Netflix takes over KL with the Upside Down in Strangers Things 4 promo

Netflix blurred the line between reality and fiction by bringing the Upside Down from Stranger Things to the heart of Kuala Lumpur. As part of the #BalikKeTerbalik experience, the dark forces from the Upside Down "threatened" to take over KL Tower and Kwai Chai Hong.

KL Tower served as a canvas for the Upside Down upon sundown with a projection show teasing scenes from the third and fourth seasons, before the Rift cracked open and unleashed the monstrosities that had been lying in wait in the Upside Down.

In addition to the projection shows, there were also photo opportunities on the lawn of KL Tower. At the foot of the tower, a Stranger Things 4 sign greeted fans with vibrant neon lights before they continued past the tower to a recreation of the mysterious Creel House, completed with true-to-series props and the house's ominous grandfather clock.

At the end of the Creel House, Vecna appeared — the monster of Season Four — alongside the Mind Flayer and the Demogorgon. The gateway to the Upside Down at KL Tower was open to the public from 27 to 29 May, with the projection show playing in 30-minute intervals between 8 pm and 12 am.

Meanwhile, just a few kilometres away was a mural installation at Kwai Chai Hong which has been sectioned into different "rooms" inspired by key moments from the past seasons. By nightfall, the Upside Down becomes apparent as the mirror dimension's monsters such as the Demogorgon, Mind Flayer and Vecna light up.

Created by Malacca-born artist Amir Andhar, the mural took over a month to complete and was developed in three stages to mimic scenes from the fourth season where a rift grows on the building and gradually spreads out from the Creel House clock.

Additionally, the usual lighting along the heritage alley of Kwai Chai Hong has been replaced by the Byers' iconic alphabet Christmas lights. This OOH activation runs until 12 June. 

Separately, Malaysians got to #BalikKeTerbalik and celebrate the Hari Raya festivities with Instagram Story stickers created by Penang-based illustrator Lyn-Hui Ong. In 2019, Ong was the only Malaysian illustrator handpicked among 18 artists around the world as part of Netflix’s #StrangerRewind project where artists were tasked with reimagining episodes from the first two seasons of Stranger Things in their own particular styles. The winning artwork Ong created was the Trick or Treat, Freak poster that was inspired by Episode 2 of Season 2.

Aside from the KL Tower, check out these other landmarks globally that served as a canvas for the Upside Down:

1. Empire State Building in New York City

2. Bondi Beach in Australia

3. Duomo Square in Milan

4. The Gateway of India in Mumbai

5. Wawel Castle in Krakow in Poland

6. Telefónica building, Gran Vía 28 in Madrid

Photo courtesy: Aquabumps

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