“Stranger Things” Cast Used A Funny Prop Instead of an Actual Mind-Flayer While Filming

Allie Gemmill
Let’s just say it was a lot less scary.

It's only been a few weeks since Stranger Things dropped on Netflix, but visions of season 3 villain the Mind-Flayer still loom large. The Mind-Flayer was arguably one of the most terrifying monsters introduced in the show and, even worse, was fairly gruesome to look at. Considering just how gross it looked in season 3, we had to ask: Did the cast of Stranger Things have to act opposite a similarly scary stand-in person or object in order to make a convincing performance?

Well, wonder no more because Netflix has answered that question with a surprising social media post. On Thursday, Netflix posted to their Instagram a side-by-side shot of what the Mind-Flayer looks like for real and what it looked like in the show. Turns out, the actual Mind-Flayer is a guy in an Elmo-level red bodysuit and a shiny, silver helmet that would put Spider-Man: Far From Home* villain Mysterio's to shame.

If this photo proves anything, it's that the entire cast of Stranger Things are incredible actors. I don't know about you, but being able to act like you're encountering the grossest, most terrifying otherworldly creature when it's actually just a dude with a little five o'clock shadow and a shiny helmet can't be easy. The Stranger Things actors deserve all the rewards for the performances they gave when "battling" or "encountering" the Mind-Flayer at any point during the show.

Of course, they might not be battling the Mind-Flayer in season 4 (if season 4 ends up happening, that is). The Mind-Flayer was killed off during the final battle at the Starcourt Mall in Hawkins as Joyce and Hopper closed the gate to the Upside Down. This caused the Mind-Flayer to die since its connection to its home world was cut off. If the Mind-Flayer doesn't return, it looks like this actor will need to be re-purposed into another role. Could he portray the next big bad on Stranger Things? We'll have to wait and see.

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Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue