I did enjoy this show, but as I'm watching it I noticed quite a few similarities to other movies/books/stories.

The first and most obvious is to Poltergeist. Alternate dimension, oowey goowey portal to another dimension, monster in the dimension, kid locked in the house, you get the picture.

Next, Steven King's Firestarter. Mother had government experiments done on her with drugs, child born with abilities, big bad government now after the child.

Steven King's The Body. Four young friends.

Even ET, a little bit.

I think that's why they set it in 1983, because that was the height of all these classic tales.