Strangers Things' trailer from Netflix's TUDUM event signals a genre change for season 4, bringing the show back to its horror roots in a fresh way.
A new Stranger Things teaser trailer dropped at Netflix’s TUDUM event, hinting that season 4 will be headed in an exciting new genre direction for its horror elements. The trailer detailed Stranger Things' Creel House, which appears to be an old haunted house in Hawkins in which a 1950s family experienced supernatural events. The Stranger Things characters break into the vacant and ruined home in the ‘80s, searching for “clues” as they walk up the stairs to a mysterious Grandfather Clock that appears to be connected to the Upside Down.
Each season of Stranger Things tends to follow a different genre or style of 1980s movies in reference to horror, sci-fi, and adventure as the series explores more nuances of the Upside Down. Stranger Things season 1 was notably influenced by horror/sci-fi and Spielbergian movies like Alien and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial; season 2 with more action orientation like Aliens (1986) and Stephen King horror classics like It and Carrie; and Stranger Things season 3 relying more on ‘80s action/adventure sci-fi films like The Terminator, Back to the Future, and the horror classic The Thing. It’s been widely noted that Stranger Things lost the key horror prominence of season 2 as it more recently prioritized sci-fi and adventure, but the season 4 trailer indicates it’ll be heading back to its terror-inducing roots in a new, refreshing way.
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From what has been teased by Stranger Things’ trailers so far, the series is putting its sci-fi priority on the backburner for season 4 and focusing on the '80s paranormal horror genre instead. The classic supernatural influences within the 95-second trailer are clear; the children lying dead on the ground with their father standing above references The Shining’s shot of the Grady sisters, the clock may as well be a stand-in for Poltergeist’s television, and Creel House’s layout and ruin are eerily similar to the Neibolt House in Stephen King’s It. Stranger Things was most notable in its first season for its impressive blend of sci-fi and horror, and it was a shame to see the horror largely absent in season 3. Stranger Things has largely run its course, prioritizing Spielbergian and adventure influences, so it's relieving the series will tackle what else made the sci-fi/horror of the '80s so incredible, like Nightmare on Elm Street, The Shining, and Poltergeist.
Stranger Things’ trailer hints at a haunted house premise for the season, possibly beginning with the father being possessed by the Upside Down and murdering his family ala The Shining. Strangers Things has clearly already dipped its toes into the supernatural horror of the ‘80s era, but it has almost all been centered on Will, with his hospital possession calling back to the 1973 classic The Exorcist. Season 3 of Stranger Things largely left out the supernatural horrors, so it’ll be refreshing to see the series tackle the genre at the forefront, especially since its early horror take is what gave the series much of its high praise. Stranger Things has also largely used a sci-fi creature that attacks for its primary horror in the past few seasons, so it's smart to change it up by having the kids battle something far more sinister and difficult to destroy with spirits.
The ghost premise of Stranger Things season 4 also seems to be confirmed in the Creel House trailer with an intentional focus on the Ghostbusters button on Dustin’s backpack. Ghostbusters was prominent in Stranger Things season 2 when the kids all dressed up like the characters for Halloween, and season 4 appears to be turning them into the real deal. It’s been speculated that the haunted Creel House and its mysterious Grandfather Clock may be the origin of the Upside Down’s influence in Hawkins, likely meaning the spirits of the ‘50s family may help (or hinder) the Stranger Things characters’ mission. With Stranger Things taking on a new genre for season 4, the fatigue of the past three seasons’ changes may be refreshed by keeping viewers on the edge of their seats with paranormal scares.
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Jordan Williams is a Movie/TV Feature Senior Staff Writer for Screen Rant. She graduated from the University of Oregon in 2020 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Media Studies. Jordan is based in Seattle, Washington and enjoys exploring the natural beauty the PNW has to offer. She runs on coffee and classic movies, taking pride in having watched every film on AFI's 100 Greatest Films list and every Best Picture Oscar winner.