After a nearly three-year hiatus, "Stranger Things 4" came back better, longer, and most importantly, darker. This season, the Hawkins underdogs struggle with the horrors and complexities of depression, trauma, and isolation, which called for an equally complex and dark monster. Top achieve this, they turned to the series' senior concept illustrator, Michael Maher, Jr., who gave us all the nightmare fuel known as Vecna.
For most viewers, the dark wizard checks all the necessary boxes for a memorable monster. Vecna's entire body resembles an open wound with snaking vines that protrude from his back, which he uses to capture and choke his victims. A deep, soul-penetrating voice combined with an intimate knowledge of your deepest fears and regrets makes this a frightening creature, but he wasn't the most visually creepy monster in Maher's imagination.
On his Instagram, Maher shared alternative character designs for Vecna, and they are pure, unadulterated nightmare fuel. Check out the newly released concept art below!
Early Vecna Concepts
This early version of Vecna is based on a prehistoric fish and includes beady, yellow eyes, and spikes that Maher describes as an "armored Shell." Shockingly, the artist made no comment on that bloody crater of a mouth, which I'm sure will haunt my nightmares for weeks to come.
Michael Maher Jr.
On his website, Maher revealed this early version of Vecna "has a very direct Hellraiser influence to it." While the artist wandered off into Cenobite territory here, there are subtle hints at the finished character hidden in this design. Look closely at the individual features, if you can stomach it, and you can see a resemblance to the final Vecna in the scorched skin and absent nose.
Michael Maher Jr.
Another "Hellraiser"-inspired design, but the hand with skull crushing capable fingers is certainly familiar, and will appear in Maher's finished Vecna design. We also catch a glimpse of Vecna's glossy finish in this early concept art.
Michael Maher Jr.
I'm not sure where Maher was going with this one, but it looks more like a Creepypasta creation than an early Vecna. I saved this one for last, as it's less terrifying that the rest, so maybe it will act as some form of palate cleanser. If not, I did all I could.
Expressions Of A Monster
Some might find these earlier designs more frightening than the final character, but Vecna needed to be more than visually terrifying. As Maher explained on Instagram, the dark wizard "needed to be expressive," which the earlier designs wouldn't have allowed. Don't let these alternative designs fool you, the Vecna that made it on-screen continues to be a terrifying sight, but that alone does not make a monster.
The creepiest thing about Vecna is not only his looks, but his ability to directly interact with Eleven and her friends. Any of the creatures above could stalk and kill our beloved Hawkins brood, but the majority of the earlier concepts didn't allow for human expression. In the end, the final Vecna needed to be able to sneers, glare, and smile while torturing children. If you ask me, that's far more horrifying than a creepy face or blood covered mouth.
"Stranger Things" season 4 is currently streaming on Netflix.
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The post The Alternate Character Designs for Stranger Things 4's Vecna Are Even More Horrifying appeared first on /Film.