Since its release this past summer, Stranger Things has taken the television world by storm. Its influence from and homages to 1980s culture hit home with most audiences. This show is filled with thrills and chills, and with its being Halloween, I thought it would be appropriate to review this series.
Season 1 revolves around the sudden disappearance of young Will Byers, who has seemingly vanished into thin air. As the investigation progresses, strange connections are drawn to the case, including an elusive laboratory, a mysterious creature in the woods, and a young girl with supernatural powers.
Stranger Things' cast is a large one and I intend to address all the main characters. I shall start with the adults. Winona Ryder plays Will's mother, Joyce, and her performance might be the most memorable of the whole season. Her gradual descent into apparent madness and her ever-worrying composure make for an unforgettable outing from Ryder. David Harbour is the police chief of the small town and he really shines in this series. Harbour is passionate in the role, which is partially inspired by Chief Brody from Jaws. The conviction and determination he evokes makes him one of the most likable characters.
Moving over to the teenagers, I think Natalia Dryer does an excellent job in this series. Her character undergoes a lot of development, which results in Dryer having to essentially play two different roles. This young actress nails the innocent and naive version of the character, as well as the badass moments that come later. Charlie Heaton portrays Will's older brother, and he gives an understated but very impactful performance. His character is an outsider and keeps to himself. Heaton is able to make the most of this misfit. Joe Keery is more of a minor character in this season, but he still manages to leave an impression. Keery brings out the worst aspects of his character, which really makes us dislike him, appropriately so.
Finally, we have the kids. These young actors are all spectacular in their own ways. Noah Schnapp, though absent for the majority of the season due to Will's being missing, is really good. He has very little screen time, but he makes the most of it. But the other four children are fantastic together. Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, and Gaten Matarazzo are all marvelous, especially the latter, who portrays Dustin, my favorite of the three. But the breakout star is most likely Millie Bobby Brown, who plays a shaven-head girl with special powers that goes by the name of Eleven. Brown is phenomenal, giving a mostly physical and facial performance, which is incredibly impressive for her age.
The disappearance of Will Byers is the main crux of the whole plot, but from it sprouts many sub-plots that are explored by different groups of characters. The young boys encounter Eleven and, with her help, try to figure out where Will is. This storyline feels very much inspired by Steven Spielberg's pictures. The way the children are scripted and the directions taken are very reminiscent of Spielberg's films, with E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial being the main inspiration. Stranger Things perfectly captures the joy and wonderment of childhood, as well as the importance of friendship and camaraderie.
The teenagers, at first, appear to be in a John Hughes film. There are romantic tensions and the plot-line does not seem to feed into the Will Byers story. However, this all changes when a strange creature begins to make terrifying appearances. The storyline then shifts over to one of monster hunting and this portion of the series becomes much more engaging (not that the romance was not interesting in the first place). Things really pick-up when the characters Jonathan and Nancy begin talking to each other and piecing facts together.
The adult segments separate into two branches: Joyce and Chief Hopper. Joyce descends into madness, hanging up Christmas lights to try and communicate with her son. Her scenes give the viewer insight into the supernatural occurrences and almost solely raise questions. The scenes involving Hopper usually focus on his investigation of the Hawkins Lab. It is made clear that something is not right about this facility, and Hopper's story slowly unveils what is happening behind these locked doors. All of these stories are executed wonderfully and each one is engrossing in their own way.
Now for the elephant in the room; Stranger Things is abundant with homages to pop culture of the '80s. The story of the series is completely original, but within its inner workings are familiar structures and the aesthetics are crammed with references. There are contemporary movie posters in the backgrounds, mentions of beloved films, and many inspired directional choices. Among the films that are payed homage or referenced to are Jaws, Star Wars, E.T., The Goonies, The Thing, The Evil Dead, Stephen King novels adaptations, and Poltergeist, along with many others. This generates such an aggressive force of nostalgia, which creates the charming magnetic pull of the series. Even the music is a product of the era it is replicating, with a heavy emphasis on synthesized sounds, which sound magnificent.
Another aspect this show absolutely nails is the tone. Stranger Things is polluted with a creepy and chilling atmosphere. The lighting and music have a lot to do with this, as does the rural and abandoned-like setting. The show certainly has its lighter moments and the whole thing feels like a fun adventure. But the scary and eerie mood is one of the show's prevailing highlights.
However, as superb as this show is, it does not come without its faults. My biggest gripe is the number of plot holes. Many questions are left unanswered for a second season, and I understand that, but there are still certain inconsistencies with the story. For instance, how did Will use the Christmas lights in the Upside Down if they were nowhere to be seen in the house? Also, in the first episode, the monster is shown to have telekinetic abilities, but this is never brought up again. There are a few examples of this, which is an issue with the writing.
Another issue I had was how convenient the plot could be. I refer specifically to Mr. Clarke, played very well by Randall P. Havens. His character is used almost exclusively to relay information to the children. But many times, it seems too convenient that a middle school science teacher would know what he does. How he has such a thorough understanding of parallel universes and sensory deprivation chambers is beyond is baffling. In addition, the storyline involving Barb is dropped almost as soon as it is brought up. As a result, what happens to her character feels almost weightless and unimportant.
My final complaint relates to the visual effects implemented in the show, specifically the monster. The creature is very effective in the first few episodes because you hardly see it. Its shadowy figure and quick rushes past the camera are frightening and come across very well. But, when the full body is shown, the visual effects are not up-to-snuff. The monster is brilliantly designed, but the effects do not complement it well. The same can be said for the organic portals, which also look quite fake. The show, unfortunately, demonstrates the budget the creators were working with.
All in all, Stranger Things is a terrific show. The cast is solid through and through; the story is awfully intriguing; the inspiration taken from '80s culture is brilliantly executed; and the aesthetics and music are spot-on. Although there are structural issues, the series supplies such a hefty amount of fun and mystery to overtake its shortcomings. Stranger Things is perfect Halloween viewing and will satisfy you on nearly every level of entertainment.
Grade: A-
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