Stranger Things' Caleb McLaughlin Lost His Voice Filming Max's Death Scene
Topics: Stranger Things
Jess Hardiman
Featured Image Credit: Netflix
Topics: Stranger Things
No doubt the emotional storylines of Stranger Things season four were a tough gig for all the show’s younger cast, but it turns out that one person lost their voice after filming a particularly harrowing scene after it ‘took a lot’ out of them.
Indeed, the fourth instalment has proven to be something of a darker ride for fans, who, at one point, had to watch Max (Sadie Sink) die in the arms of Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin). Thankfully, Eleven was able to use her powers to bring her back to life – though only just, as she is stuck in a coma.
Of course, before Max was resurrected, actors Sink and McLaughlin still had to shoot her death scene, which came as a bit of a surprise on the day.
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Speaking to Vanity Fair, McLaughlin said: "I got on set that day not knowing I was doing that scene," he said. "I was like, ‘Oh, we’re doing that scene today?’ They [the Duffers] were like, 'Yeah, so you better be ready.'"
He continued: "It actually worked out better that way, because if [it was] next week or tomorrow, I’m going to overthink it. If you tell me we’re about to do it, I’m like, 'Okay, cool. Just give me 30 [minutes] to an hour to mentally prepare', and I’m good."
The pair didn’t even rehearse their scene, and instead jumped straight into it, with McLaughlin saying his co-star ‘did a great job of helping’ him get through it.
"I’m crying and there are snot and tears falling into [Sadie's] eyes and her mouth, and I’m like, ‘Sorry for that!’” he recalled.
"She’s like, ‘No, you’re fine. You’re acting.’"
Filming the heartbreaking sequence was, inevitably, draining, with McLaughlin saying he had to ‘lay down on the floor’ for 20-30 seconds just to get his energy back after filming finished, as all he’d been doing was crying.
He said: "I lost my voice that week. It definitely took a lot out of me."
The hard work seems to have paid off, as the pair managed to create one of the finale’s most poignant scenes.
In fact, one part was even improvised by McLaughlin, who had thrown in a line as his character sobbed over his friend’s dead body.
Confirming the detail on Twitter, the Stranger Things writers wrote: "'Erica, help' was improvised by Caleb.”
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