Stranger Things Vs. IT: Stephen King's Perspective

Chloe Fitzgerald

5 min read

Post on May 10, 2025

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Shared Thematic Elements: Nostalgia, Childhood Trauma, and the Power of Friendship

Both Stranger Things and IT resonate deeply because they tap into universal human experiences. They share core thematic elements that would undoubtedly appeal to Stephen King's sensibilities.

Nostalgia and 80s Setting

Both Stranger Things and IT masterfully evoke a strong sense of 1980s nostalgia, a key ingredient in many of King's own works. This nostalgic backdrop isn't just window dressing; it's integral to the narrative.

• Stranger Things meticulously recreates the aesthetic of 1980s small-town America, from the clothing and music to the technological limitations and societal anxieties of the time. This perfectly captures the Stephen King nostalgia many associate with his own stories.
• IT, similarly, uses the setting of Derry, Maine, a fictional town that has become almost as iconic as King himself, to establish a sense of place and time, highlighting the specific anxieties and fears of that era. The Stranger Things setting and the IT setting are both crucial to the overall tone and feeling. Derry, Maine, evokes a specific kind of Stephen King nostalgia.
• Keywords: 80s nostalgia, Stephen King nostalgia, Stranger Things setting, IT setting, Derry Maine

Childhood Trauma and Facing Fears

Central to both narratives is the exploration of childhood trauma and its lasting impact on the protagonists. This is a recurring theme in Stephen King's work, and it's a powerful element in both Stranger Things and IT.

• The children in Stranger Things grapple with the disappearance of Will Byers and the subsequent supernatural events, experiences that leave deep psychological scars and shape their understanding of the world.
• The Losers Club in IT confronts their deepest fears embodied by Pennywise the Dancing Clown, facing past traumas and insecurities that are brought to the surface by the malevolent entity. This exploration of childhood trauma is a key link between the two works.
• Keywords: childhood trauma, psychological horror, fear, coming-of-age, Stranger Things trauma, IT trauma

The Power of Friendship and Unity

In both stories, friendship serves as a lifeline, a source of strength and resilience against overwhelming odds. This emphasis on the power of community is another significant overlap.

• The bond between the kids in Stranger Things – Mike, Eleven, Dustin, Lucas, and Will – is instrumental in their survival. Their collective strength and unwavering loyalty are key to overcoming the threats they face.
• The Losers Club's enduring friendship is essential to their ability to defeat Pennywise. Their shared history and unwavering commitment to each other provide the strength needed to conquer their shared trauma and the terrifying entity that haunts their town.
• Keywords: friendship, teamwork, support, community, Losers Club, Stranger Things friendships

Divergent Approaches: Tone, Horror Style, and Supernatural Elements

While sharing thematic similarities, Stranger Things and IT diverge significantly in their approach to storytelling, tone, and the nature of the horror they present.

Tone and Atmosphere

While both evoke fear and suspense, the overall tone differs markedly.

• Stranger Things leans towards a blend of horror, sci-fi, and adventure, often employing a more lighthearted tone amidst the terror, allowing for moments of levity and friendship.
• IT, on the other hand, is a darker, more explicitly terrifying experience, dwelling in the depths of psychological horror and despair. The Stranger Things tone is arguably more accessible, while the IT tone is relentlessly grim.
• Keywords: horror genre, sci-fi elements, dark fantasy, tone, atmosphere, Stranger Things tone, IT tone

Styles of Horror

The type of horror employed also differs substantially.

• IT utilizes cosmic horror elements and psychological manipulation, playing on childhood fears and anxieties in a more visceral and disturbing way. Pennywise's ability to manipulate the children's deepest fears is a masterclass in psychological horror.
• Stranger Things, while terrifying, incorporates elements of science fiction and the supernatural, presenting a more contained, albeit equally chilling, threat in the form of the Mind Flayer. The supernatural horror in both is effective but differs in its approach.
• Keywords: cosmic horror, psychological horror, supernatural horror, science fiction horror, Pennywise, Mind Flayer

Nature of the Supernatural Threat

The nature of the antagonists highlights another key difference.

• Pennywise (IT) is a malevolent entity tapping into primal fears, a shape-shifting being that embodies the darkest aspects of the human psyche. The otherworldly threats in both stories are equally terrifying, but different in their nature.
• The Mind Flayer in Stranger Things is a more defined, albeit equally terrifying, otherworldly force with a tangible presence and a clear objective.
• Keywords: Pennywise the Dancing Clown, Mind Flayer, otherworldly threats, supernatural entities, monsters

Conclusion

Both Stranger Things and IT successfully tap into universal themes of childhood, trauma, friendship, and the fear of the unknown, although they employ distinct narrative techniques and tonal approaches. While IT delivers a darker, more visceral horror experience rooted in cosmic horror, Stranger Things offers a compelling blend of genres, leaning more towards science fiction horror. Considering King's oeuvre, it's plausible he'd appreciate the nostalgic atmosphere and exploration of childhood fear in both, though he might find IT's relentless darkness more aligned with his own style.

What do you think Stephen King would say about Stranger Things vs IT? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Continue the discussion and explore more on the fascinating intersection of Stranger Things vs IT Stephen King.