The horror genre had an incredibly fertile decade in the 1980s. It was a time of slashers, mediums, and terrifying scares. At that period, authors like John Carpenter, Wes Craven, and Clive Barker all attained widespread fame. However, Stephen King had the most influence on the horror genre as a whole. There have been many similarities between stranger things and Stephen kingās books. Today in this article we have mentioned the connection of Stranger things to Stephen kingās books.
The Font (Various)
Fans of King and the series will immediately notice something familiar about the red typeset that glare violently on the black screen in the opening sequences of the program. If they are familiar with the imagery but are unsure of its provenance, it is most likely because it originated from several different places. The covers of many of Stephen Kingās best books have been adorned with the āITC Benguiatā font. The big red letters have essentially been the face of his books for decades, from Carrie to Cujo.
A Group of Children Defeats Evil (It, Christine, The Body)
Even if he wasnāt the only writer to utilize a bunch of kids to battle evil, Stephen King was one of the best at defining the clichĆ©. The children in Hawkins can be easily compared to groups like the Losers Club and other young heroes from Kingās coming-of-age stories by well-read Stranger Things viewers. While Bill, Ben, Stan, Mike, Eddie, and Beverly of Derry can easily be replaced with Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and Will of Hawkins, the older actors Steve, Johnathan, and Nancy could readily run in the same group of teenagers from Philadelphia that came upon a haunted Plymouth Fury. In any case, the similarities are evident and present.
Monsters Prevail Below/Inside A Small Town (Various)
Again, King may not have created this cliche, but he undoubtedly popularised it. Although the concept of horror arriving in town has been around since The Devil and Daniel Webster, the way the series approaches it is strikingly similar to Kingās techniques. The supernatural beings who appear in many of Stephen Kingās books may easily clash with the eldritch horrors of the Upside Down, even if Hawkins doesnāt have any clowns, demons, vampires, or some bizarre combination of all three. There are certain monsters, like Atuin and the tendrilled terrors who lurk in the mist, that are beyond science.
Only One Useful Law Enforcement Personnel (Needful Things)
Members of law enforcement frequently appear to be a little more than worthless in most horror stories, despite their education, tools, and duty to protect and serve. The fact that at least one police officer can twist his courage to the sticking place is one similarity between Stephen King and Stranger Things. As Pangborn is to the town of Castle Rock, Hopper is to Hawkins. The other can deal with murders, curses, and even the devil while the first only handles missing children, Russian agents, and extra-terrestrial entities.
Along the railroad tracks in the woods, there is a search (The Body)
The image of children searching for something along the railroad tracks is a direct resemblance to Stand By Me, even though this is more of a cinematography/filmmaking choice. However, this isnāt always a bad thing. In actuality, the movie and the tale that served as its inspiration share a lot more similarities with the renowned Netflix series. In the first season, the kids searched the woods for Will, while in the second, Dustin and Steve searched the railroad lines for Dart. Both of these scenes are similar to the hunt for the body in the classic movie; the only things that are lacking are the confrontation with the approaching train and the slow-motion scream.
Someone Possesses Mutant Psychic Ability (Firestarter, Carrie, The Shining)
When Eleven is introduced, things start to truly veer into Stephen Kingās territory. King is infamous for granting children exceptional skills, which are typically never fully explained, whether they be psychic capabilities, pyrotechnic ability, or āthe Shining.ā Eleven is, in a sense, the same manner. Her abilities were the result of government research and selective breeding, but viewers didnāt learn much about the technique until season four. More information regarding Elevenās past and Dr. Brennerās work will undoubtedly become clear once the truth about Vecna is disclosed.
Someoneās Past Involved A Scary Clown (It)
Bob is supported by Joyce and Will Byers in Stranger Things. The pep chat with Bob in season two was perhaps the most obvious reference to Stephen Kingās writing. Bob recounts to Will the story of Mr. Baldo back when he lived in Maine while they are traveling. Will is sitting in the passenger seat. Anyone who has even a passing familiarity with the authorās writing will be able to immediately make the connection between Bobās experience and another notorious clown.
(It, Rose Red, Jerusalemās Lot) A House Radiates Evil, Strange Things Creel House
Some of the scariest haunted houses ever written about belong to Stephen King. Similar themes, visuals, and concepts connect the Creel home from Stranger Thingsā fourth season with the House on Neibolt Street and Rose Red.
It alludes to the House on Neibolt Street with its conventional towering appearance, and the stained glass rose on the door alludes to the big windows in Rose Red. Overall, itās a clear testament to how much of a character a house or other structure can have.
Bob goes on to add that the clown gave him a balloon and began showing up in his nightmares, albeit it isnāt explicitly stated that the clown was a variant of It. This is merely a reference to the book and the movie.
Conclusion
Stranger Things doesnāt try to disguise its 1980s influence; it wears it proudly on its sleeve. Particularly when it comes to similarities and easter eggs from Stephen King. The Netflix series pays more than a few homages to the maestro of horror with episodes about teenage misfit groups battling evil forces and old houses with dangerous secrets.
Also Read: Book recommendation for those who liked stranger things
