With ‘Stranger Things’ nearing its ultimate confrontation in the coming weeks, the minds behind the biggest supernatural hit are sounding the alarm, gently, but firmly. Duffer Brothers have now confirmed that season 5 contains the most violent death in the whole series, which immediately caused fans to fear the worst.
For a show already infamous for body horror, creature gore, and highly emotional losses, the threat of something even more brutal brings up one terrifying question: who is not making it out alive?
‘Stranger Things’ Taps Into Brutality As The Duffers Craft Their “Perfect Ending”
In an interview with The Times, Matt and Ross Duffer opened up about pushing boundaries, the scenes that Netflix had them cut in the past, and why they felt the necessity to make the final chapter extremely precise. They do not want shock value, but a resolution that is deserved, sincere, and memorable. “Season five is not as violent as season four,” they clarified. “But it has the most violent death of any season.”
Related: ‘Stranger Things’ Creators Explain Why Season 5 Must Be The End
And according to what they’re saying, ‘Stranger Things’ is about to leave with a bang and a heartbreak. The show has provided some of the most grisly on-screen scenes over the years. However, as the Duffer Brothers say, it is nothing compared to what is going to happen in season 5. They explained that season five is not as violent as season four, but it has the most violent death of any season.
This statement alone suffices to make the fans stand on their toes, yet the creators did not stop there. They disclosed that they have always attempted to keep the show from going too far into the graphic realm, and Netflix has even stepped in before they could make a decision. Ross shared a scene in season 3 that was edited out despite costing $40,000 to produce. Another deleted shot involved a bullet passing visibly through Benny Hammond’s head in season 1.
However, season 5 is going to push all the boundaries. The revelation comes at a time of massive transformation for the Duffers. The two have just inked a four-year contract with Paramount starting in April 2026, a significant change after years of being the crown jewel producers at Netflix. “Ross and I grew up watching movies in the theater,” Matt explained. “We wanted the chance to make a movie for the theater.”
Shawn Levy Says ‘Stranger Things’ Final Episode Is A Masterpiece
If the Duffer’s warnings weren’t enough, director and executive producer Shawn Levy has decided to pour gasoline on the emotional fire. Prior to the release of Season 5 Volume 1, Levy announced the series finale as a bona fide masterpiece. Not great, not strong, but a masterpiece. The last season of ‘Stranger Things‘ will be released in cinemas in the U.S. and Canada, a first in Netflix history. And Levy insists that it is not a marketing gimmick.
In case you missed it: Jonathan Byers Will Finally Get His Moment In ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5
“It’s the emotional gut punch of this season,” he explained. “There’s a reason it deserves to be in theaters.” As Levy explains, the Duffer Brothers always had the right place to start the story and to end it. This was further confirmed by the first five minutes of season 5, which depict a chilling flashback of Vecna finally getting hold of Will.
Levy has already watched the beginning and the end of the season, and he claims that the story is complete, poetic, and devastating in the best sense. “It is as beautiful a finale to any series I’ve ever seen,” he said. Since ‘Stranger Things‘ is a cultural juggernaut that generated Netflix more than 1 billion dollars in revenue, the expectations are high. Even Finn Wolfhard acknowledged that he was afraid that the show would fall into the ‘Game of Thrones’ trap. But the Duffers have landed, according to Levy.
