After a long-awaited return, Stranger Things Season 4 is finally here- and The Duffer Brothers did not hold back. Season 4 is being released in two parts, with seven episodes currently streaming on Netflix, each being just over an hour long.
Volume Two is set to release on July 1st, and fans cannot wait to see what else is in store for this season. So far, it has been a more haunting version of what fans are used to with the show. The inspiration from horror movies is evident in this season, along with some straight-up comparisons to classic horror characters as well.
It
The visions of a grandfather clock are much like Pennywise's balloons. When the villains are near, a symbol appears as a warning. The person who sees the balloon, or grandfather clock, is the next target. This plot point isn’t the only similarity to Stephan King’s It.
Vecna originally shows up as a person in their vision and then transforms into his true form. That is true of Pennywise as well. Both also manifest themselves as their victims' worst fears and anxieties, which is a concept popular among several horror properties.
Freddy Kreuger
Much like Freddy Kreuger, Vecna comes to invade the Stranger Things crew's realities and show them a vision of their worst, twisted nightmares and fears. He comes unexpectedly, and the victim’s doom is certain once he makes himself known.
While this is a trait common among many horror icons, the way Venca appears in and out of physical reality makes him a particularly haunting character with similarities to A Nightmare On Elm Street's Freddy Krueger. The similarities between Vecna and Freddy were clear from the start, showing the inspiration for a nightmarish season.
The Silence Of The Lambs
One of the most notable scenes of Silence of the Lambs is when Clarice interviews Hannibal Lecter. It is a moment to gain understanding and clarity for Clarice and the audience as to why Hannibal did what he did.
It’s a scene that's remained memorable enough that when Nancy and Robin went to interview Victor Creel in Stranger Things, the comparison is easily recognizable. Victor is the believed killer- and Nancy and Robin are determined to get to the bottom of the truth by better understanding him.
Michael Meyers
When Eddie's uncle was telling his story to Nancy, he compared the "killer" to Michael Meyers. The story of Halloween is simple- Michael Meyers is a serial killer who infamously murders babysitters or anyone who gets in his way, and when caught escapes prison.
Michael has a sort of power in that he never seems to die. Eddie’s uncle believes this to be the situation with Victor Creel- someone who was believed to have murdered his whole family. The cycle of violence and escape and apparent inevitability make this a clear homage to Michael even without the directly stated comparison.
Hellraiser
Though Vecna shares his overall methods with Freddy, his likeness is shared with Pinhead from Hellraiser. Like Pinhead, fans learn that Vecna is a former human, just like his namesake in Dungeons & Dragons.
Both Vecna and Pinhead are demons from another world despite their Earthly origins. The Duffer Brothers use this connection to emphasize the terrifying potential of this new threat. This season answered a lot of questions fans had from previous seasons, but it has also left them with a few more, several about Vecna, as they wait for Vol. 2.
The Amityville Horror
The previously mentioned Creel house takes clear inspiration from the home in the classic horror movie, The Amityville Horror. Both are homes that a family moved into and were haunted, and both the families that move in are killed by an unknown entity from the past.
Victor Creel was blamed for the murder in Stranger Things, as ghosts and exorcists could not explain what his family had experienced. While subtle, the reference only contributes to the dark twist and past life of Vecna.
Firestarter
Horror fans have seen a lot of revivals and classic horror being made new again, with the return of Firestarter and clear inspiration in Stranger Things. In both, there is a girl experiencing emotional trauma while being experimented on by the government in their attempts to give her superpowers.
Fans know this of El but haven’t had to see her live it since season 1. The ending of Vol. 1 has left a lot of unanswered questions about the group and their progress in defeating Vecna, and it's yet to be seen what Eleven's ultimate fate will be. Fans hope that she can remain a force of good and ultimately earn a "normal" life free of her pursuers.
Poltergeist
The ideas of ghosts and exorcisms were thrown around during this season, as many couldn’t explain the sudden deaths taking place in Hawkins. They were mentioned briefly when Eddie’s uncle discussed the Creel Family’s death.
The possession of their bodies by Vecna and floating is an idea closely associated with Poltergeist- a classic and memorable horror film. While the ultimate explanation for the events is different than in Poltergeist, it was interesting to see a different type of paranormal phenomenon discussed in Stranger Things than has been focused on in the past.
Carrie
In season 4, viewers see El go through a more PG, yet equally as traumatic, bullying situation as Carrie. She is bullied from the start of season 4, so getting sloshed by a chocolate milkshake in front of the entire roller rink was an understandable breaking point.
Though less awful than pig's blood, it is equally as embarrassing, especially for someone still in the process of growing up. While Carrie is more of an anti-villain than a true antagonist, fans still hope that El ultimately stays on the side of good through the series' nearing end.
Scream
A notable part of the Scream franchise is receiving information through the news. Gale was an essential part of Scream, both as a reporter and in finding the killer. Similarly, Nancy develops her investigation skills in Stranger Things with the recent death in Hawkins while also trying to discover the killer on her own time.
While Nancy does have quite a bit of experience in the field of evil and the supernatural from the events in seasons one through three, serial killers are something less familiar to her.