Thoughts on Season 1 of "Stranger Things"

One of Netflix's latest series that everyone is talking about and binge-watching is "Stranger Things", a sci-fi, mystery, horror, adventure opus that takes the early 80's suburbia as its setting and does so, through the use of a retro-sounding soundtrack, sets, costuming and art direction, quite effectively.

Aside from some questionable acting performances, the series is enjoyable and often riveting.  Created by, often directed and written by newcomers the Duffer Brothers, the show has an obvious love and nostalgia for the time period of 1981, right around the time when "The Empire Strikes Back" was released and The Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" was repeatedly played on many a teenager's tape deck. 

From the beginning we are thrust into mystery and fear-invoking atmosphere:  a youngster disappears one night on his bicycle ride home.   There is an ominous research facility on the outskirts of town that may be responsible.  Or maybe its something otherworldly: an extraterrestrial creature existing in an alternate dimension is spotted at times.  The missing kid has a bunch of pals who take it into their own hands to discover their buddy's whereabouts.  Meanwhile, the boy's mother (Winona Rider) is visited by inexplicable occurrences that may or may not be the result of her deteriorating grip on reality. 

There are countless references to period popular culture that film fans and generation X-ers will devour.  "The Goonies", "E.T.", "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", and "Stand By Me" are just a few of the references that may be spotted throughout "Stranger Things".

Perhaps its all a bit hokey and a few loose ends are not tied up in the end.  But the period detail and sense of adventure is phenomenal and fun.  The Duffer Brothers have come up with a gem and viewers should look forward to their future work.