The Stranger Things victory lap is about to continue with the premiere of Season 5, Volume 2, which drops this week. After nine years of the hit Netflix series, the Duffer Brothers' creation is nearing its big finale, leaving me wondering: What's next? Sure, there's a spinoff project in the works, but if you're anything like me, you're probably going to want to keep the Upside Down vibes going after the end credits roll.
Allow me to suggest a weird yet fun '80s kids' horror movie that actually premiered in the '80s. Like this season of Stranger Things, the film I'm referring to also takes place in 1987, has a similar title card aesthetic (that same red on black font) and if you go back and revisit Season 2, you'll even find an episode named after the flick.
It's called The Gate, and if you can get past the dated effects and cheesiness of some of the scenes, I'm here to say the 85-minute movie is the perfect companion to Netflix's global hit series. It's currently streaming for free on Tubi.
Read more: 44 of the Best Netflix Movies You Should Stream Now
Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
The Gate stars Stephen Dorff (yes, that Stephen Dorff) as a 12-year-old boy named Glen who, along with his heavy metal-loving, nerdy friend Terry, discovers a gateway to Hell in his backyard. The removal of a pesky tree opens the portal, and as soon as Glen's parents head out of town for the weekend, weirdness ensues.
Stephen Dorff and Louis Tripp star in 1987's The Gate. Alliance Entertainment Corporation.
Glen's sister Alexandra is left in charge, and, as with most '80s teen movies, she throws a party. What better way to pit a group of mismatched teens against a demonic force with no parental intervention in sight!
The kids end up banding together into a crew of unlikely heroes, ready to fend off the forces of the underworld. Sound familiar?
The Gate was one of those movies from my childhood that felt like a spookier version of Poltergeist, thanks to the ethereal behind-the-camera work by genre director Tibor Takács (anyone remember I, Madman?). There's a soft, smoky feel to the movie's production quality that makes it easier to accept its crazy premise. These kids are living in a nightmare, and demons are knocking at the door.
... continue reading