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At first glance, it’s clear what serves as the backbone for “Stranger Things”—a mix of horror, science fiction, Stephen King’s literary influence, 1980s nostalgia, and Dungeons & Dragons. While these inspirations were evident when the Duffer Brothers first introduced the concept of “Stranger Things,” some influences require a deeper dive to unearth. These range from the real-life Montauk Project conspiracy, mirroring the experiments experienced by Eleven (played by Millie Bobby Brown), to fictional universes like “Game of Thrones” and the 2013 psychological thriller “Prisoners.” Yes, you read that correctly.
Warner Bros.
How does “Stranger Things” relate to Denis Villeneuve’s “Prisoners,” where Hugh Jackman portrays a father resorting to vigilantism after his daughter’s disappearance? According to the Duffers in an interview with Rolling Stone, “Stranger Things” was conceived after they watched “Prisoners” and envisioned its potential as a miniseries on a streaming platform. The central theme of a missing child ignited their creative vision for a post-“Wayward Pines” television endeavor.
While Matt and Ross Duffer found much to admire in “Prisoners,” they believed the film could have delved deeper. This thought sparked a brainstorming session, with Ross revealing to Rolling Stone, “It was fascinating to see those characters in that tone on the big screen, but we felt it needed more.” This idea evolved into the unique blend of sci-fi and horror elements that define “Stranger Things.”
Explaining how this fusion came together, Ross added, “It was about taking the idea of a missing child and mixing it with our childlike sensibilities. Could we add a monster that devours people? As nerds and kids at heart, we thought that was perfect.”
The Duffers took the basic premise of Prisoners and nerdified it
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Interestingly, the Duffers aren’t alone in using “Prisoners” as a springboard into the sci-fi realm. The film marked a breakthrough for director Denis Villeneuve, who, after directing “Enemy” in 2013 and “Sicario” in 2015, transitioned into creating some of the most celebrated sci-fi films, starting with “Arrival” in 2016 and continuing with “Blade Runner 2049” and the “Dune” trilogy.
That initial kernel would go on to blend with the various sci-fi and horror elements that defined “Stranger Things.” Discussing how that combination came about, Ross continued, “it was taking that idea of a missing child and combining it with the more childlike sensibilities that we have. You know, can we put a monster in there that eats people? Because we are nerds and children-at-heart, we thought it was the best thing ever.”
Interestingly, the Duffers aren’t the only ones who used “Prisoners” as the launching pad for a future in sci-fi. The film gave director Denis Villeneuve his first major hit, and after making two more thrillers (2013’s “Enemy” and 2015’s “Sicario”), he has solely directed some of the best sci-fi movies of all time, starting with 2016’s “Arrival” and going on to helm “Blade Runner 2049” and the “Dune” trilogy.