Event Review: Netflix's Fear Street Rentals Pop Up

By: Kayla Caldwell

Shannon McGrew, Kayla Caldwell, Sarah Musnicky, and James H. Carter II outside of Fear Street Rentals

If you’ve read my reviews for Fear Street Part 1: 1994 and Fear Street Part Two: 1978, then you already know how obsessed I am with Netflix’s Fear Street series. However, that obsession elevated to a whole new level after we got to check out FEAR STREET RENTALS in West Hollywood.

The unbelievably well-done pop up looks, from the outside, to be a video rental store in Shadyside in the 1990s. You walk inside, and well, that’s exactly what it is… or so it seems. You have to check in at the register, where a very stylish member of the video store staff will have you use vintage PCs to sign up for a FEAR STREET RENTALS account and membership card.

I was already in heaven at this point, because some of my greatest film memories begin with hours of strolling through the local video store, proudly wielding my membership card as a ticket to some sweet, sweet escapism. The vibe here is very curated to capitalize on the overwhelming allure of nostalgia. It was to point that I wanted to buy the FEAR STREET RENTALS T-shirt off of the actors' backs. It's that good.

Ready to check in, inside Fear Street Rentals

After you acquire your membership cards - and pry yourself away from all of the amazing merch, and the old school video store wall of candy - you are given flashlights, and instructed to continue through the video store, where you will see racks upon racks of horror films - AKA, my ideal video store.

This is when you first start to notice the quality of this pop up. From the lighting effects to seemingly haunted VHS tapes, you better be on your toes. The flashlights also illuminate spooky messages on the walls, like this one I captured that reads, “When she’s near, blood will fall.” You can find even more amazing Fear Street easter eggs with that flashlight - if you’re paying attention.

From there you must traverse through the caves underneath Nightwing Summer Camp - and anyone who’s seen Part Two knows that nothing good happens under there. At camp, a giddy counselor casually tells you that a bunch of campers have left because of blood on the walls, and, oh yeah, the murders.

Inside Fear Street Rentals

You’ve still got a ways to go after that, as a truly spooky guide brings you into the church of “The Pastor” Cyrus Miller. I won’t spoil anything here, as you can still check out this well-produced pop up until July 20. Just know that everyone I attended this event with was taken aback by a few stellar scare techniques in this room.

I’ve been to pop ups and Instagram museums promoting TV and film projects before, but I’ve never been to anything quite like this. FEAR STREET RENTALS is a proper mini-haunt, and beautifully captures the scares - and nostalgia! - of the Fear Street series.

For a hell of a scare, months ahead of Halloween, as well as some pretty cool photo ops, check out FEAR STREET RENTALS in West Hollywood. For more information go to FearStreetRentals.com.

My new favorite bag, c/o Fear Street Rentals