Netflix Releases VHS-Quality Version of 'Stranger Things' First Season
Netflix has launched a special 'VHS' edition of the first season of 'Stranger Things', designed to mimic the look and feel of watching a VHS tape.
Streaming service Netflix continues to capitalize on the popularity of 'Stranger Things' by releasing a VHS special edition of the show's first season. The version aims to recreate the viewing experience of the 1980s, complete with the visual imperfections of VHS tapes. According to the announcement, viewers can "Rewatch Season 1 like it's 1983."
The special edition features a 4:3 aspect ratio, matching old tube TVs, resulting in large black bars on the sides when viewed on modern screens. The picture has a grainy and soft blur quality, mimicking tape degradation. Additionally, the editors used the 'pan-and-scan' technique, which cuts off the sides of the original wide image and pans the camera to follow action that moves to the edges, a common method for fitting widescreen films into smaller TV screens.
Netflix's opening animation has also been retouched to appear outdated. However, the audio remains unchanged from the original version. The Duffer brothers, creators of the series, stated that if enough people watch this first season VHS edition, they "maybe" release similar edits for the other seasons.
To access the VHS version, viewers can go to the dedicated landing page or search for "Stranger Things VHS" on Netflix. It remains to be seen whether this nostalgia-driven experiment will attract viewers and lead to more such releases.
