Over the weekend I finally had a chance to watch Stranger Things, the latest Netflix show (of course I binged it!). Set in the 80s, it’s a scifi/horror that actually feels like it was produced in the 80s. From the pop songs and instrumentals of the soundtrack, to the way it was shot and how the story unfolds… it’s all just very 80s. But that’s a fantastic thing!

What Stranger Things reminded me of most was Poltergeist, Firestarter and The Goonies. There are loads of references to 80s properties (there’s even a video online about it), but these three are the ones it reminds me of most. The main focus is on a group of kids, complete geeks who play D&D and love an adventure. Then there’s the character of Eleven, a telekinetic girl, reminiscent of Charlie in Firestarter. But the real horror aspect involves an alternate dimension people get trapped in that can be accessed through a portal, within which lives a nasty creature. At times the show was so Poltergeist I expected a midget medium to show up!

But the thing is, all of this works. They managed to fit everything together really well and create a cohesive plot that’s creepy, entertaining and definitely worth watching. I’m sure non-geeks enjoy the show, but I think geeks will get the most out of it because of all of the references, both to 80s culture and geekness.