Stranger Things

Stranger Things, crafted by the Duffer Brothers exclusively for Netflix, is an enthralling American concoction of science fiction, horror, and drama. Debuting its first season on July 15, 2016, the series emerged from the creative fusion of Monkey Massacre Productions and 21 Laps Entertainment. Subsequent seasons in October 2017 and July 2019 kept audiences on edge, with the fourth season unfolding in two parts during May and July 2022. In February 2022, fans rejoiced as Netflix announced the renewal of Stranger Things for a fifth and final season.

Nestled in the nostalgic embrace of the 1980s, the show transports viewers to the enigmatic small town of Hawkins, Indiana. Here, the townsfolk grapple with the sinister influence of the Upside Down—an eerie parallel dimension. This malevolent force seeps into their reality after a nearby governmental facility’s experimentation breaches the barrier between Earth and the Upside Down. The ensemble cast, including Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, and a host of other talents, navigates this chilling landscape with gripping performances.

The Duffer Brothers intricately weave elements of investigative drama and supernatural intrigue, imbued with a childlike wonder and tinged with horror. Drawing inspiration from the iconic pop culture of the 1980s, the series pays homage to luminaries such as Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter, and Stephen King. The thematic undercurrents echo Cold War-era experiments and conspiracy-laden government intrigues, adding layers of mystery and depth to the narrative.

Stranger Things has become a flagship series for Netflix, captivating audiences worldwide with its rich characterization, atmospheric tension, stellar acting, and evocative soundtrack. The homage to 1980s cinema, coupled with masterful direction and writing, has earned the show numerous accolades and widespread critical acclaim. Additionally, plans for an animated spin-off series, helmed by Eric Robles and produced by Flying Bark Productions, promise to expand the captivating universe of Stranger Things, ensuring its legacy endures for years to come.

Overview

Stranger Things unfolds in the fictional rural enclave of Hawkins, Indiana, during the 1980s. The seemingly innocuous Hawkins National Laboratory, purportedly engaged in government-sanctioned scientific endeavors, clandestinely delves into the realms of the paranormal and supernatural, often employing unwitting human subjects. Through their experiments, they inadvertently rupture the fabric between realities, birthing the malevolent realm they dub the Upside Down, which soon casts its ominous shadow over the hapless denizens of Hawkins.

Commencing in November 1983, the inaugural season thrusts viewers into the heart of the turmoil when young Will Byers falls prey to a creature from the Upside Down. His mother, Joyce, along with the stalwart police chief Jim Hopper and a band of determined volunteers, embarks on a harrowing quest to locate him. Alongside this, the enigmatic Eleven, possessed of psychokinetic abilities, escapes the laboratory’s clutches and forms an unlikely alliance with Will’s friends in their desperate bid to rescue him.

Fast forward a year to October 1984, and the second season unveils a chilling revelation: though Will is safely returned, he remains haunted by foreboding visions of Hawkins’ impending downfall at the hands of the Upside Down’s malevolent forces. As his loved ones grapple with this new threat, they unearth deeper layers of peril lurking beneath the surface.

Come the third season, set in the sweltering summer of 1985, the idyllic facade of Hawkins is shattered as the arrival of the glitzy Starcourt Mall heralds both economic prosperity and hidden dangers. Against this backdrop, Hopper finds himself fiercely protective of his daughter Eleven, unaware of the clandestine machinations brewing beneath the town’s facade. Meanwhile, a covert Soviet presence beneath Starcourt seeks to exploit the Upside Down’s power, while the nefarious Mind Flayer ensnares unwitting pawns in its bid for dominion.

Marching into the fourth season, set in March 1986, a disquieting shift unfolds as Joyce, Will, Eleven, and Jonathan seek solace in Lenora, California. Amidst Eleven’s struggle to reclaim her lost abilities and navigate the trials of adolescence, Hawkins faces a new, insidious threat—Vecna, a malevolent entity from the Upside Down, unleashes havoc, forging new gateways between worlds. Dr. Sam Owens endeavors to aid Eleven in her quest for restoration, while Joyce and Murray embark on a perilous mission to liberate Hopper from the clutches of a Russian Gulag, all in a bid to stem the tide of darkness threatening to engulf Hawkins once more.

Cast and characters

Production

Stranger Things emerged from the creative minds of Matt and Ross Duffer, professionally known as the Duffer Brothers, who wear multiple hats as showrunners, head writers, and frequent directors of the series. Prior to their breakthrough in television, the Duffers ventured into filmmaking with their 2015 endeavor, Hidden, a project echoing the suspenseful style of M. Night Shyamalan. Despite their efforts, shifting circumstances at Warner Bros., the film’s distributor, hindered its widespread release, leaving the Duffer Brothers uncertain about their future in the industry.

Fortuitously, their talents caught the eye of television producer Donald De Line, who, impressed by Hidden’s script, extended an invitation for the Duffers to contribute to episodes of Wayward Pines alongside Shyamalan himself. Under Shyamalan’s guidance and mentorship, the brothers honed their craft, gaining invaluable experience and confidence. Armed with newfound skills and vision, they embarked on the journey to create their own television series, culminating in the phenomenon that is Stranger Things.

• Writing: The genesis of Stranger Things sprouted from the Duffer Brothers’ contemplation on how they could extrapolate the core premise of the 2013 film Prisoners—a poignant exploration of a father’s ethical quandaries when his daughter is abducted—into an extended narrative spanning around eight hours in a serialized television format. As they delved into the thematic elements, particularly the theme of a missing child, they sought to infuse the storyline with a sense of “childlike sensibilities.” This led them to toy with the concept of a menacing entity capable of preying on humans, ultimately converging these ideas into what they perceived as a harmonious blend, deeming it “the best thing ever.”
• Casting: In June 2015, Winona Ryder and David Harbour were announced as part of the series. Ryder was suggested for the role of Joyce by the casting director due to her prominence in 1980s films, which immediately appealed to the Duffer Brothers. They believed Ryder could bring emotional depth and complexity to Joyce’s character. Harbour, known for his smaller villainous roles, caught the brothers’ interest, and they felt he deserved the opportunity to lead. Harbour, excited by the script, embraced the chance to portray a flawed yet compelling anti-hero.
• Filming:

  Initially, the Duffer Brothers aimed to film Stranger Things in Long Island to match the Montauk concept. However, due to logistical challenges with cold weather in November 2015, they shifted production to the Atlanta, Georgia area. Drawing on their North Carolina upbringing for inspiration, they found Atlanta reminiscent of their childhood and suitable for the narrative’s shift to Hawkins, Indiana.

  Filming for the first season commenced in November 2015 primarily in Atlanta, Georgia, with the Duffer Brothers and Levy directing individual episodes. Various locations in Georgia, including Jackson and Stockbridge, were used to depict Hawkins. Set work was conducted at Screen Gem Studios using a RED Dragon camera, concluding in early 2016.

  Producers briefly considered keeping the Starcourt Mall set as a permanent attraction after the third season but ultimately dismissed the idea.

  The fourth season, expected to consist of eight episodes, began filming in January 2020, with the first episode titled “Chapter One: The Hellfire Club.” Production commenced in February 2020 but was halted in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It resumed in September 2020, including filming at Lukiškės Prison in Vilnius, Lithuania.

  Filming for the fifth and final season was slated to start in June 2023, as revealed by David Harbour. However, due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, the Duffer Brothers announced via Twitter that filming had been delayed.

Release

The inaugural season of Stranger Things comprised eight one-hour-long episodes, debuting worldwide on Netflix in Ultra HD 4K format on July 15, 2016. Following its success, the second season, consisting of nine episodes, was released on October 27, 2017, in HDR. The pattern continued with the third season, once again comprising eight episodes, which premiered on July 4, 2019. The fourth season, spanning nine episodes, was delivered in two volumes on May 27 and July 1, 2022, respectively. Netflix announced the renewal of the series for a fifth and final season in February 2022.

Following the release of the fourth season, viewers noted an inconsistency where Will’s friends failed to acknowledge his birthday in an episode set on that day. The Duffer Brothers addressed this by considering a modification to the month, colloquially termed “George Lucas-ing the situation,” a reference to George Lucas’s alterations to the original Star Wars trilogy to align with the prequel trilogy. However, they clarified that no scenes from previous seasons had been cut or re-edited, including a scene featuring Jonathan discreetly photographing a pool party involving Steve, Nancy, and Barbara.