Written by: Kevin Berge
This poster is like Star Wars and Poltergeist had a baby which isn't that far off from what this is though it needs E.T. as well. (Image Courtesy of: netflix.com)
Quick Take: Stranger Things Season 1 is the best homage to 80s filmmaking ever made up to this point though still falters in being too derivative. With excellent writing and acting particularly a showstealing performance by Millie Bobby Brown, the show more than lives up to the growing legacy of quality Netflix original content.
***This is a largely spoiler free review, looking at Stranger Things' inspirations and craft rather than diving too far into the story. However, mentioning the influences for the film does make allusions to events in the season which may spoil the show for new viewers. Proceed at your own caution.***
The entertainment industry has been stuck on a nostalgia trip for a while now. The repeated remakes and reboots coupled with repeated attempts to emulate old styles have made TV and movies often feel overly familiar. Rarely have these attempts to recreate the past worked out.
Stranger Things though does something those other shows and films could not, stands on its own two feet. Set in 1983, the film feels as if it might have been made in the 80s by Steven Spielberg. Constant homages give heavy flashbacks to E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Minority Report, and Poltergeist.
That's just naming the Spielberg influences with the film using many horror tropes while consistently referencing films such as Stars Wars. The show takes liberally borrows from the classics without shame. This is what defines the series, but it is not what truly makes it great.
Clearly those involved made this with loving care, but they also made sure it was well written, directed, and acted. While not perfect, Stranger Things feels like an old classic, telling a great story through great characters. It is memorable on its own even without understanding the references.
What makes the series work as well is that it lends itself well to heavy watching, flowing from episode to episode in its eight episode run. In many ways, this feels like a long movie, and it can be watched in one or two sittings pretty easily as it flows quickly without too much excess.
The entertainment industry has been stuck on a nostalgia trip for a while now. The repeated remakes and reboots coupled with repeated attempts to emulate old styles have made TV and movies often feel overly familiar. Rarely have these attempts to recreate the past worked out.
Stranger Things though does something those other shows and films could not, stands on its own two feet. Set in 1983, the film feels as if it might have been made in the 80s by Steven Spielberg. Constant homages give heavy flashbacks to E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Minority Report, and Poltergeist.
That's just naming the Spielberg influences with the film using many horror tropes while consistently referencing films such as Stars Wars. The show takes liberally borrows from the classics without shame. This is what defines the series, but it is not what truly makes it great.
Clearly those involved made this with loving care, but they also made sure it was well written, directed, and acted. While not perfect, Stranger Things feels like an old classic, telling a great story through great characters. It is memorable on its own even without understanding the references.
What makes the series work as well is that it lends itself well to heavy watching, flowing from episode to episode in its eight episode run. In many ways, this feels like a long movie, and it can be watched in one or two sittings pretty easily as it flows quickly without too much excess.
Pretty sure the Christmas lights are supposed to go outside of the house, generally. (Image Courtesy of: avclub.com)
Stranger Things follows four friends Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin), and Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) who are caught in the middle of a series of paranormal events.
Those events get a face with the appearance of the mysterious Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) who seems be at the center of it all. As the situation escalates, Will's mother Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Police Chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour) are thrust into the confusion, forced to question their own sanity.
At the heart of this show's success, the cast is extremely well chosen particularly the child actors, always the toughest ask. Wolfhard, Matarazzo, McLaughlin, and Schnapp had very little TV experience up to this point beyond bit roles, but they all handled the drama and comedy well with Matarazzo nearly stealing the show with his easy-going delivery.
The real star of the show is Millie Bobby Brown (Intruders). Despite her character's small vocabulary, she conveys intense emotion with ease. She has the dramatic chops to be intensely heartbreaking and also frightening. It is one of the best performances I've seen this year from any actor, male or female, child or adult.
David Harbour (The Equalizer) seems to be playing a fairly one note character early, but his character evolves with the story and Harbour really drives home the years of baggage weighing on him. Winona Ryder (Edward Scissorhands) was the most accomplished actress in the ensemble and had the toughest dramatic role to pull off. She goes a bit over-the-top but also sells intense emotion impressively.
Where the show does struggle a bit is its teenage actors. Natalia Dyer (I Believe In Unicorns) and Charlie Heaton (As You Are) play Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers, the sister of Mike and brother of Will. Their stories are one note and somewhat melodramatic with even the plot trivializing many of their relationships.
Those events get a face with the appearance of the mysterious Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) who seems be at the center of it all. As the situation escalates, Will's mother Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Police Chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour) are thrust into the confusion, forced to question their own sanity.
At the heart of this show's success, the cast is extremely well chosen particularly the child actors, always the toughest ask. Wolfhard, Matarazzo, McLaughlin, and Schnapp had very little TV experience up to this point beyond bit roles, but they all handled the drama and comedy well with Matarazzo nearly stealing the show with his easy-going delivery.
The real star of the show is Millie Bobby Brown (Intruders). Despite her character's small vocabulary, she conveys intense emotion with ease. She has the dramatic chops to be intensely heartbreaking and also frightening. It is one of the best performances I've seen this year from any actor, male or female, child or adult.
David Harbour (The Equalizer) seems to be playing a fairly one note character early, but his character evolves with the story and Harbour really drives home the years of baggage weighing on him. Winona Ryder (Edward Scissorhands) was the most accomplished actress in the ensemble and had the toughest dramatic role to pull off. She goes a bit over-the-top but also sells intense emotion impressively.
Where the show does struggle a bit is its teenage actors. Natalia Dyer (I Believe In Unicorns) and Charlie Heaton (As You Are) play Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers, the sister of Mike and brother of Will. Their stories are one note and somewhat melodramatic with even the plot trivializing many of their relationships.
The Duffer Brothers get an A in their Spielberg impression and a D in their John Hughes impression (Image Courtesy of: ew.com)
The Duffer Brothers (Wayward Pines), Matt and Ross, did not succeed with their first major endeavor, but they made a statement with their second series. While they won't always be able to just work off the greats, much bigger names in Hollywood have failed where these two succeeded.
The brother directed six of the episodes with Shawn Levy (Real Steel) directing the last two. Together, they certainly imitate Spielberg admirably, keeping the action moving. They struggle a bit selling the drama all the time but hit the nail on the head when it matters most. The show's pacing is perfect, developing steadily to the finale which is the real testament to their work.
The Duffer Brothers also at least co-wrote every episode of the series with the steady injections of humor the biggest highlights. While the homages get a bit much, the 80s references and humor are never tiring. The dialogue also does something surprisingly uncommon, writes the kids as kids. They swear randomly and ramble at every opportunity. It's endearing and honest.
Stranger Things is an amalgamation of influences which also makes it one of genres. This is science fiction, fantasy, horror, and mystery while never diving too heavily into one. This makes it wildly accessible but perhaps may not satisfy any pure genre fans.
It is not very scary despite using the tropes. It barely dives into the science that creates its threats. The mystery is barely developed before reveals spoil it. While far from being unintelligent, the show does somewhat ask the prospective viewer to sit back and enjoy rather than dive into its creation.
Even though I often love to dissect and analyze the TV and movies that I watch, it was easy for me to get engaged in watching Stranger Things. The acting, writing, and directing far outweigh a surface level plot and occasionally derivative experience. It is the best of what nostalgia filmmaking can be even if I can only hope the series finds its own roots to expand upon going forward.
The brother directed six of the episodes with Shawn Levy (Real Steel) directing the last two. Together, they certainly imitate Spielberg admirably, keeping the action moving. They struggle a bit selling the drama all the time but hit the nail on the head when it matters most. The show's pacing is perfect, developing steadily to the finale which is the real testament to their work.
The Duffer Brothers also at least co-wrote every episode of the series with the steady injections of humor the biggest highlights. While the homages get a bit much, the 80s references and humor are never tiring. The dialogue also does something surprisingly uncommon, writes the kids as kids. They swear randomly and ramble at every opportunity. It's endearing and honest.
Stranger Things is an amalgamation of influences which also makes it one of genres. This is science fiction, fantasy, horror, and mystery while never diving too heavily into one. This makes it wildly accessible but perhaps may not satisfy any pure genre fans.
It is not very scary despite using the tropes. It barely dives into the science that creates its threats. The mystery is barely developed before reveals spoil it. While far from being unintelligent, the show does somewhat ask the prospective viewer to sit back and enjoy rather than dive into its creation.
Even though I often love to dissect and analyze the TV and movies that I watch, it was easy for me to get engaged in watching Stranger Things. The acting, writing, and directing far outweigh a surface level plot and occasionally derivative experience. It is the best of what nostalgia filmmaking can be even if I can only hope the series finds its own roots to expand upon going forward.