Stranger Things

A boy disappears in Hawkins, Indiana, and his friends begin searching. His mother and the local police chief pursue their own questions. A strange girl complicates the picture. That is enough to begin Stranger Things; the less you know about what follows, the better.

The Duffer brothers' series combines supernatural horror with a genuine affection for its characters. The 1980s setting gives the adventure a useful shape, from bicycles and walkie-talkies to the difficulty of reaching somebody at the moment you need them.

Winona Ryder, as Joyce Byers, and David Harbour, as Jim Hopper, give the story adult perspectives that matter beyond supervising the younger cast. The friendship at the centre remains its main appeal.

Netflix currently lists all five seasons. My review covers the first four: very enjoyable genre television, strongest when the scale leaves room for the people inside it. For other unsettling small communities and family mysteries, consider Dark and The Haunting of Hill House.