If you’re not living under a rock, then surely you’ve heard the news: “Stranger Things” is Netflix’s must-see show of the year so far. It’s one of those rare cases where the hype is justified, and then some. “Stranger Things,” created, written and directed by The Duffer Brothers is a straight shot of ’80s kiddie movie nostalgia that’s every bit as deliriously addictive as you’ve heard it is. The show’s first season is short and sweet (just eight episodes), which makes it the perfect binge watch if you’re haven’t already started.
It’s hard to talk about “Stranger Things” without talking about the notion of nostalgia. This is a show that’s not shy about paying homage to its stylistic forbearers and, in many cases, the show flaunts its inspirations outright. Some of the more apparent points of reference are the Amblin-era hits of Steven Spielberg, particularly “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial,” as well as dark and devious children’s adventures like Joe Dante’s “Gremlins” and the greatest movie ever to be shot in Astoria, Oregon, “The Goonies.” Of course, the show’s ominous, synth-heavy theme music recalls the great movie scores of John Carpenter, though aside from “Starman,” nothing in “Stranger Things” is grotesque or horrifying enough to qualify as genuinely Carpenter-esque. You get what I’m saying, though: this is a show where active engagement in pop cultural properties of yore is a crucial part of its enjoyment. Granted, the show works well enough if you’re not familiar with these movies, but for the many geeks who will be, it’s merely the cherry on top of the sundae.
For those of you eager to pick apart the many easter eggs and visual references sprinkled throughout the first season of “Stranger Things,” the wait is now over: Ulysse Thevenon has composed a side-by-side comparison video that juxtaposes “Stranger Things” with the many classic films it’s inspired by. Watching the video, it’s hard to dispute that the Duffers have done their homework when it comes to telling this particular story. Clearly, they’ve taken the maxim about stealing from the greats and ran with it. There’s generous smatterings of “E.T.” here, plus “The Goonies” and “Stand by Me,” as well as unexpected allusions to Ridley Scott’s original “Alien” and even “Firestarter,” the 1984 Stephen King adaptation that starred a then-11 year old Drew Barrymore. I would argue there’s also threads of the small-town weirdness of both “Twin Peaks” and “The X-Files” in the show’s DNA, as well as watered-down doses of the body horror made popular by director David Cronenberg (others have noted the similarity between the great Canadian director and the mad scientist that Matthew Modine plays in the show). For the most part, though, the video covers nearly all the various influences that constitute the genetic make-up of this wonderful show.
All eight episodes of “Stranger Things” are currently streaming on Netflix, which you might want to watch before diving into this video. But if you’re already watched the series, this is a real treat. [One Perfect Shot]