Season 2 ofStranger Thingsis upon us. The good news is that most reviews point to an entertaining sophomore season that expands the mythology and makes good on the promised premise set down in Season 1. Our ownAllison Keenecalled it “a delightful return” with “a smartly written and cleverly-plotted script” from theDuffer Brothers; you canread the full review here. But much like early detractors called the first season derivative and unoriginal, you can expect to hear similar criticisms levied against Season 2. Personally, I think the Duffers' references, nods, and homages to pop culture icons that have shaped their creative vision and act as nostalgic touchstones for generations of people are some of the traits that makeStranger Thingsso darn likable and buzz-worthy.
But not everyone grew up in the 70s, 80s, or even the 90s, so it would be impossible to expect audiences' viewing experience to be the same across the world. Some people simply did not experience the thrills, chills, and spills of Friday night at the movies in the summer of 1984. The good news is that, thanks to the modern era of technology, you can still get caught up on the source material for the many,manyreferences scattered throughout this season. (Heck, you can even read abookabout them!)
Now some films carry over from Season 1 as far as thematic inspiration goes. These includeThe Goonies,Evil Dead,IT(pick whichever version you want to watch),Firestarter,Alien,A Nightmare on Elm Street,Poltergeist, and evenAkira. If it’s character inspiration you’re looking for, pick just about anyIndiana Jonesmovie to get a sense of Chief Jim Hopper’s characterization, as played perfectly byDavid Harbour. If it’s “humans vs monsters” action that you’re into, you’d be in good company watchingJaws,Predator, or evenJurassic Parkto get in the mood. These all have their part to play in the creation and continuation ofStranger Things, whether it’s a big dose of thematic resonance or just a scene-specific bit of cinematic DNA. And if you think you’re already an expert on all the movies that have gone intoStranger Things, do yourself a favor and cue upMetallica’s 1983 album “Kill ‘Em All” to complete the aesthetic as you read our list of suggested movies below:
Ghostbusters
This should be a pretty obvious suggestion considering the Hawkins kids have already been seen in their excellently doneGhostbustersHalloween costumes. But sinceIvan ReitmanandDan Aykroydhave final say over how their property is handled, the Duffers had togive the pair a callto get permission to use the logo, gear, and costume. Thankfully, they obliged!
But other than an overt reference to the beloved classic of the Summer of 1984, there’s not a lot of plot pulled from the spectral comedy to influence that ofStranger Things. Sure, you can expect some other-worldly creatures and a little bit of tech thrown in while the foursome go about their adventures, butGhostbustersexists squarely in the world ofStranger Things, so it’d be pushing it to include both obviousandoblique references to the film in the script. Besides, there’s plenty of 70s/80s/90s film history to pull from, as you’ll discover below.
WhileJames Cameron’s sequel toAlienshould also be a no-brainer, it’s worth revisitingAliensfor a number of reasons. First of all, it’s an awesome movie. Secondly,Stranger Thingskicks their references up a notch in ways I won’t spoil here but which provide delightful little cultural touchstones while watching the season in its entirety. WhatStranger Thingsdoes best is to pepper in references to pop culture that will easily be picked up on by fans of the properties in question but won’t impede the viewing experience of someone who’s not as tuned in. And honestly, Season 2 ofStranger Thingsis a bigger, more intense, action-packed version of the show’s introduction, a parallel that works just as well forAlienandAliens; it makes sense that this sci-fi classic gets a ton of references in the new episodes. Finally, you should watchAliensagain for one ofPaul Reiser’s most notable roles outside ofMad About You, acting as a perfect primer for your viewing experience since Reiser joins this season as Dr. Owens.
Creature Features: Gremlins, Critters, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Tremors
Things get a little more general here, but sinceStranger Thingsdeals with otherworldly creatures that interact with our Earthbound heroes in a variety of ways. 80s creature classics likeGremlinswalked a precarious line between horror and comedy, a line that Season 2 ofStranger Thingsplays with from time to time.Steven Spielberg’s 1982 filmE.T. the Extra-Terrestrialwas way on the cute and kinda cuddly side of this divide while films like the 1986 creature featureCrittersand 1990’s franchise-starterTremorswere decidedly on the other side.Stranger Thingstakes little bites from each of these movies to flesh out the denizens of the Upside Down. If you only have time to revisit Gizmo and his Gremlins, that’d be time well-served.
80s Dramas: Stand By Me, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, and The Karate Kid
Sure,Stranger Thingsis known for its telekinetic protagonist, the horrific creatures from the Upside Down, and the mad science of the local laboratory, but its heart is in the relationships among the kids, teenagers, and adults that carry the story along. And as well known for horror asStephen Kingis, and rightly so, some of his most well-received adaptations are dramas likeStand by Me. This film has its fingerprints all overStranger Thingsas the Hawkins kids get together and traipse across the countryside (sometimes on a railroad track), similar to the adventures of Gordie, Chris, Teddy, and Vern. It’s a rule, nay, alawthat all 80s homages have to this 1986 favorite.
Another name that often crops up in talks of 80s dramas isJohn Hughes, whose masterful understanding of teenage drama and social cliques helped to bring some of the decade’s most beloved and formative films to life. You’d better believe thatStranger Thingsplays with these conventions as well, so it’d be worthwhile to brush up on films likeThe Breakfast Club,Sixteen CandlesandWeird Science. And though it has nothing to do with Hughes, you might want to pop that 1984 classicKarate KidVHS in the VCR as a refresher, just for fun.
Child-Centric Horror Films: The Exorcist, The Omen, Rosemary’s Baby, and The Shining
Oh did I mention thatStranger Thingsis also a straight-up horror show? Because, yikes. Season 2 amps things up across the board. More people than ever before will be impacted by the horrors emerging from the Upside Down, and in more ways than you might initially expect. Sure, there’s the overt creature horror mentioned above, but there’s something much more personal going on in Season 2 as well.
With that in mind, it might behoove you to revisit a few decades’ worth of the best child-centric horror films ever to grace the silver screen. The best of the bunch is arguably the 1973 classicThe Exorcist, but there’s a lot of storytelling territory to mine in films like 1976’sThe Omen, 1968’sRosemary’s Baby, and even 1980’sThe Shining. I mean, it’s Halloween, so you should be watching these anyway, but there’s a presence inStranger ThingsSeason 2 that can only be enhanced by watching these flicks.
Season 2 ofStranger Thingsarrives in its entirety Friday, October 27th, so get watching!
