Warning: This article contains mild SPOILERS for Stranger Things season 4.
Stephen King reacts to Stranger Things season 4 making a reference to Carrie. King is one of the most successful horror authors to ever live, with several of his novels and short stories being adapted into movies and TV shows. Carrie was not only King's first published novel, but it has also become one of his most well-known stories, revolving around a bullied high schooler named Carrie White, who has telekinetic powers. Two years after the hit book was released, Carrie was adapted into a movie starring Sissy Spacek. A reboot starring Chloë Grace Moretz was also released in 2013 but was not as well-received as the original.
With Carrie being one of King's most popular stories, it wasn't much of a surprise that Stranger Things paid homage to the novel. The beginning of Stranger Things season 4 shows Eleven struggling to adjust to moving to California with the Byers family. El is constantly bullied at school by Angela (Elodie Grace Orkin) and her other classmates. This storyline culminates when Mike visits Eleven and Will in California, and the trio goes to Rink-O-Mania. Angela and her friends push El to the middle of the roller skating rink, where they proceed to laugh at her, cover her in a milkshake, and then push her down. The scene is very similar to the climax of Carrie, where the school bullies drop a bucket of pigs' blood over her head, causing the whole school to laugh at her.
Now, King himself is reacting to this clear reference to Carrie. The author seems to be a fan of the latest addition, saying Stranger Things season 4 is just as good if not better than the first three. King doesn't like the season being split into two parts but did seem to approve of the riff on Carrie. The horror author's original post can be read below:
Click here to view the post on Twitter
Carrie is just one of the many references Stranger Things season 4 made to iconic horror films. Some are obvious, like the Evil Dead poster in Jonathan's room or the Freddy Krueger cardboard cut-out in Robin and Steve's Family Video store. The scene where Robin and Nancy visit Victor Creel is a clear reference to Silence of the Lambs, and the Duffer Bros. previously revealed the main villain Vecna was inspired by Pennywise, Hellraiser, and Freddy. A Nightmare on Elm Street is probably the most obvious inspiration for Stranger Things season 4, with Vecna's powers being very reminiscent of Freddy and Robert Englund himself playing Victor Creel.
Given King's impact on horror literature and film, it makes sense that Carrie influenced Stranger Things. King clearly has just as much respect for the Duffer Bros. as they do for him, with King previously calling Stranger Things season 2 "balls to the wall entertainment." Stranger Things season 4's first seven episodes have already received a lot of praise, but it is likely an honor for the Duffer Bros. that King specifically loves the latest season. Even though King isn't a fan of Stranger Things' split-season format, hopefully, the Duffer Bros. can thrill the author with season 4 Volume 2 in July, and, eventually, season 5.
Source: Stephen King