Hey, have you heard of Stranger Things? It's a hit Netflix series from Matt and Ross Duffer that is delightfully original while bearing hallmarks of the best pop culture that the 1980s had to offer; you might have seen it (a half dozen times). But just in case you didn't live through the 80s or have only the haziest of memories about the decade, there's a good chance you'll miss a lot of the references and influences scattered throughout Season 1 of Stranger Things. Even if you're an 80s expert, you'd be hard-pressed to pick up on every single nuance of the show, so what's a Stranger Things super-fan to do?

Enter "Notes from the Upside Down", the unofficial guide to the show. It's arrived well in advance of the show's Season 2 premiere on October 27th, giving fans plenty of time to watch Season 1 again and spot all the references thanks to this handy guide. I got a chance to read through an early release copy and it's an absolute delight. It's a quick read that breaks the various influences, references, and sources of inspiration down into manageable chunks on an episode-by-episode basis, flavored with the author's own extensive knowledge of 80s pop culture, be it movies, music, fiction, or anything else on the strange side. It's a fantastic addition for fans of Stranger Things, who should consider adding it to their collection.

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Image via Touchstone

Written by Guy Adams and published by Touchstone, the unofficial guide is available now. Here's the book's synopsis:

In Notes from the Upside Down, you’ll get inside the world of Stranger Things. This fascinating unofficial guide has every fact you could ever wish for—from insights into the origins of the show, including the mysterious Montauk Project conspiracy theory; a useful eighties playlist (because, of course); interesting insights into the characters, auditions, and their evolving storylines; and much more. If you’ve ever wondered why Spielberg is such a huge influence, which Stephen King books you need to read (pretty much all of them), or how State Trooper David O’Bannon earned his name, then this book is for you.

 

Entertaining, informative, and perfect for fans of Stranger Things, eighties pop culture, and the horror/paranormal genre, Notes from the Upside Down is just what we need to get through the long months until Season 2.

Since I was lucky enough to get an early glimpse, I thought I'd share a few insights into Stranger Things from "Notes from the Upside Down" that you might have missed during your first (or second ... or third) watch-through:

Duffer Bros

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Image via Netflix

A fair amount of the early part of the book is dedicated to Matt and Ross Duffer, which makes sense considering their work to bring the show into existence. Here are just some of the interesting and strange facts about their journey:

  • The Duffer Bros. have been making movies since the 4th grade
  • Their first home movie was based on Magic: The Gathering
  • Their first filmmaking obsession: Tim Burton. They're in good company.
  • Their film short "We All Fall Down" won Best Short at Deep Ellum Film Festival in 2005
  • It was their senior thesis adaptation of Peter Crowther's "Eater" that secured them an agent
  • First script sold: Hidden to Warner Bros (VOD). The project got M. Night Shyamalan's attention and led to a Wayward Pines writing job
  • They once pitched ideas for Warner Bros.' IT adaptation; the studio passed
  • The original Stranger Things story inspiration came from a decidedly strange place: The 2013 film Prisoners which gave them the idea for a missing-person TV series.
  • Atlanta reminded them of their childhood in North Carolina, but originally the New York seaside town of Montauk was their setting for the series
  • The Duffers liked the music from Adam Wingard's The Guest, performed in part by the Austin band, S U R V I V E, composed of Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein

A Strange Production

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Image via Netflix

Once the Duffers had their story and financing in place, all they had to do was cast it and produce it. No big deal, right? Here are some of the peculiar twists and turns that came along with the production:

  • It was casting director Carmen Cuba suggested Winona Ryder for the part of Joyce Byers
  • Ryder wanted Joyce Byers to look like Meryl Streep in the 1983 film Silkwood
  • Steve Harrington's personality was softened and rounded from its jerk stereotype thanks to input from actor Joe Keery
  • The Stranger Things shooting schedule: 11 days per episode
  • Paying homage to the 80s, the Stranger Things VFX were 50/50 practical vs digital. Some effects were tried practically but time constraints and budget (not to mention the fact that they didn't look all that great) necessitated CG effects.
  • Stein and Dixon drew from the warmer 70s music as well as early 80s bands
  • Other references found throughout the series, including some that exist outside the 80s: Akira, Elfen Lied, Silent Hill, The Last of Us
  • The title of the episode "Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street" may refer back to the Twilight Zone episode, "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street"
  • Marissa the librarian is played by stunt performer and fight choreographer, Christi Waldon
  • The work of Ed Benguiat and Richard Greenberg inspired the series logo font and title sequence respectively; Drew Struzan's poster art inspired series artist, Kyle Lambert
  • Twins Anniston & Tinsley Price played Holly Wheeler on Stranger Things, but were also two of the actors who portrayed Baby Judith on AMC's The Walking Dead.

Plenty more strange things await in the unofficial guide, so check it out now before Season 2 premieres this October 27th, only on Netflix!

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Image via Touchstone