climax. Ghost stories often meander toward a chilling encounter, and we forgive them because the mood keeps us hooked. The New Year’s Party doesn’t quite succeed in this sense. There is a lot of filler, consisting of episodic teen antics, that may entertain a younger audience but will most likely leave millennials wanting more substance. And no, I personally would not lump this one in the ‘so-bad-it’s-good’ category.
Despite the filler, this Super Chiller presents a strong thematic core: the dangers of taking a joke too far. Both the ‘60s and ‘90s story arcs explore this idea, with pranks escalating to tragic and fatal consequences. This is foreshadowed in page 34:
Maybe we should stop playing this game, Reenie thought. Maybe we should stop right now – tonight – before someone goes too far.
Fear Street Super Chiller: The New Year’s Party p.34
It is a message that takes direct aim at Fear Street‘s intended demographic. Teens are not exactly known for their cautiousness. The notion that carefree fun can spiral into life-altering—or life-ending—consequences adds a layer of horror, especially when viewed through the lens of teenage impulsiveness.
Similarly, the book subtly taps into the universal sense of countdown that defines teenage years. For many, adolescence is a series of milestones. The countdown to driving, graduating, moving out, or gaining the freedom of adulthood. While not scary in itself, this ticking clock will resonate with the target audience. ’90s kid Artie, for instance, is tempted by the lure of skipping college to chase a “grown-up” life prematurely. Also the main group of protagonists’ struggle to complete 100 trigonometry problems feels like another countdown they’re desperate to escape.
This is the third reason you should read this book. It’s a throwback to those teenage years and all the milestones that come with it. It’s retrospectively relatable, evoking memories of school struggles and significant life moments.
Fear Street Super Chiller: The New Year’s Party is a book that succeeds in speaking to it’s target audience. Yet, it is mediocre when it comes to scares. There are a few shocks, albeit amounting to relatively tame depictions of gore.
There was one moment that stood out—perhaps for the wrong reasons. This involved the discovery of a “trampy” character’s body in a dustbin, with mayonnaise dripping down her stockinged leg. The imagery felt oddly specific and somewhat off-putting, like a veiled joke aimed at older readers.
Unfortunately, there was a lack of a convincing threat throughout the book, and especially towards the end. This only added to the aimlessness of the narrative. It was this, combined with its overt appeal to a teen audience, made The New Year’s Party a difficult read. The reason to avoid is because The New Year’s Party is best suited for die-hard R.L. Stine fans (or its intended teenage demographic). Its exploration of themes like recklessness and consequences may more resonate with younger readers. Seasoned Stine fans still might find it hard to forgive the underwhelming scares and storytelling.
