
Stranger Things (UK Rating: 15)
The '80s was a curious time. Bad clothing, even worse haircuts, and 'interesting' attitudes to make up were aplenty, making hundreds of childhood photo albums incredibly cringe-worthy. Thankfully, there were some positives to that time, as well. Spielberg was arguably in his pomp and Hughes was pushing out quirky teen-comedy after teen-comedy. John Carpenter was thrilling audiences with his sci-fi horror and while Rob Reiner introduced us to Stand By Me, plus the world was also treated to The Goonies. Stranger Things, available on Netflix now, manages to pay homage to all of the above and create a stellar, retro-inspired package that will surely stand the test of time.
Set in 1983, Stranger Things follows the disappearance of Will Byers, a young, bookish boy in sleepy Hawkins, Indiana, as he makes his way home one night after playing Dungeons and Dragons with his friends Mike, Dustin, and Lucas. What follows over the course of eight episodes is an attempt by law enforcement to piece together various unusual instances in Hawkins while Will's friends conduct their own investigation into their buddy's vanishing act. Their search leads them to a mysterious runaway girl known only as 'Eleven' - an almost mute girl with doe-eyes and seemingly supernatural powers. Eleven recognises Will from a photograph and sparks the group's desire to investigate the apparent fate of their friend.
Underlying this detective work is the shady goings-on at the Hawkins research lab, a love triangle between Mike's sister Nancy, jock-with-a-heart Steve, and aloof outcast Jonathan, while a gangly Slender-like creature of pure evil stalks the youngsters of the town, drawn by teenagers' sexual advances and, especially, by blood. It's a pitch perfect homage to '80s cinema and, with its incredible synth-heavy soundtrack and use of of-the-period songs, really hammers home the nostalgia. Stranger Things manages to feel both brand new and refreshing, as well as familiar at the same time.

Credit to the costume and props department is certainly due, and the '80s feel is further reinforced by all of the references to long-forgotten gadgets and gizmos and parts of life that are, nowadays, made irrelevant. Walkie-Talkies are used for communication between the young companions, mix tapes are exchanged as currency for friendship, and the clothes and hairstyles manage to look authentic without verging on the side of being too ridiculous, as can often be the case.
Stranger Things wraps up satisfyingly enough, but leaves just enough unanswered questions to make a second series both viable and, through popular demand, necessary - something Netflix has responded to through commissioning a second season.

Exceptional - Gold Award
