by Alice-Ginevra Micheli, Contributing Writer
We all have that feeling. You know the one: You finish watching a movie and something about it hits you in just the right spot.
Whether it was the theme, the story, or even the characters, there was a quality about it that almost makes you want to turn around and go back a second, third, or even fourth time!
Bar the reality of living in the movie theater for the rest of your days, you turn to the rest of pop culture and start to look for other avenues where you can find that same feeling.
Well I’m here to make this plight easier for all. Each month, I take a piece of pop culture that was prevalent in the social consciousness — whether it is a movie, TV show, or something else — and then recommend other forms of media for those who want to stay in that world a little bit longer.
Welcome to your One Stop Pop!
It’s happened. We have reached the final countdown of one of the most influential stories in modern pop culture, and a sigh of relief is palpable in the air. Stranger Things, the show that arguably helped spur forth this modern era of binge-watching and streaming, is finally coming to an end after almost 10 years, with its first few episodes having dropped just in time for the holidays.
However, that’s the rub isn’t it? It’s only the first few, not the whole season. So it’s likely many fans are sitting, waiting, and wanting to keep hype going amidst December’s final releases. So in lieu of just watching the old seasons over and over again, let’s see what other forms of media might scratch the itch in the meantime, shall we?
Book: The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub
It’s not hard to find a book or novel series that centers a lot of the similar themes that Stranger Things does. After all, fantasy, horror, and ‘80s D&D references are definitely intriguing to many beyond those with a Netflix subscription.
A good place to start, however, is with someone infamous for his ability to combine horror and fantasy elements. The Talisman is the first book of a duology from 1984 — it tells the story of a young man, Jack Sawyer, who ventures into a dangerous, parallel world in order to search for the infamous titular talisman as the only way to save his dying mother.
Taking place at the time in which it was written, this story has a lot of elements that fans of this month’s focus would love: a coming-of-age character having to dive into unknown worlds, the exploration of familial ties, and just enough of a touch of darkness within its fantasy to make it scary but still accessible to a younger audience.
Not to mention, this book has been optioned by the Duffer brothers, and will likely be their next project. So it could be a great way to get in early, on a hype train that is destined to take off in the near future.
Movie: Super 8
Not diverging too far from the obvious just yet, the J. J. Abrams ride from over a decade ago, Super 8,is a great way to get that ‘80s nostalgia fantastical hit, with a great cast of child actors, and mysterious unravelling of story.
Considered by many to be a major inspiration for Stranger Things, Super 8 follows a group of young friends as they investigate a mysterious train crash in their small town, filming everything, and uncovering more than they ever thought possible.
Given it’s been out for a while, it’d be no surprise to many that this film involves the presence of aliens in a way that harkens back to old school sci-fi movies, spending time on the fear of the unknown that used to be explored a lot more than today.
However, there are also plenty of benefits present in the storytelling that are directly taken from modern filmmaking, ensuring that the pacing remains exciting, and the action results in an adrenaline rush.
Balancing style and substance, this ‘80s-set film depicts one of the earlier throwbacks to that period’s nostalgia, while still delivering a story that is fresh, original, and overtly personal to the filmmaker.
Not to mention, the relationship between the group of tweens and teens is wholesome, believable, and adhering to the Goonies-style relationship that make stories like this really shine.
Podcast: Dark Dice: The Horror D&D Podcast
Getting a little more granular, it’s time to delve further into one of the nerdiest pastimes that Stranger Things helped revitalize amongst the general population: D&D. However, this time, it’ll be about looking toward something a little spookier, a little scarier, a little more in line with the tone of the show.
Dark Dice is a horror D&D podcast that follows actual players who, each season, embark on a new creepy journey of fantastical adventure involving dragons, monsters, dark Gods, and unknown twists and turns. Add to that the immersive soundscapes and top-level editing present, and the listening experience is one of high quality, and high impact with every minute passed.
With 94 episodes to choose from, this podcast differs from others due to the way in which it looks to fully involve the listener into the adventures taken by the characters. Purposefully chosen to not be heroes of yore — unlike most other D&D podcasts — this show focuses on dropping unwitting “normal people” into unnatural situations, and letting them figure it out with the listener.
Multi-award winning, and horrifying in themes, this is definitely one for the adults — but adults who are fans of Stranger Things will for certain find a special kind of taste overlap here.
Video Game: Crossing Souls
We’ve talked about ‘80s nostalgia, horror elements, fantastical parallel worlds, and D&D. The only other main element of Stranger Things that hasn’t yet been touched on is, of course, the ever-present government conspiracy storyline that highlights the evil of humanity within the evil of the Upside Down.
Fear not, for this is a game that takes all those themes, and lets the player experience them for themselves in real time. Crossing Souls also takes place in the ‘80s — 1986, to be exact — and follows a group of friends who are able to travel between realms. Seems pretty standard so far; however, what starts off as a colorful adventure soon becomes perilous when they are suddenly involved in a government conspiracy that only their special skills and puzzle-solving abilities will help them to escape.
Think of this game as the pixelated, whimsical, kind of more down-to-earth version of the month’s focus. Less scary, more prismatic, this old-school action/adventure game sees the player control all five of the friend group as needed in order to make it through the varied number of challenges they find themselves consistently fighting.
With an original score inspired by John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith, fun little cutscenes, and epic monster battles, this is a game that’s sure to inspire, thrill, and get the goosebumps going with every level defeated.
Hopefully all these recommendations are enough to keep anyone occupied until the final episodes of Stranger Things returns this month. A couple of fantastical novels, great classic-inspired films, ghastly, interactive tales, and an exciting mosaic game mean that any fan of the show will be able to keep the vibe active until they’re re-invited into the terrifying adventures of our crew in Hawkins.
This is it for the year, but fear not — we’ll be back in January to jump off whatever sets hearts on fire in the Christmas season. Until then, thank you for visiting SiftPop’s One Stop Pop. We hope to see you again soon!
You can read more from Alice-Ginevra Micheli, and follow her on Instagram and Letterboxd