As fans eagerly await the release of Stranger Things season five this November, it’s worth taking a step back to examine the childhood experiences that shaped the series’ distinctive blend of nostalgia, horror, and humour. Behind the supernatural mysteries of Hawkins, Indiana, lie the formative fears of its creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, whose early encounters with cinema left a lasting mark on the storytelling style we now associate with the show.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, the brothers shared which films haunted their youth and how these influences became a blueprint for the suspense, terror, and emotional resonance of Stranger Things.
Matt Duffer spoke candidly about his ongoing fear of clowns, a sentiment that resonates with many. “We have a particular problem with clowns. I’m still not quite over it,” he admits, recalling the impact of the It mini-series, which he and Ross watched far too young. While he critiques the adaptation itself as “not very good,” he emphasises the indelible impression it left on them. Matt notes that they were “in fourth grade or third grade,” clearly too young for the intensity of such horror content.
This early exposure to frightening media laid the groundwork for the brothers’ fascination with horror. The experiences illustrate a common phenomenon: the things that scare us as children can leave lasting creative and psychological imprints.
Ross Duffer recalls his own early encounters with cinematic terror. “We’re 10 or something, and we’re watching Evil Dead, which you don’t really see the humour in when you’re 10 years old,” he reflects. The experience underscored the dissonance between childlike innocence and the menacing worlds portrayed in classic horror films.
Movies like A Nightmare on Elm Street were particularly formative. Ross calls it “such a brilliant movie and such a brilliant concept.” The character of Freddy Krueger, capable of invading dreams, left a lasting impression that echoes through the series’ depiction of otherworldly dangers. In many ways, the interdimensional threats of Stranger Things reflect the childhood terror elicited by these films, where evil could lurk just out of sight and cross the boundary between ordinary life and nightmare.
Matt draws a direct connection to the show’s supernatural themes: “Now that I’m thinking about it, both It and Hellraiser are also about interdimensional beings. Maybe we’re just terrified of interdimensional beings, particularly if they can turn themselves into clowns.” This remark highlights how their childhood fears influenced the creation of monsters like the Demogorgon and Mind Flayer, blending relatable human experiences with fantastical horror.
As adults, the Duffer Brothers acknowledge that their sources of fear have shifted. Matt jokes, “Big parties and interviews like this are scarier to me now than clowns.” The statement reflects a transition from external, fantastical fears to more relatable, social anxieties—mirroring the maturation of their audience alongside the show’s characters.
This perspective underscores a core theme of Stranger Things: growing up is often as frightening as facing monsters from another dimension. The Duffer Brothers’ childhood experiences provide context for the series’ signature tension, balancing supernatural horror with emotional resonance and coming-of-age narratives.
By sharing their personal fears, Matt and Ross invite fans into the creative process, demonstrating how real-life experiences inform fictional worlds. Childhood horror becomes the lens through which Hawkins’ mysteries and monsters were conceived, ensuring that the series resonates on multiple levels—emotionally, nostalgically, and narratively.
With season five on the horizon, it’s likely that these formative influences will continue to be evident. Viewers can anticipate references to the kinds of fears that the Duffer Brothers experienced as children—interdimensional threats, dark forces lurking in ordinary spaces, and the unexpected intrusion of the fantastical into everyday life.
The acknowledgment of their own anxieties reminds fans that Stranger Things is built not only on nostalgia but also on the very real fears and experiences of its creators. Understanding these origins enriches the viewing experience, offering a deeper appreciation for how personal childhood horror shaped one of the most beloved and enduring series in modern television.
For those revisiting Hawkins, the monsters are scary, the tension is palpable, but knowing the real-life inspirations behind the show adds a layer of insight: this is horror born from memory, imagination, and the formative fears of two brothers who transformed their nightmares into a cultural phenomenon.
