There are so many reasons to love and hate the 80’s but we all loved the 80’s for the endless cult classic movies and TV shows. “Stranger Things” manage to capture all the good things about 80’s style movies, think “The Goonies”, “Poltergeist”, “Alien”, “Stephen King’s “It” and “ET” if you catch my drift.  The series is created by the Duffer Brothers (Matt and Ross), they are relatively new to the mainstream TV scene, and trust me when I say that we can expect a hell of a lot more from these guys if “Stranger Things” is anything to go by. It is one of the big things in the entertainment business this year while receiving rave reviews from critics and viewers alike. The show was released on Netflix on July 15, 2016, so open those piggy banks geeks, Netflix managed to add another excellent reason to check out one of their shows. Go ahead, break out the popcorn and cola, binge-watch the first season, and enjoy one of the best TV shows to hit the small screen in years!

Let’s Check Out 6 Reasons Why You Should Be Watching ‘Stranger Things’ Right Now

 

1. Serious 80’s Nostalgia

"Goonies" and "Stranger Things"

“Goonies” and “Stranger Things”


As mentioned above, the Netflix series manage to bring to life a story that pays homage to the ’80s in such a fashion that it feels like it was created back in the day. In an era with kids scouting the woods for adventure with no cell phones and monster lurking in the shadows, it is almost impossible not to fall in love with this series within the first 5 minutes of the pilot episode.
 

2. Creative Style

"ET"

“ET”


It comes as no surprise to see that the sci-fi horror show already has a cult following after one season with so many creative angles that the show could have been written by some of the best in Hollywood. The Duffer Brothers’ creative style reminds me of movie greats such as Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter and Stephen King. First of all it is set in a small town in Indiana where a kid goes missing near a secret government research lab. There’s something paranormal going on which involves a portal, monsters and a girl with special abilities. There are a group of friends trying to solve the mystery and they love things like Dungeon & Dragons, Star Wars and they are geeks. The list goes on and on. Most movie geeks will agree that the show is a welcome throwback to the genre films of the ’80s based on the creative style alone.
 

3. Overall Atmosphere Based On The Soundtrack, Intro and Film Posters

"Stranger Things"

“Stranger Things”


You will find that the ’80s aesthetic is most prominent in the music selection for the first season. Netflix even put together an official Spotify playlist on the streaming service of music by artists such as Foreigner, Toto, The Clash, and Reagan Youth to satisfy fans who requested a soundtrack. The show also features songs by The Bangles, New Order, Echo and the Bunnymen and Joy Division to name a few. Ad on top of that a simple low graphics red-on-black illuminated title introduction with a very familiar font resembling Steven King’s “Needful Things” to seal the authentic ’80s feel. Even the backdrop soundtrack while the title is displayed will take you back to the days of the Twilight Zone to add to the Nostalgia. There are also classic 80’s movie posters on the walls of the kids’ bedrooms which include the likes of “Evil Dead”, “Risky Business”, “The Thing” and more. CLICK HERE for the Spotify playlist
 

4. Winona Ryder and The Cast

"Stranger Things"

“Stranger Things”


Winona Ryder portrays Joyce Byers, a struggling mother of two who is franticly trying to find her missing boy. 12-year-old Will goes missing while older brother Jonathan tries to keep things together at home.  Ryder’s role in “Stranger Things” is often compared to Shelley Duvall’s performance in “The Shining”, so you know she is bringing her “A” game. Besides, nothing says the 80’s quite like a big name from the era such as Winona Ryder as the female lead. Ryder is also accompanied by the quartet of 12-year old misfits (Will’s friends) at the centre of the story. They are hopelessly geeky, quick witted, funny and the actors portraying these characters are exceptionally good!
 

5. Stephen King and Guillermo del Toro Loves It!

Guillermo del Toro and Stephen King

Guillermo del Toro and Stephen King


King took to Twitter saying:

“STRANGER THINGS is pure fun. A+. Don’t miss it,”

Del Toro wrote:

“Stranger Things may be a lot of things: King, Spielberg, 80’s, myself…but what it is, above all, is good!!”

Straight from the masters of horror, nuff said!!!
 

6. Every Geek Will Love It

Freaks and Geeks

Freaks and Geeks


It is impossible to think that geeks out there will not find at least 6 reasons to love this show. It is brilliant, a must see for geeks, and something everyone should watch that has a special place in their hearts for old school movies we loved to watch as kids growing up in the 80’s!
 

Trailers:

Netflix’s press release about the series:

Set in Hawkins Indiana in the 1980’s, Stranger Things chronicles the search for a young boy who vanishes into thin air under highly suspicious circumstances. His mother (Winona Ryder) opens an investigation into the boy’s disappearance with local authorities that unravels a series of mysteries involving top-secret government experiments, terrifying supernatural forces and one very strange little girl. A love letter to the ubiquitous cult classics of the 80’s, Stranger Things is also a coming of age story for the boy’s three closest friends that draws them into a world where mysteries lurk beneath the surface.

Stranger Things stars Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Natalia Dyer, Cara Buono, Charlie Heaton, and Matthew Modine.

Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer (Wayward Pines, Hidden) serve as writer, directors and co-showrunners of the series, and are executive producers along with Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen via their 21 Laps entertainment banner (The Spectacular Now, Night At The Museum, Real Steel, Date Night). Shawn Levy also serves as director. Stranger Things is a Netflix production.