Strange Days.
9 Episodes. Starring: Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Mattarazo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Natalie Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Sadie Sink, Dacre Montgomery, Sean Astin, Paul Reiser, Cara Buono, David Harbour & Winona Ryder. Directors: The Duffer Brothers.
Happy Halloween! 'Stranger Things' have happened again. And it's time for you to be turned upside down too as The Duffer Brothers go all the way to 11 once more. Opening the doors on these strange days was just what the Doctor ordered. An aesthetically perfect costumed fit to dress up the scariest of holidays this October weekend like Michael Myers or a 'Scream' mask. From the thrilling, comic-con Michael Jackson trailer that was truly off the wall. To an official 8-Bit mobile game release in keeping with the back to the Goonie 80's retro vibe of modern day, instant vintage on a nostalgia trip. All the way to a hidden Easter Egg that's really cracking just shy of November in a feature that truly turns your Netflix app upside down (not recommended if the account doesn't belong to you...sorry Nic!). The giant smartphone to smart T.V. streaming service Netflix is taking over everything in the entertainment world right now from Sky to the Amazon. And it's no gimmick either. Soon the new way to watch T.V. will be the only way too. Say goodbye to your aerials and TiVo's. This no chill takeover is kind of akin to how the fictional Derry, Maine 'IT' like town of Hawkins, Indiana in 'Stranger Things' is being weeded out from under the ground up. As this show finds itself in Netflix's big-three, top pick streaming in a series binge instant next to the sisters locked down 'Orange Is The New Black' and Kevin Spacey's falling 'House Of Cards' President. Not to mention the royal appointment of 'The Crown', all those new 'Narcos' to be found under the floorboards like contraband, a new 'Star Trek-Discovery' boldy going each week and all those Marvel sub-shows of 'Daredevil', 'Jessica Jones', 'Luke Cage' and 'Iron Fist' 'Defenders' that are really going to punish anyone who hasn't caught on or up this fall. And we haven't even got into the exclusive movies yet from the Hollywood names you might know like Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks and a 'Bright' Will Smith this Christmas. But despite all this in showcase, device ready to destroy your social life at a finger swipe left and even though it takes cues from everything including 'The Goonies', 'Stand By Me', 'E.T.', 'The Thing', 'Twin Peaks', 'Wayward Pines' (that's a given if you look at the previous lost in the woods inspo), 'Under The Skin' (and in this season 'The Exorcist'), there is nothing quite like 'Stranger Things'. Just look at how these 80's kids on trikes has inspired this years first part of the 1000 page plus adaptation of Stephen King's 'IT' clown monster back. And we aren't just talking because young star Finn Wolfhard is in it (because the comically cocky Derry residence is nothing like Hawkins' most shyest and anxious kid this side the disappearance of Will Byers). And after the five star, eight episode wonder of the famous five's first season, this Halloween a back 9 of 'Stranger 2' is in no danger of your Netflix night turning into something else five minutes in. So get your eggos ready for the iconic Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein theme and it's sonic boom of a score that will have you skipping the "next episode begins in 5.4.3.2.1." bit and watch this until your nose bleeds.
I aint afraid of no Demogorgon! But I might just be scared of what goes bump in the trash can night of a proton pack, after these kids pay the perfect homage to the 'Ghostbusters' in a moment that will have all those who hated that great all-female reboot hailing these boys as their new ones to call. 'Stranger Things 2' starts with an alarming masked heist and epic police cruiser chase straight out of a before it's time, 90's classic action movie script playbook. It doesn't look like the young, small town life we are used to a gust of wind away from downtown Chicago, but boy does it look incredible. As does the rest of the throwback 80's aesthetic from the penny Pacman arcades to the T.V. adverts and dinners all in a 'Uncle Buck'/'Home Alone' decor to match on John Hughes street. And this horror/thriller sci-fi detective show as a genre meshing and mashing whole that is a cult classic now in its own right. To the uninitiated witnessing 'Stranger Things' for the first time from now or years from, this would still look and feel like something lifted from the 80's, not a thing homaged to it. Even the kids here impossibly look like recognisable figures from back in the Bon Jovi 'Runaways' day...and we aren't talking about the actual veteran 'Beetlejuice' or 'Goonies' actors. From pumpkin patches to black holes and labs scarier than Macaulay Culkin's furnace. To rabid rat like monsters that turn into something stalkingly scarier than two "clever girl" raptors this has all the things, foggy atmosphere and big trouble in a small town to make 80's horror forefather legend and Kurt Russell ally John Carpenter take script flipped note. There's even a short short, skin versus vests basketball scene that takes it back to the days of 'Teen Wolf'...and we're talking about the hairy Michael J. Fox days, not the new show of a series. This is the one classic throwback show that everyone wanted this year like justice for Barb and the best directing brotherhood next to those avenging Marvel's the Russo's have delivered like duffel bags. The Duffer bros taking their phone screen in the bedroom dark, heart palpitating first season that scared you right down to your bone marrow and turning this one into a much more personal roller coaster screamer of a private, haunted house hell horror. One that terrifies with even more substance above the retro style on an 'IT' like level of elder bullying influencing rebels and 'Misery' prisoner enclosed, emotional trauma. Sounds fun right? But oh is it!
Leading this party pack of brats too is child star of the moment Finn Wolfhard, who is really making his name swim with this and how he floats too in this years 'IT'. He is the personal and passionate anchor that keeps all this ship straight. Especially with his band of pre-pubescent brothers in their hormonal feelings. The cool and composed Caleb McLaughlin has become a fortunate fool with a Bart Simpson slingshot in love and shows more heart for it. Whilst the soul of this piece Gatten Mattarazon, checking in as Dustin with his trucker hat curls and R rolling pearls was made for this like he was this lost boys decade. And who would of thought he could cry and make you do so too? Expect even realer and rawer emotion though from actual former lost boy Noah Schnapp, who is here as Will Byers but at a harrowingly haunted price that shows just how great an actor this shy and insecure kid at play is. But despite this fantastic four we all know the real star of this show is Millie like Bobby Brown back in the 'My Prerogative' day. And this time with curls instead of the Furiosa inspired shaved dome, Millie Bobby Brown continues to dial it up as Eleven, changing T.V. channels like Phoebe in 'Friends' and fashioning a halloween costume that looks like she's trying to audition for Casey Affleck's part in 'A Ghost Story'. Noseblood, sweat and screaming tears...not to mention words that are now weapons in her expanded arsenal as she moves you in all sorts of Magneto magic ways. And just wait until she punk rebels..."bitchin" indeed! She's got some competition though in the form of out of town road warrior 'Mad Max', or red head Sadie Sink, who has her own problems to deal with in 'Power Rangers' star Dacre Montgomery. The red ranger red with rage and pedal to the floor muscle car 'Metallica' over compensating exhibitionism. He's probably mad because he can't find a shirt to go under all those leather jackets he rocks. His 'Steel Panther' mullett isn't the only thing that kicks old news cool kid Joe Keery's ass though. Last years douche bags up his old ways and actually becomes an all round good dude aware of his flaws, even if he does still swing that slugger bat (you know the one with the nails). His Bermuda like love triangle with the Molly Ringwald iconic making Natalie Dyer and Dane DeHaan lookalike and sensitive soul Charlie Heaton taking a whole new shape. And then there's the real adults. David Harbour again is breakout brilliant in chief position here. Harbouring more than just Hellboy hot aspirations to play, as this former character actor made good remakes himself like Winona Ryder. Who is really making her famous name that much more infamous with arguably her greatest gift to acting. And this time she doesn't have to hold on to a bunch of tangled up Christmas tree lights to show us so as she illuminates. And how about some more new additions that amaze? Like an actual 'Goonie' and 'Lord Of The Rings' star from Mordor in the fun, heartfelt form of Sean Astin? Or fellow eighties 'Diner' legend Paul Reiser filling the lab coat of Matthew Modine and giving us the greatest voice of that era this side of Albert Brooks. And how could we forget Mrs. Mom, Cara Buono for all you teenage boys of 'Weird Science'? These monster mashing cult, cinematic chapters have it all as the upside down turns you inside out. It's a hell of a thing. Like the sky scraping monster we really want to see bring this town to the ground. And for those binging until they can't take anymore Musketeer candy this Halloween you're in for a treat, no trick. With a third trip to Hawkins, Indiana en route in the back of a forest hills, wood weaving station wagon, it's clear to see in the marathon rearview that what doesn't kill this small town, simply makes it...stranger! TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'IT (2017)', 'Stand By Me', 'The Goonies'.
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