2017, 2019, and 2025. What do they all have in common? Releases from the universes of It and Stranger Things. How repetitive! And, with the final additions to Stranger Things coming up around the same time as the debut of the original It: Welcome to Derry series, members of both intertwined fandoms notice striking parallels between the two universes once more, the most prominant ones being the following:
- The Magic of a Group
Both of these stories have an inseparable group of teens forced together to go up against a supernatural being with stalker tendencies. Together, they’re strong enough to fight it.
- I Can Smell Your Fear
In both It and Stranger Things universes, the horrific villain utilizes the protagonists’ fear in their favor. In It, fear is the seasoning on the chicken; in Stranger Things, a traumatic experience that continues to haunt someone is the pathway to Vecna’s curse.
- I’ll Pretend I Didn’t See That
Both small town’s populations turn a blind eye to things that are out of the ordinary. In Stranger Things, the unavoidable supernatural forces roam the town without consequence. In It, violent and disturbing behaviors are present in local children, as well as a cosmic being that pursues them. All of which are consistently ignored by locals and hidden by higher authorities.
Patterns in Movies and Television– and Why They Continue to Work
We frequently see patterns within movies and TV. Whether it’s from inspiration or coincidence, either way, it’s constant.
In this instance, it’s simply an attractive trope to use. There’s something so captivating about a group of children who fight evil, because children aren’t equipped for anything of the sort, but they still manage to find themselves in those situations. Under the pressure of the beings they’re up against, their friendship is enhanced, in a way. With the fear they have, they’re forced to stick together for their own good.
A lot of times, the friendship factor brings in elements of the coming-of-age and comedy genres, while the darkness factor brings in elements of horror, thriller, and sci-fi, making for the perfect blend of the greatest genres.
I like to call this “genre” in entertainment, “Children Trauma Bonded Together By a Dark Experience or Entity.” Yes, I made that up myself. We see it so commonly in some of the most popular (and incredibly alluring, might I add) movies and TV shows. Stand By Me, Harry Potter, Lord of the Flies, Gravity Falls, Maze Runner, The Black Phone, and, if you think about it, even The Sandlot.
When looking back at my list of commonalities, some of them I listed are more common than others in the movies I mentioned. However, the genre-defining one is The Magic of a Group. Nonetheless, you should be able to recognize all of them in the movies I mentioned– maybe even other movies, too– keep an eye out!
