17 Key Cinematic Influences On Stranger Things

3) Only God Forgives

Getting into more recent times, could it be that Nicolas Winding Refn’s divisive revenge shocker Only God Forgives had some influence on the Duffers when they were making Stranger Things? The opening credits, consisting of actor credits and the title appearing in a blaring neon red, is spare and glowing in the light of a suspiciously Nic Refn-style primary color.

The Duffers have said the titles were inspired by Richard Greenberg, but the title design is almost an exact repeat of the Only God Forgives title work. There’s also the matter of the Stranger Things theme tune, which sounds remarkably like the ominous synth stylings of composer Cliff Martinez on Only God Forgives. John Carpenter has a heavy influence on the sound and look of Stranger Things as a whole, but this credit sequence uncannily follows Danish provocateur Refn’s lead.