Duffer Brothers’ Lost Horror Short Ties Back to Stranger Things
A forgotten 2007 horror short by the Duffer brothers has reappeared online, sparking talk about its curious link to the Stranger Things finale.
Just a fortnight after the much-anticipated Stranger Things season 5 finale dropped on Netflix, a lesser-known horror short from the Duffer brothers’ early days has popped up online, and fans are buzzing about its odd connection to the hit series. Back in 2007, Matt and Ross Duffer, then students at California’s Dodge College, wrote and directed a short film called Eater. Released a full decade before their big break with Stranger Things, the 18-minute flick is now making the rounds again, thanks to a recent promo from Bloody Disgusting. Punters can catch it for free on YouTube.
Eater, based on a short story by Peter Crowther, centres on a rookie cop working the night shift at a police station. Things take a turn when a deranged cannibal prisoner takes over. Emanuel Borria stars as the young officer, and interestingly, he later reunited with the Duffers for Stranger Things season 5, appearing as Sergeant Luis Ramirez in three episodes.
Old Faces, New Connections
Borria’s return isn’t the only thread linking Eater to the world of Hawkins. The horror short seems to get a cheeky nod in the Stranger Things series finale. In the epilogue, Steve, Jonathan, Nancy, and Robin are perched on the roof of the radio tower. Jonathan Byers (played by Charlie Heaton) tells his mates he’s off to study filmmaking at New York University and is working on an “anti-capitalist cannibal movie” called The Consumer. It’s a clear wink to the Duffers’ earlier work, since Eater and The Consumer are pretty much synonyms.
Fans have been quick to spot the reference, with some taking the mickey out of Jonathan’s film ambitions and wondering if he ever finished the project. The Duffers seem to enjoy weaving these little Easter eggs into their stories, and there’s talk they might blend more of their past work into future projects.
Fan Theories and Future Hints
The resurfacing of Eater has sparked plenty of speculation among the Stranger Things community. Some reckon the Duffers are building a sort of shared universe, while others just enjoy the in-jokes and callbacks. Either way, the connection between the old short and the new series finale has given fans heaps to chat about online.
For those keen to dig deeper, there’s plenty of chatter about the Stranger Things season 5 finale, including reviews and breakdowns of the ending. Whether or not the Duffers will keep referencing their early work remains to be seen, but for now, Eater’s comeback has added another layer to the Stranger Things story.