The story takes place in 1983 Hawkins, Indiana. When a middle school boy named Will mysteriously vanishes his three best friends, mother, brother and a local police chief become engrossed in supernatural events in an attempt to find him. The plot for this movie feels like something out of a Stephen King novel. It seems like the show is self-aware its own influences too. There are references made to eighties sci-fi horror films all throughout the series (Evil Dead, The Thing). So this isn't the most original show ever made, and I admit if I was just going off of the plot description, I probably wouldn't have invested my time in it. But this series offers something pretty interesting. It isn't something completely new, but it takes previous works and blends them together to create a story and style of its own. Imagine the Goonies and Twin Peaks colliding with a John Hughes film and a Stephen King novel and getting dropped in the middle of The Twilight Zone's universe. That best describes Stranger Things. Its creativity comes from its ability to mix influences and that's why it clings on to you with in the first episode. It provides something that is familiar but ultimately gives us something new.

Eighties nostalgia is alive and well and you can clearly see its influences in the today's art-work, whether it be music, film or fashion. The only problem I've ever had with eighties-influenced art is when the artist makes something that is outdated and clearly would only work if been made in the eighties. However, Stranger Things is different. It wouldn't work as well if it was made in the eighties. The modern visual effects, directing, and cinematography compliment the series beautifully and make it easier to immerse yourself in this type of art. The modernization of this story gives it a component of clarity. While if this was made in the eighties, it would have gotten buried because it would just be stamped as another clichéd sci-fi thriller. But today, it stands out as a uniquely stylized and beautifully composed masterpiece. But it isn't just the style and visuals that keep you engaged. The story line twists enough to always keeps you guessing, but never enough to alienate or confuse you (like an M. Night Shyamalan film). The acting is phenomenal. Wynona Rider showcases her incredible acting chops to their full extent. She gives an absolutely heartbreaking performance. While the young actors in this film show us that their inexperience never gets the better of them. They never get overshadowed by their seasoned co-stars.

One of the most admirable things about this series is that is stays well-grounded even with all the ridiculously abnormal activity. The charters never seem over-the-top or clichéd. Everyone in the series stays relatable. The story never gets confusing or incoherent. The blend of CGI with the natural backgrounds never gets sloppy or excessive. The score compliments the style beautifully. It never exaggerates a scene but keeps us submerged in the story by providing a signature eeriness to each scene.

Stranger Things is truly another one of Netflix's crowning achievements. I look forward to the seasons to come.