Mise-en-scène

Hey Guys! Today, I decided to review mise-en-scène for "Stranger Things", a show where a group of young friends witness supernatural events and discover government secrets.  Mise-en-scène is a French word that means "setting the stage." Mise-en-scène is everything that you see in a film or a tv show. The main elements of mise-en-scène are costume, location, setting, scenery, props, lighting, actors, and framing.

Actors 

The show centers on four young boys who look and act like typical 1980s kids. Noah Schnapp plays Will Byers, the boy who disappears in the first episode. Finn Wolfhard plays Mike Wheeler, the leader of the friend group. Gaten Matarazzo plays Dustin Henderson, who has a funny personality. Caleb McLaughlin plays Lucas Sinclair, who is practical and cautious. Lastly, Millie Bobby Brown plays Eleven, a mysterious girl with supernatural powers. 

There are also other characters that are important in the show, such as Winona Ryder, who plays Joyce, a working-class single mother, and David Harbour, who plays Chief Hopper, a tired, messy cop who slowly becomes more caring.

Costume  

The clothing in this show perfectly captures the everyday look of a 1980s small town in America. The kids wear practical, often worn-looking clothes with basic patterns. They have puffy jackets, stripped t-shirts, and jeans that look like hand-me-downs. Nancy (far right, wearing a purple dress) and Steve follow 1980s fashion with wool sweaters, collared shirts, and high-waisted jeans. Meanwhile, Eleven wears Mike's old clothes because she escaped from a lab. Everyone in the show wears authentic 80s pieces that feel natural rather than costume-like. 

Location 

The show takes place in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, creating a perfect small-town American setting. The location feels authentic and lived-in, not like movie sets. The woods surrounding Hawkins are dense and creepy. The middle school has class 1980s features - beige brick walls, basic hallways with metal lockers, and a plain gymnasium. Some of the houses in Hawkins are small and cluttered, with worn furniture and basic decorations. Additionally, there are some two-story homes that represent the middle class with their neat rooms and finished basements. The Hawkins government lab is big and gray, making it feel unwelcoming and secretive. 

Lighting and Framing 

The show uses lighting and framing to create two distinct worlds. In the normal world, homes are lit with warm yellow lamps and natural sunlight that create a cozy, safe feeling. In the school, scenes use bright fluorescent lighting typical of the 1980s. When supernatural elements appear, the lighting shifts dramatically to cold blue and gray. The Upside Down (other world) is always dim and murky, with floating particles visible, which creates an eerie atmosphere. The camera changes with the mood, steady and straight for normal scenes, but becomes shaky and tiled during tense moments. In scary scenes, the camera often uses Dutch angles and quick cuts to create unease. There are also close-ups of the character's faces that show their emotions. 

Setting and Props  

The show is full of 1980s items that feel real, not fake. The kids use walkie-talkies, ride bikes, and play Dungeons & Dragons with detailed game pieces. The homes have old TVs, rotary phones, and wood paneling on the walls. Christmas lights become important when Joyce (Will's mom) uses them to talk to Will. Hawkins Lab contains computers with green screens, old medical equipment, and security cameras that look dated. In the Upside Down, everything normal becomes covered in dark vines and sticky goo, making familiar places feel alien and dangerous. Cars are all accurate to the period, from Hopper's police car to Jonathan's beat-up Ford. Even small details like food packaging, newspapers, and school supplies match the 1980s perfectly.