Stranger Things, Netflixs new sci-fi horror series is made by and for our kind of people.

Its an ersatz kind of nostalgia.

Can you talk a little about that?

I was really shaped by movies that actually want to be moving and funny and transportive.

With Amblin, Steven [Spielbergs] instincts are so audience-oriented.

That might be a better way of putting it.

Amblin invested in the stakes of its stories and as a result, they were immersive rather than commentary.

Its interesting because, you know, that makes some sense for me because Im of a generation that…

I was the age of those boys inStranger Thingsin the early eighties.

The Duffers were not born until 1984.

Sickeningly young and talented!

It is their storytelling nourishment.

Real life but equally so, the movies of those times.

Thats what the Duffers grew up on.

Its interesting isnt it, how people can feel nostalgia for childhoods they didnt experience.

I grew up in the English countryside but I still feel nostalgic watchingE.T.

He producedReal Steeland the great thrill was to get inside his head.

This is the difference: theres no question there are nods but they are acknowledgements with gratitude.

Every poster that features in this series was hand-picked by the Duffers because its a movie that shaped them.

Its very much an affectionate tipping of the cap rather than a wink-y kind of self-aware thing.

More homage than pastiche?

Thats well-articulated, yes.

Lets put it this way, there was no calculation in it.

I was aware it would happen, but you know what, the Duffers are movie nerds.

Interesting that you slipped there and called it a movie instead of a TV show.

The Duffers have described it as a long-form movie I think.

Was that the approach?

We wanted ours to be similarly unified in the way that a movie is, with one director.

Thats the other thing.

We really did approach it from that point of view.

MyMuseumchits helped pay for the opportunities ofReal SteelandThis Is Where I Leave You.

I really viewed that as a tremendous opportunity.

It was set in the future but it feels like its the past, I know!

And youre working on theStarmanremake now.

Its not just you of course making choices like that.

Neil BlomkampsCHAPPIEhad a similarly 80s Short Circuit vibe to it, theres obviously the newGhostbusters.

I dont think you mean why are we seeing so much of it?

From a creative viewpoint.

Your question is more what is it creatively that is inspiring people to look back?

I really do think that there is a yearning for the pre-ironic.

The illusion of safety was more intact.

Lets talk about creature design.

OnReal Steel, you talked a lot about the importance of practical effects.

How was the design forStranger Things monster approached?

What were the touchstones there?

The brothers love horror in an organic, deep way that I do not!

[Laughs] They genuinely love horror.

So they wanted a monster that was humanoid but disgusting as shit.

As you will see, we did exactly that.

About those kids, your child cast is really strong.

It really paid off.

I imagine you had to induct your young actors into the period in the same way.

There was a lot of it.

We had to teach them certain songs.

Tell us about casting Winona Ryder.

It began with a four-hour cup of tea at a hotel between the Duffers, me and Winona.

So thats my answer on that!

AndStarmanis halfway through being written.

Its a movie I very much intend to make.

So its contemporary set?

Shawn Levy, thank you very much!

Stranger Things is out on Netflix today, Friday the 15thof July.