Jamie Campbell Bower Reveals What Inspired 'Vecna' In 'Stranger Things 5', 'Really Eerie As Well...'

Stranger Things Season 5 Volume II is finally out, and fans are on the edge of their seats as another countdown begins for the big finale. For the unversed, the finale of the much-loved series will be released on Netflix and in theaters on December 31, 2025. Amid that, our beloved 'Vecna'/'Henry'/'001' played by none other than the very gorgeous, Jamie Campbell Bower, has revealed how he shifts through all of 'Vecna's' different forms in a matter of seconds. 

'Vecna' haunts 'Max' and 'Holly' in Stranger Things' latest episodes

It began with Stranger Things Season 5 Volume II Episode 5: Shock Jock, where 'Max' and 'Holly' attempt to flee the 'mindscape' prison 'Vecna' has locked their consciences in. They believe that an exit could be hatched somewhere in their memories and go back to the moment where 'Vecna' first encountered 'Holly'. However, 'Vecna' finds them, and when his more docile 'Mr. Whatsit' disguise no longer affects 'Holly', he phase-shifts between that form and his original self as 'Henry Creel'. Then, as he begins walking down the stairs, his blood-splattered white lab uniform transforms again, revealing his current, more monstrous visage.

Jamie Campbell Bower recalls what inspired his shape-shifting in Stranger Things Season 5

While earlier Jamie drew inspiration from 'Dracula' and other gothic vampire imagery when creating his version of the character, he had more specific references for season 5, including one very unexpected influence: 'Fred Rogers' of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Talking to Entertainment Weekly in a candid conversation Jamie reflected on his character in the series and stated:

"I used The Shining, so the Kubrick-ian stare was obviously something I was very eager in utilizing, even in season 4. For season 4, I used Funny Games — the American remake, particularly the way that Brady [Corbet] and Michael [Pitt] hold themselves. You can see that I've...borrowed. Credit where credit's due."

In the same conversation, Jamie revealed that another character that influenced his role was from the 2020 horror film, Alone. He added how a woman trying to escape a bloodthirsty psychopath in the wilderness, as well as actor Van Johnson in 1957's The Pied Piper of Hamelin, acted as inspirations for 'Vecna' in season 5. He recalled going through his phone and finding videos of himself on set preparing for season 5's Shock Jock scene as he walks down the staircase, and stated:

"Mr. Rogers was a really interesting reference because that actually bled into music as well. I used Tom Hanks in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, but that score is really eerie as well, with some real moments of spook. There are videos of me, prior to getting there, practicing, trying things out, seeing what would work. I did it in two characters, but wanted to make sure that the body was in the same place and that the movement was correct so that when it's spliced together, it's not too wild."

Jamie Campbell Bowie reveals he would treat 'Vecna' as an entirely separate form

In the same conversation, Jamie reflected that he saw 'Vecna' as the manifestation of resentment, or a "vine around love". However, within all the forms was the idea of memory retention. He shared that he would ask himself questions about what led 'Henry' to become who he was on screen. He stated:

"I'd ask myself questions like, 'Of all the things that could exist, why recreate the house?' What does that mean to him? And what does home mean? And what was that experience like for him as a child, growing up in a place where home could have been safe but wasn't? And perhaps this is an opportunity for him to recreate that safety. If he sleeps, where does he sleep? Does he sleep in his old room? Does he sleep in the attic? Does he, in a really icky way, sleep in his parents' room?"

Jamie concluded by saying at the end of it, it was "Henry-ness of it", that, according to him, kept going "back to that innocence, to that child, and, I suppose, you could look at them as a development of a loss of innocence."  Volume II also features a scene that harkens back to the events of Stranger Things: The First Shadow, the prequel stage play that chronicles 'Henry's' arrival to 'Hawkins' and the events that transpired there then.

What are your thoughts on Jamie Campbell Bower's revelations? Let us know.

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