And finally one of the most recognizable sound-heavy instances in Stranger Things is the sound design of the monster. In order to not give away too much of the monster through the course of the eight episodes, visual coverage of it is initially rather rare and vague. Its strong and intimidating presence in the series comes through sounds that accompany the physical proximity of the monster. Whenever it is near one of the characters, lights start to flicker and eventually stop working altogether. This is accompanied by high-pitch sounds that are made up of a lot of different kinds of clicks, clatters, shaking, switches and scratches. Mixed in lower end frequencies add to the idea of electronic interferences caused by the monster's presence.

These sounds are highly stylized, exaggerated and over the top. They draw attention to themselves and pose the question what might cause these sounds. Sometimes a slight delay or asynchronicity between the image and the sound adds to the idea of supernatural forces being at work.

The sound of the monster itself is made up of a lot of growling, screams and screeches as vocalization and cracks to emphasize the limbs of the monster. One of the most recognizable features of the monster are seal cries and squeaks that are the foremost element of the monster's unique sound. In combination with the other elements, the vibrant, high-pitch seal-sounds create a threatening, primeval dimension to situations where the monster is lurking nearby the protagonists and preys upon its victims.

Sound of the Strange

There is a lot of detail in Stranger Things' sound design that helps to tell the story, draw you into the narrative and create a true audiovisual experience.

See and listen for yourself - the first 8 minutes of Stranger Things are free to watch on Youtube: