Stranger Things - Season 4

After the first season, I had serious doubts about whether I wanted to continue following Stranger Things. I'm glad I did because what a good series it turned out to be. There are some places in the fictional world that I love to avoid. These include Derry, U.S.C.S.S. Nostromo, the Overlook Hotel, the house of Annie Wilkes, Transylvania, Bates Motel and now Hawkins has joined them. After the first season, I gave the series the benefit of the doubt and reluctantly watched the second season. In the meantime, I can't wait to see what the Duffer brothers have in store for the viewer for the fifth season.

The fourth season is, even more, an ode to horror and certainly a tribute to Stephen King than the previous seasons. The brothers have really understood how to build up the tension. How to deliver a story that has both tension and the necessary gore and blood in it. Let's be honest, most horror stories are paper thin, to say the least, but Stranger Things never gets boring. Not even during the long final two episodes of the fourth season.

Now that you’ve seen where I’ve been, I’d like very much to show you where I am going.

After three seasons, the actors really know how to bring the characters to life. The music and image of the 80s are beautifully portrayed. Sometimes subtle, pay attention to the T-shirt Joyce gets, sometimes also obvious when you see the walkman that Max walks around with all the time. The series knows how to build tension from start to end in a kind of wow / wtf moment. Because it is completely clear that this fourth season is a run-up to the final fifth season.

We’re a team. Friends.

Where the ultimate evil must be fought by a bunch of close and fantastic friends. The characters and story follow the correct pattern of most horror stories/movies. That makes Stranger Things a reasonable bite-sized chunk, but fortunately, it does not remain completely predictable. As a result, you as a viewer remain fascinated. I enjoyed the fourth season. Especially because of the references, the clear and great King content, the excellent cast, and the good music.

But the direction, camera and special effects are also wonderful. Take a good look at Henry/number one/Vecna, the digital animation and the face painting are beautiful. The upside-down is also beautifully made and portrayed. The fights are of very high quality and even the, at times, funny moments are appropriate. The Netflix series has only grown from the first season to now. Each season/episode was slightly better than the previous one.

I'm glad they decided to wrap up the story with the fifth season. This means that the story will not be milked, even if there are already talks of a spin-off. My compliments go out not only to the Duffer brothers, but also to the cast, crew, face paint, special effects, and computer specialists. Although I never found myself on the edge of my seat due to the scares, the series is just a bit too predictable for that, this is a horror series that can serve as an example for many failed attempts by various filmmakers who dare to call something horror.

As a Stephen King, Dean R. Koontz, Clive Barker, Hitchcock, Carpenter, Scott, and Wes Craven fan, I'm glad that a good horror/thriller can still be made in this day and age, 9 points for an excellent fourth season.