Stranger Things has frightened, thrilled, and entertained fans for three seasons. It is one of Netflix’s most-popular original shows, and its young stars, such as Gaten Matarazzo and Joe Keery, now frequently appear in commercials and interviews. The show’s slightly campy but also often spooky 1980s aesthetic is instantly recognizable.
Fans can cultivate that trademark aesthetic and live the Hawkins experience with the Polaroid Stranger Things OneStep. This cool, retro polaroid camera features upside-down lettering (get it?!), a powerful lens, and a high-octane flash mechanism. Monsters, beware!
You’ll feel like you’re back in the mid-1980s — or if you’re under 30 you’ll be experiencing that crazy decade for the first time. You may even feel like Eleven.
Capturing a memory Hawkins-style is a simple, step-by-step process. (Luckily, the instruction manual is not written upside down, unlike the lettering on the camera itself.) Just flip the little red power switch located on the right-hand side of the back. Next, load the film by opening the latch in the bottom-front to reveal the film door. Each Stranger Things polaroid film pack comes with eight special designs; there are 16 to collect in all. Designs include logos for the series’ hot locations, including the Hawkins Arcade, Scoops Ahoy Ice Cream Shop, and Hawkins High School.
After loading the film into the film-door, you’ll want to set the flash. The flash can be adjusted by using a simple plus/minus switch just below the lens barrel. For a heavenly bright photo, move the switch to “plus” For a brooding and haunted shot, move to “minus.”
Once you’re content with the lighting, you can snap your picture. The old-school viewfinder is located on the top right-hand side in the back, protruding from the barrel. Surprisingly, looking through the viewfinder is a lot of fun in a nostalgic way that is difficult to describe. It’s that old, awesome, fish-eyed elegance that has been lost on smartphone cameras. Simply hold down the circular shutter button beneath the flash to finally take a photo. Your snapshot will eject from the film latch. Remember to rest the polaroid picture face down while it develops to avoid impeding light.
The photos themselves look rad, ghostly, and nostalgic. The juxtaposition between light and shadows abound, offering up a sense of the mysterious unknown. It’s a perfect representation of Stranger Things, TBH!
Photos: Polaroid
