Horror adventure series Stranger Things was always destined to be a cult smash. Part of the appeal is the ‘80s setting and the thickly applied layer of nostalgia, but another factor is the show’s attention to detail. From the sticky tape on the kids’ bikes to the spot-on synth score, the show draws deeply on its many source materials to produce something rather remarkable. However, there is so much on the screen that it’s hard to know where to start.
This is where Stranger Things: Worlds Turned Upside Down comes in. Covering both seasons so far, it’s a beautifully produced guide to the series. It’s filled with stills and behind the scenes photos, as well as some rather eye-catching graphic design that fits right in with the show’s aesthetic. For example, we get a primer on Dungeons and Dragons in the style of the original TSR rulebooks, followed by character sheets for Mike, Dustin, Lucas and Will. In case you’re wondering, Lucas has the highest wisdom stat and the most hit points, but Dustin totally has the most charisma. Other cast members get their own files from Hawkins Lab and so on. The cover (and especially the dust jacket) are made to look like a well-thumbed library book; a brilliant touch that sets the standard for what’s to come.
The show is known for beautiful art direction and brilliantly shot scenes, and this book covers those with glossy images assembled in an eye-catching style. It’s not just a pretty face though. The book begins with a bit of a prequel, explaining the highs and lows of The Duffer Brothers career before Stranger Things arrived. It also talks about the original pitch for the show, which was called Montauk (a reference to Jaws, of course). We learn about the cult movies the Duffer Brothers love, the books that influenced the series and what games they like to play. (Apparently they’re into Magic: The Gathering, which makes a lot of sense.)
The book does it’s best to cover everything, which means it’s full of cool insights, though it doesn’t go too in depth on any one thing. For example, the profile on Steve tells us exactly how much actor Joe Keery was able to steer the character from high school jock and bad guy into something more engaging. The book gives you a decent handle on exactly how the Duffer Brothers developed the show, and it’s a fascinating process.
Some of the elements are only lightly brushed on, and the book has more information on Season One than it does for Season Two. This is mostly due to its light and approachable style. For example, though Season Two episode The Lost Sister is given a solid profile, we don’t really learn much about why the episode is such a departure, or what all the weird graffiti is about. These are minor niggles however; Stranger Things: Worlds Turned Upside Down does a good job of peering behind the veil of one of Netflix’s most iconic shows.
STRANGER THINGS: WORLDS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN /AUTHOR: GINA MCINTYRE / PUBLISHER: CENTURY / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
