Stranger Things Season 4

TV Episodic | 1.3 Billion Hours viewership +
Forth Season | 8 Episodes
NETFLIX

Credits

Showrunners: The Duffer Brothers
VFX House: RodeoFX
VFX Supervisor: Martin Pelletier
Senior VFX Consultant: Jonathan Berube

Underworld Lake Bed: Concept Design for Stranger Things Season 4

Delving deeper into the eerie underworld of Hawkins, the Lake Bed environment explores the unsettling and distorted landscape of the Upside Down. The scene is a twisted reflection of the natural world, submerged in a haunting stillness. Jagged rocks pierce through the murky water, while strange, bioluminescent organisms glow faintly beneath the surface, casting an otherworldly light across the desolate expanse. The suffocating atmosphere, heavy with the weight of unknown horrors, mirrors the tension that grips the town above.

In creating the lighting for the Lake Bed environment, two distinct versions were developed to heighten the mood and atmosphere. The first version embraced a highly obscure lighting scheme, Shadows seemed to move on their own, and the murky fog swallowed most details, enhancing the disorienting and claustrophobic sensation for the viewer. This version was designed to evoke a sense of being utterly lost in a hostile, unknown world.

For the second version, the fog was removed slightly, allowing more visibility while maintaining the oppressive atmosphere of the Upside Down. While still foreboding, this version allowed for more detail to emerge, creating a contrast between the eerie calm and the lurking dangers beneath.