S3 | Ep. 3: Behind the Upside Down with Stranger Things’ Makeup Department Heads, Devin Morales and Amy L. Forsythe
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Summary
Stranger Things is one of the most iconic shows in Netflix history, largely due to the creative brain power behind bringing each character’s look to life. Stranger Things’ Emmy Nominated Makeup Department Heads Devin Morales and Amy L. Forsythe talk about testing out different looks, from creating the perfect blue eye shadow to red nosebleeds, and staying true to the decade’s trends. Plus, they take us behind their experience filming overseas during the pandemic, interacting with fans who recreate character looks, and a special brand partnership with MAC Cosmetics. By the way- This Episode is best viewed on the YouTube Channel so make sure you head to youtube.com/lookbehindthelook so you can see all the BTS images from Amy and Devin’s Instagram.
Deeper Look
The 4th season of Stranger Things is one of the most popular TV events of this year, but many of the looks from the season were inspired by some of the most iconic looks from 1980’s film and TV characters. From Freddy Kruger’s metal nails, to Carrie’s pig’s blood, let’s dig deeper into some of the most iconically chillin villian looks of history
Victor Creel and Freddy Kruger of Nightmare on Elm Street
If Nancy and Robin’s chilling visit to Victor Creel in the mental asylum gave you déjà vu, you’re not alone. The actor who played Victor, Robert Englund, also starred as the famous dream-walking serial killer Freddy Kruger in Nightmare on Elm Street. While the asylum scene also had a strong nod toward 1991’s Silence of the Lambs, the close-up shot of Creel scratching his fingernails on his cell’s desk is a direct call-back to Kruger’s razor-sharp finger blades.
In a recent interview with Deadline, Stranger Things Co-Creator Matt Duffer revealed, “It was basically a fan boy dynamic but what was weird about the Robert Englund thing is, it was not our idea. It was not our casting director’s idea. He self-submitted a tape for this role, and he did this…I think we watched around a dozen tapes. And suddenly, on audition number seven it’s Robert, sitting in the bathtub delivering his monologue. I immediately called our casting director Carmen and was like it’s Robert Englund. It’s Freddy Kreuger.”
Beyond the clear comparison between Vecna’s powers and Freddy Kruger, from his disfigured face and mind control powers, a cut-out of Freddy Kruger is also displayed in the video rental store where Steven and Robin work!
Eleven and Carrie of Carrie
Technically, Carrie is not an 80’s movie, but difficult to separate from the Stephen King stories that were immensely popular during this decade! Carrie and Eleven have similar bullying arcs, swapping pig’s blood for a chocolate milkshake in this adaptation, that lead to each character reaching a breaking point and lashing out on their tormentive peers. In another nod to Carrie, Max’s dance flashback visions are a direct callback to Carrie’s infamous prom night scene.
In a video interview with Wired in 2019, the Duffer Brothers acknowledged the comparison. “Of course, you have a high school girl who has these amazing powers and these amazing abilities, and we always looked at how King dealt with that when we’ve talked about Eleven. This idea that she has these amazing abilities, but is she ultimately dangerous?”
Since many of the inspirations behind the Stranger Things’ characters styles hold heavy parallels to their character arcs, it’s no surprise that fascinating fan theories have emerged about how this parallel will continue next season for Eleven, as foreshadowed by Carrie.
Eddie Munson and Michael Myers of Halloween
One of the most iconic and recognizable movie looks from the 1980’s was the terrifying mask donned by the antagonist in the classic slasher franchise. After Eddie is suspected of being behind Chrissy’s gruesome murder, he dons Michael Myers mask while scurrying through the trailer park. While it was a small, visual gag that didn’t add to the plot, it was a nod to one of the most disturbing and memorable looks of the decade. Similarly to Carrie, the inspiration of the character’s physical appearance is also a strong foreshadow to the plot — Eddie is viewed at the end of season 4 as a Satanic murderer who terorrized a once-safe and small town of Hawkins, Indiana.
Stranger Things has it all, horror, comedy, love stories, and a whole lot of nostalgia. The 5th season of Stranger Things reportedly won’t be released until 2024, but there will be many episodes of Look Behind The Look between now and then — so stay tuned and subscribe!