We could earn a fee from hyperlinks on this web page.
Stranger Issues, which is ending for good this fall, debuted again in 2016. Given the tempo of life lately, the top of the Obama administration feels, one way or the other, as distant because the collection’ nostalgic Nineteen Eighties setting. The present solidified Netflix because the streamer to beat when it comes to authentic programming, and launched a brand new era of kid stars who’re all now firmly adults. The present’s mix of nostalgia, horror, and small-town weirdness has been wildly influential (and endlessly copied), however its success relies, additionally, on its synthesis and deft remodeling of deeply acquainted parts. In that spirit, listed here are a number of exhibits of the previous and current that, in numerous methods, carry a few of these Stranger vibes.
I Am Not Okay With This (2020)
Sophia Lillis, straight from enjoying Beverly Marsh within the It films, stars as Sydney Novak, a 17-year-old residing in a small city together with her mom and sister. Her father just lately died by suicide; she has a crush on her finest pal; and all she and her mom do is argue. In the midst of all of that, she discovers that she had powers triggered by her feelings, each of which she’ll have to be taught to regulate if she needs to get her life so as. Because the lead, Lillis sells the hell out of this offbeat coming-of-age story which was canceled after one season. Due to course it was. You possibly can stream I Am Not Okay With This on Netflix.
Haven (2010 – 2015)
There are few (if any) teenagers right here, however Haven (primarily based on the Stephen King brief story “The Colorado Child”) has bought the “bizarre stuff goes down in a small city” vibe down pat. Emily Rose stars as Audrey Parker, an FBI Particular Agent despatched to the title city of Haven, Maine on a routine case. Quickly, she will get drawn into “the Troubles,” a collection of dangerous supernatural occasions which have recurred all through the city’s historical past—and, by no coincidence, are occurring once more. A supernatural-case-of-the-week format offers method to a much bigger thriller when Audrey involves be taught that this isn’t her first time in Haven, nor the primary time she’s encountered the Troubles. Lucas Bryant and Eric Balfour co-star. You possibly can stream Haven on Tubi, Peacock, and Prime Video.
Darkish (2017 – 2020)
Darkish started as a thriller involving a lacking baby and advanced, over its three seasons, right into a wildly complicated narrative: a time travel-driven story that explores darkish household secrets and techniques over the course of a number of generations. The German import has a putting look and extremely atmospheric really feel, with an ensemble solid of teenagers and adults whose narratives are deftly intertwined. Particularly given the title, you would be completely proper to imagine that the tone right here is kind of a bit extra darkish than that of Stranger Issues, however the exhibits have lots in frequent, together with an curiosity within the ’80s. You possibly can stream Darkish on Netflix.
Concern Avenue (2021 – )
Not a collection, exactly, however a collection of flicks that play out like a miniseries (no less than initially), and that play within the retro-nostalgia horror-vibe that Stranger Issues does so properly. Tailored from the R. L. Stine books, Concern Avenue Half One: 1994 kicks off the collection by introducing the city of Shadyside, which the native youngsters name “Shittyside,” and has a darkish historical past of a number of murders, most of them lined up. A bunch of teenagers upsets the grave of a witch, kicking off the revival of a murderous cult. There are some legit gore and scares (it’s YA, kind of, however positively not youngsters’ stuff) as Janiak pays homage to a variety of horror films previous. The collection continues with an impeccable camp slasher homage in Concern Avenue Half Two: 1978, after which an origin story that brings the preliminary trilogy to a conclusion in Concern Avenue Half Three: 1666. There is a standalone fourth movie, as properly, and extra on the way in which, however you are nice sticking with the preliminary trilogy. You possibly can stream Concern Avenue Half One: 1994 on Netflix.
Tales From the Loop (2020)
A beautiful-looking anthology (kind of), Tales From the Loop takes place within the small city of Mercer, Ohio—a city that occurs to sit down upon the titular Loop, a physics lab exploring mysteries for which science has no solutions. Every episode presents the story of an individual or household within the city impacted by the work of the Loop, in slow-burning tales in regards to the intersection of expertise and human existence. It’s primarily based on a conceptual artwork guide by artist Simon Stålenhag, and efficiently ports over that guide’s putting feel and appear. It is quieter and extra meditative than one thing like Stranger Issues, however price your time if that is your temper. You possibly can stream Tales from the Loop on Prime Video.
Twin Peaks (1990 – 1991, 2017)
Teenagers and adults in a deceptively quiet small city (within the ’80s, no much less) face tragedy accompanied by supernatural threats from exterior of our regular house and time. That is a fairly truthful synopsis of each Stranger Issues and Twin Peaks, however it additionally serves to obscure the large tonal variations between the 2 exhibits. Kyle MacLachlan performs FBI Particular Agent Dale Cooper, who arrives within the title city to research the homicide of teenager homecoming queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). His arrival on the town precipitates a (very) lengthy evening of the soul as Cooper uncovers secrets and techniques and mysteries among the many city’s delightfully, and infrequently disturbingly, bizarre residents. You possibly can stream Twin Peaks on Paramount+ and Mubi or purchase episodes from Prime Video.
Alice in Borderland (2020 – )
The Upside Down of Stranger Issues is a darkish, difficult, chaotic mirror to our personal actuality—so think about a equally sinister parallel house, now with a bit extra apparent construction. Video-game obsessed Arisu will get his want, after a vogue, when he finds himself, together with a few associates, transported to an alternate, eerily deserted model of Tokyo—the title’s Borderland—vividly delivered to life through some intelligent inexperienced display work. The three are directed to an area and given the directions for the sport, which they’ll be enjoying whether or not they wish to or not. The primary competitors includes a locked-room-style puzzle; in the event that they fail, the room goes up in flames with them in it—suppose Prepared Participant One, with deadlier stakes. There are video games every evening, although the foundations enable for winners to get time without work. There are a number of guidelines, truly, however the video games are cleverly and sadistically constructed. You possibly can stream Alice in Borderland on Netflix.
What do you suppose thus far?
Faculty Spirits (2023– )
Peyton Checklist stars as Maddie, a youngster in small-town Wisconsin for whom her demise could be very a lot only the start. Caught in a highschool within the afterlife (as a result of hell is certainly for youngsters), she goes on a journey to unravel her personal homicide whereas uncovering secrets and techniques and lies in each worlds. All of it sounds a bit grim, however the present has a way of enjoyable about it: Whereas Maddie does develop the flexibility to speak with the residing, her world is populated by ghost teenagers from numerous eras and generations, with customs, mores, and cliques having developed in ghost highschool simply as in our world. You possibly can stream Faculty Spirits on Paramount+ (the primary season can also be on Netflix) or purchase episodes from Prime Video.
Goosebumps (2023 – )
Taking a flip off of Concern Avenue, we return to R.L. Stine—who’s, in any case, our reigning grasp of YA horror (his identify showing on properly over 300 books). In distinction with earlier diversifications, this collection ditches the episodic anthology format of the Nineties collection in favor of a extra anthologized teen drama, in all probability in direct response to the recognition of Stranger Issues. The primary season is ready within the current (whereas involving a thriller from the previous), so skips the nostalgic charms (and traps) of the Netflix collection, discovering a contemporary group of teenagers in a bizarre city encountering the assorted monsters and scares (a lot of them legitimately freaky). Every season shifts the main target to a brand new story, with a brand new solid of actors of their mid-20s enjoying teenagers. You possibly can stream Goosebumps on Disney+.
Yellowjackets (2021 – )
This time-jumping survival drama is a few group of teenage ladies turning into stranded within the wilderness in 1996 and doing horrible issues to outlive—the extent of which we solely study through flashbacks from the current, the place the occasions of these 19 months proceed to have an effect. There are teases of the supernatural right here, a lot of it ambiguous, however there’s loads of horror in a previous that we’re nonetheless seeing fleshed (ahem) out. The place Stranger Issues revels in its ’80s setting, Yellowjackets extra cynically posits that there is a large distinction between the model of the previous we speak about and the one that actually occurred. You possibly can stream Yellowjackets on Paramount+ (the primary two seasons are additionally on Netflix) or you should buy episodes from Prime Video.
