Stranger Things Cast Warns That Season 4 Is Too “Disturbing” for Young Viewers: Everything We Know

The stars of Stranger Things are scaring us about season four—but in the best way possible. See what the cast told E! News about horror that's lurking ahead.

By Daniel Trainor May 19, 2022 2:45 AMTags
Watch: Stranger Things Season 4: "Kids Will Have Nightmares"

It sounds like the Upside Down was the least of our worries.

In anticipation of the Stranger Things season four premiere on May 27, the stars of the Netflix sci-fi hit told E! News that viewers—especially young ones!—have no idea what awaits them. 

"I thought they'd have to tone it down," Joseph Quinn, who plays Eddie, told E! News. "I didn't think they would commit to how gruesome it was on the page. But clearly they don't care about young kids at all."

Won't they think of the children?! Or, you know, adults who get easily scared?!

"Kids will be scared. Kids will have nightmares," Joe Keery, who plays Steve, agreed. "If I was a kid and I watching this, it would be disturbing."

Alright, now we're just terrified. And we thought finding Barb's body in season was scary!

Caleb McLaughlin, who has been around since the beginning as Lucas, echoed the sentiment. "When I watched this season, I was like ‘Wow, I don't think I would want my nephew to watch this,'" Caleb said. "It's very gory. It's a lot. It's really intense. We really took it up a notch."

We're happy to hear that Caleb is a stand-up uncle, but it's not calming our nerves!

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Stranger Things: Season 4 Photos

Charlie Heaton, who plays Jonathan, told us that he's ready for parents to complain that "my kids couldn't sleep for weeks" after watching season four. 

When it comes to specifics about what exactly makes the season so frightening, Maya Hawke, who plays Robin, said "the bone breaking is really not my favorite thing to watch."

We need to sit down.

Netflix

The first episodes of Stranger Things season four arrive on Netflix May 27, with the final episodes of the season dropping on July 1.

For more on what we know about season four, keep reading:

Heading Out of Hawkins

Stranger Things was renewed for season four in September 2019. And, thanks to a captivating teaser on Twitter, it was clear that the new season would venture outside the Indiana town. The caption read: "we're not in hawkins anymore."

You've Got...Stranger Things

All the way back in October 2019, the Stranger Things writers' Twitter account introduced Video Store Fridays, a list of movies which, according to the post, "relate in some way or another to season four."

The first films listed? The Peanut Butter Solution, The Fisher King, Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, You've Got Mail and Ordinary People.

The writers kept this up for about six months, listing everything from Hellraiser 2 to Billy Madison and more.

Episode One

In November 2019, it was teased that the first episode of season four is titled, "Chapter One: the Hellfire Club." What exactly is the Hellfire club? We have some theories, but we guess we'll have to wait and see.

Hopper's Fate Revealed

For those who may need a refresher, it was unclear at the end of Stranger Things season three whether David Harbour's character Jim Hopper was still alive. By February 2020, Netflix released a teaser that showed a bald Hopper imprisoned in Russia.

An "Epic" Season Awaits

On what fans can expect from season four, David Harbour told Deadline that "it's very epic and very big in a Stranger Things way." The leading man teased monsters, horror, scares and "great Indiana Jones-type action."

Additionally, fans can expect more of Hopper's backstory.

An Expanding Ensemble Cast

Just when we thought the Stranger Things cast couldn't get more impressive, Netflix announced eight additional cast members in November 2020, including Eduardo Franco, Jamie Campbell Bower, Sherman Augustus, Mason Dye, Joseph Quinn, Tom Wlaschiha, Nikola Djuricko and Freddy Krueger himself, Robert Englund.

Eleven's Origin Story

In May 2021, a new teaser indicated that the origin story of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) will be explored more. At the start of the clip, a number of youngsters with closely cropped hair are seen playing with educational toys. Later, Dr. Martin Brenner, a.k.a. "Papa" (Matthew Modine), appears to be seen from the back as he walks in and says in a voiceover, "Good morning, children."

As Brenner continues to interact with the children, heavy breathing is heard as a camera pans to a door with an 11 on it. The clip comes to an end with the ominous doctor asking, "Eleven, are you listening?"

The New Faces of Hawkins High

Four new faces joined the Stranger Things cast in June 2021, including Amybeth McNulty as Vickie, a cool, fast-talking band nerd; Myles Truitt as Patrick, a basketball star at Hawkins; Grace Van Dien as another popular student, named Chrissy; and Regina Ting Chen as Ms. Kelly, a popular guidance counselor who cares deeply for her students.

A 2022 Return

In August 2021, Netflix teased what's to come for the new season, including its return year. "See y'all in the upside down," Netflix noted in an Instagram caption. "Stranger Things returns in 2022."

It was later announced that the season would be broken up into two volumes, with the first premiering on May 27.

Welcome to Creel House

In a teaser from Sept. 2021, a new spooky locale was introduced: Creel House. The footage indicated that the seemingly haunted home has a dark connection to the Upside Down, and that Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Steve (Joe Keery), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and more are on the case.

Spring Break from Hell

On Stranger Things Day in 2021, Netflix revealed that Stranger Things season four will follow Eleven and the Byers family in their new town in California. Before fans of Eleven and Mike panic, it seems the couple will reunite over spring break. In typical Stranger Things fashion, the trip promises plenty of chaos.

Into the Unknown

Fans got a closer look at the haunted Creel House in one of the new posters.

New Beginnings

Judging by this poster, maybe the west coast isn't the best coast after all.

The Lab

Take a closer look at the lab where Eleven was created.

Comrades

Season four takes viewers to Russia, meaning viewers may get answers about the origins of the Upside Down and other burning questions. This also might be where Hopper has been held after he sacrificed himself.

The End

The Duffer Brothers confirmed season five will be Stranger Things' last in the above letter. "Seven years ago, we planned out the complete story arc for Stranger Things," they wrote in part. "At the time, we predicted the story would last four to five seasons. It proved too large to tell in four, but—as you'll soon see for yourselves—we are now hurtling toward our finale."

That being said, a billboard promoting season four also teased that "every ending has a beginning," so maybe there's a spinoff in the works.

Vecna

Vecna, named after a Dungeons & Dragons character, is the ominous villain in season four. In the season's trailer, Vecna says "you've broken everything, your suffering is almost at an end."

The monster is made even more frightening due to the fact that Eleven is powerless to help.

"Part of the drive and tension of this season is that we have this big new evil emerge in Hawkins, and for the first time ever, Eleven is not there," co-creator Ross Duffer told Entertainment Weekly. "Not only is she separated by distance, but at the end of season three, she's lost her powers. So even when she learns about what has happened in Hawkins, she is unable to help them in the same way she has before."

Vecna also comes with his own army of deadly bats. Yes, deadly bats. 

You've been warned.

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