In a small Indiana town, something goes bump in the night and a young boy goes missing. Now it's up to his friends, his hysterical mother, and a young psychic girl to find him and bring him home. In Netflix’s newest foray into horror TV, “Stranger Things” delivers an entertaining and unique take on the horror genre.
“Stranger Things” is brought to us by the creative Duffer Brothers, the minds behind the equally unique “Wayward Pines”. Whereas “Wayward Pines” draws heavily from David Lynch and “Twin Peaks”, “Stranger Things” draws from all things '80s. The '80s aesthetic is one of the best parts about this series, because it really captures the essence of how it feels to watch a movie from the '80s. All of the characters feel like a natural part of the world, because it could have easily become a melodrama with '80s references shoehorned in. “Stranger Things” really feels like it was plucked right out of the mid-80’s.
The two biggest influences that I get from this show are Steven Spielberg and John Carpenter. The story centers around a group of young kids who find something extraordinary and go on an adventure, like in “ET” or “The Goonies”. It never loses its sense of childhood adventure even as the tale unfolds into a dark and twisted horror story. The young actors play their parts wonderfully, and the story is told through their perspective rather than purely through the eyes of the adults. The adults’ stories add a more serious level to the oftentimes light-hearted kids' stories. Joyce, played by Winona Ryder, is a distraught mother who will do anything to get her son back. Jim Hopper, played by David Harbour, is the Sheriff of their small, quiet town, and his dark past makes this missing person case all the more personal. Their stories remind you of the true gravity of the situation they’re in.
Aside from the acting and characters, the show looks amazing. From the costumes, to the sets, to the minute props in the background, this show oozes '80s nostalgia. One thing I noticed is that it's filmed in a wide screen to add that extra layer of authenticity. The show has a good balance of practical effects and CGI. Horror and sci-fi movies in the '80s were full of great practical effects, and “Stranger Things” doesn't disappoint. The CGI isn't Hollywood movie–quality, but it's good enough and not overused. Another thing that this show does really well is playing on character tropes from the '80s. Mike, the main kid, has clueless parents like in every '80s movie. The cops are also clueless and aside from Hopper are usually used for comic relief.
“Stranger Things” is a must watch for anyone who is a fan of horror movies or adventure movies from the '80s. The balance of light-hearted childhood adventure with a twisted monster story keep the audience entertained for all eight episodes. Luckily, “Stranger Things” has already been picked up for a second season, and late 2017 can't come fast enough!
