In the film trilogy “Fear Street”, a killer is on the loose. But this Netflix horror extravaganza not only leaves a sizable amount of blood, it also sprays the screen with a torrent of pop culture references.

The trilogy mainly takes place in the fictional town of Shadyside and is based on the books by RL Stine when the town was a village. (The episodes premier on three consecutive Fridays starting July 2.) The trilogy speeds through characters, moods, and genres, including teen romance and full-on slasher. The movies are in a way like a Netflix algorithm of styles all wrapped up in a bingeable package.

Amid the many twists and turns, the films follow the city and the oversized murder problem that it has had for generations. Is witchcraft involved? Could it be satan? Or are the people just mean? The director Leigh Janiak wants to keep the audience on their toes, at the same time hum catchy tunes and think of both Halloween and “Halloween”.

Below is a look at 10 influences horror and comedy fans alike can spot.

In the first film, set in 1994, mall culture (including B. Dalton) is alive and well. So it is almost every song a teenager or college student might have heard at the time. The needle drops bounce from Nine Inch Nails to Bush to, damn it, Sophie B. Hawkins. The songs are used a little the way Quentin Tarantino could do: to project the thoughts of characters, including lead actress Deena (Kiana Madeira), who in a moment of dissatisfaction with Garbag’s “I’m Only Happy When It Rains” is presented.

While there is no DeLorean here, the spirit of adventure and decades of understanding of revelation are reminiscent of Robert Zemeckis’ “Back to the Future” films. The third part of both trilogies takes us a long way back – to the Wild West in “Back to the Future” and to the season of the witch from the 17th century in “Fear Street”.

While the “Fear Street” films delve into all sorts of supernatural lore, knives and axes are the deepest elements of the threat. The 1978 summer camp backdrop can’t help but remind us of some good old-fashioned “Friday the 13th” Crystal Lake mayhem. The Netflix entry ticks off some creative kills that would make both Jason from those films and Michael Myers from “Halloween” proud.

“Fear Street” has a certain “meddling child” aspect to it, where a group of outsiders come together to solve age-old secrets. As the characters explore the city’s history and its often unsolved murders, you can feel Daphne and Fred from Scooby-Doo just outside the frame. Deena exudes Velma vibes and the film has its own shaggy in the character of Simon (Fred Hechinger), a slacker and trickster who finds himself in a few zoinks! Moments.

In recent years, a handful of celebratory romances with women have taken center stage, such as “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” and “Ammonite”. The trend was remarkable enough to be parodied on “Saturday Night Live”. Add Fear Street to the list of the emerging relationship between Sarah Fier (also played by Madeira) and Hannah Miller (Olivia Scott Welch) in 1666. The two keep their passions a secret, but their chemistry is as strong as the accents of time.

While there isn’t an ’80s entry on the series, John Hughes’ influence here is hard to shake, as Fear Street highlights and puts the underdogs at the fore. With her disaffected one-handed attitude, Deena is reminiscent of Allison Reynolds, Ally Sheedy’s dejected character from “The Breakfast Club”. And literal gamer Josh (Benjamin Flores Jr.) on Fear Street has a lot in common with Hughes creation Brian Johnson, played with classic geekiness from Anthony Michael Hall.

A horror staple, obsession – by ghosts, witches, or something worse – can add an interesting crease to a narrative. How can you argue with a murderer when he’s obsessed? (Answer: You can’t.) “Fear Street” has fun with this premise by turning some characters harmlessly into bloodthirsty ones from a moment on.

In the 1978 episode, the bloody prom prank from Stephen King’s novel (and the subsequent Brian De Palma film) stars in the mocked but resilient Ziggy Berman (Sadie Sink) who seeks revenge on those who wronged her the act one. But in “Fear Street” pig blood is replaced by a much stronger alternative. Nonetheless, Ziggy Carrie has qualities as an outsider who is often subjected to ridicule by other campers and who develops ways to defend himself. She doesn’t have to turn up the vengeance all the way to Carrie levels, however. The killer on the rampage can do that.

While the 1978 episode has its share of revenge and editing, there are plenty of exhilarating moments too. With its short shorts, rowdy advisors and crazy gimmicks, the film owes a lot of comedies such as Ivan Reitman’s “Meatballs”, David Wain’s “Wet Hot American Summer” and Ron Maxwell’s “Little Darlings”.

Janiak, the director, has said that her shooting style for the 1666 episode was inspired by Terrence Malick’s The New World. In fact, some of the open air ensemble scenes are reminiscent of the 2005 drama about the founding of Jamestown. But the rural setting, early English accents, and looming witchcraft are more reminiscent of “The Witch,” Robert Eggers’ meticulous and sober horror mystery from 2016. With dingy, candle-lit interiors and a dark but terrifying relationship with animals ( this time an uncomfortable handling of a pig instead of Eggers’ use of a creepy goat) this entry in “Fear Street” makes life in the 17th century look tedious and desolate.

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