Inside the dark and horror filled set of Stranger Things final season: ‘We did disgusting research into internal organs’

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Vecna in the Pain Tree. (Photo: YouTube/Stranger Things)

The Pain Tree sculpture without visual effects. (Photo: YouTube/Architectural Digest)

Talking about the design, Chris Trujillo said, “This is one of the most unique sets we have ever made, and also the most epically gross. All of this is an enormous foam sculpture with a metal infrastructure. What we have done is physically realise the concept art of Michael Maher, who is our Head Concept Designer. We took all of our cues from organic matter, and we did a deep dive and disgusting research into internal organs, flayed bodies, you name it.”

He showcased the tear-away membrane as well, which is made from a specialised silicone, making it hard enough to seem real when the characters tear through it. Chris revealed that they made real-size dummies for all the kids who were abducted by Vecna so that they could use them in the Pain Tree without using the child actors.

The dummy of an abducted child sealed inside the Silicone membrane. (Photo: YouTube/Architectural Digest)

Chris then moved on to the iconic radio station featured in the series, where Robin and Steve work. He explained that he always wanted to showcase the golden age of radio through his decor decisions, and that’s why they rebuilt everything just like it would have been in the olden days. “I presented the Duffer brothers, as I always do when designing a new set, a very lengthy look book, which showed them all of my ideas. In that look book, one of the pictures they responded to was a picture of the exterior of an old radio station, and it was part of the inspiration for writing the set into the script.”

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Things like copper fitting into the floor, for grounding, were also added to the set in order to really grasp the true nature of classic radio stations. Chris also displayed the “miles and miles of vines” that they had created for the Hawkins Lab Basement. He invited the viewers into a room filled with the vines and explained that when paired with visual effects and the proper lighting, all of it makes for a very special shot.

The Hawkins Lab Basement. (Photo: Netflix)

The miles of vines used for the Hawkins Lab Basement. (Photo: YouTube/Architectural Digest)

Chris Trujillo also took the viewers through the iconic Maz-Z battle scene. That was the first sequence from the final season that took everyone’s interest right to the peak, as that is the scene where Will realises that he too has powers. He explained how they built the set to mimic a town square and how his days in New York played a part in the design.

In a separate video posted on the Stranger Things YouTube account, actor Noah Schnapps, who plays Will Byers, took the fans through the entire set of Mac-Z and showed them various important points and features about the set while explaining what scene was shot where.

Will Byers during the Mac-Z battle. (Photo: YouTube/Stranger Things)

(Photo: YouTube/Architectural Digest)

The rift from which Vecna enters Hawkins. (Photo: YouTube/Stranger Things)

Created by Matt and Ross Duffer, the cast of Stranger Things includes Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Noah Schnapp, Joe Keery and Sadie Sink.