Hawkins Tunnel System

The **Hawkins tunnel system** was an organism that grew out from the Upside Down, via the Mothergate at Hawkins Lab. It took the form of a series of tunnels, sprawling beneath the outskirts of Hawkins.

## History

### 1983

In November 1983, an interdimensional gateway was opened at Hawkins National Laboratory. As a result, an alien biological growth originating from the mysterious Upside Down began to spread through and consume the lower levels of the lab.

### 1984

By October 1984, a series of interconnected tunnels had formed as a result of the Upside Down's intrusion. The tunnels stemmed from the Gate before branching out and spreading under the outskirts of Hawkins.

After being possessed by the Mind Flayer, Will began experiencing what he called “now-memories”, where he could see and know what the Mind Flayer could. Will began drawing these visions in order to better understand them. At first, they appeared to be random scribbles, but after being assembled in the correct order, they depicted a strange maze-like pattern. Believing the drawing depicted vines, Hopper left, heading to Merrill's pumpkin patch.

After digging into the pumpkin patch's soil, Hopper descended into a subterranean tunnel overgrown with vines and biological material originating from the Upside Down. As he was exploring, he encountered a strange growth that sprayed a cluster of spores in his face, causing him to lose consciousness.

The next morning, Will informed Joyce that Hopper was in trouble after seeing him through his connection with the Mind Flayer. While they were able to figure out where Hopper was in Will's drawings, they did not know the actual location. Just then, Bob arrived, and because of his talent in solving puzzles, Joyce enlisted his help. Bob realized that the drawings were a map of Hawkins, and was able to pinpoint Hopper's location.

When Hopper awoke, he vomited a dark substance. Realizing he was trapped, Hopper continued through the tunnels looking for a way out. He eventually came to a point where several of the tunnels intersected, filled with several animal carcasses. Discovering that the vines were vulnerable to fire, he fashioned a makeshift torch out of a piece of an animal carcass and one of his sleeves. As he futilely tried to dig a way out, he was overcome by exhaustion and stopped to rest. He was then ensnared in a mass of vines. Eventually, he was found by Joyce and Bob. After Hopper was freed, soldiers from the lab arrived and urged them to leave shortly before burning the tunnels. Suddenly, Will, who was waiting above ground with Mike, collapsed and began convulsing on the ground.

Will was taken to Hawkins Lab were it was discovered he had some sort of “virus” that connected him to all other infected hosts in a hive intelligence. Back in the infirmary, Will claimed he knew of a way they could possibly stop the shadow monster. Using images that the lab personnel had taken of the map, Will directed the scientists to a large area in the tunnel system, stating “he doesn't want me to see there.”

As soldiers traversed the tunnels, Will revealed that the Mind Flayer made him deceive the soldiers. Realizing it was a trap, Mike tried to warn the scientists, but it was too late; the soldiers were ambushed and killed by a pack of Demodogs.

In order to provide a distraction so Eleven and Hopper could safely reach the Gate, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Max, and Steve went into the tunnels to burn them. Making their way to the hub, they doused the entire area in gasoline and set it ablaze. On their way out of the tunnels, the group encountered Dart. Recognizing Dustin, Dart did not attack and was easily distracted by Dustin giving it another Three Musketeers bar, allowing the group to escape.

When the Gate was closed, the psychic link to the Mind Flayer was interrupted. This instantly killed the Demodogs, the tunnels, and all the organic matter within the tunnels.

## Description

### The Hub

A notable area of the tunnels was a connection point where various pathways intersected. Mike and Steve referred to the area as a "hub". According to the then-possessed Will, the Mind Flayer considered the hub to be "important," but this was a trick; the Mind Flayer forced Will to lie so Hawkins Lab would send their soldiers there. The Mind Flayer then sent the Demodogs to attack the soldiers, as revenge for burning the tunnels.

As Chief Hopper remarked, the hub appeared to be a "graveyard" of sorts; dead and decomposing bodies of animals were strewn across the floor. The hub also appeared to contain piles of shedded Demogorgon skin.

### Spore-sprays

The Mind Flayer had control over one or more strange, flower-like orifices embedded in the tunnel walls, which could disperse spores into the air; these spores could be released in the form of mist, or as highly concentrated pockets of gas.

A team of Rift soldiers headed to the hub, only to find themselves blinded by mist released by the spore-sprays, before being violently savaged by the Demodogs. On two other occasions, both Hopper and Dustin fell victim to the toxic spores released by the spore clusters.

### Vines

One of the biological outgrowths of the Upside Down was a series of sensitive vines that concealed the entrance to the tunnels.

When Jim Hopper was attempting to dig out a way from the tunnels, the vines prevented him from doing so and instead entangled him up. These vines also displayed extreme vulnerability to fire, as seen when ignited by the soldiers, and later the kids.

## Geography

After the Mind Flayer latched onto Will Byers, Will struggled to put his feelings and thoughts into words as the entity slowly took possession of him. Joyce encouraged Will to draw out his thoughts rather than speaking. Will then created a series of drawings, that when assembled in the correct way, revealed a map of the underground tunnels. Bob Newby was the first to realize the nature of the drawings, figuring out that many of the negative spaces between the lines represented bodies of water. Bob identified the following water-based locations in Hawkins:

* Lover's Lake
* Lake Jordan
* Sattler Quarry
* The Eno River

The map was originally assembled somewhat haphazardly across the walls and floor of the Byers house. Hawkins Lab later photographed the map and made a composite image.

Will's mapThe lab's tracing of the map

## Known visitors

* Joyce Byers
* Steve Harrington
* Jim Hopper
* Dustin Henderson
* Max Mayfield
* Bob Newby
* Sam Owens
* Lucas Sinclair
* Mike Wheeler
* Hawkins Lab soldiers

## Behind the scenes

Instead of creating the tunnels via visual effects and green-screen, production designer Chris Trujillo and the art department crafted sets on a soundstage. This was done to provide the actors real environments they could inhabit and react to. Approximately 80,000 square feet of tunnels were constructed, using a series of six to fourteen feet-diameter wooden ring sets. They layered three pounds of foam throughout the entire interior surface to give it a more organic structure.

Since there was nowhere to place a light so far underground, cinematographer Tim Ives decided to use a back light. He noted how the actors "would actually light themselves with their flashlights"; since some of Trujillo's ring sets were covered in reflective chicken wire, the lights would sometimes hit the wire and bounce back, illuminating the actors. He also told the actors to shine their torches on any bit of white they could see on the walls or floor, so the camera would pick them up in the dark surroundings.

The VFX team designed effects for all the tunnels' flora with third party vendors and layered them over the filmed scenes.

## Gallery

Hopper in the tunnels.Lab entrances.Dart at the tunnels.Concept art by Michael Maher, Jr.Concept art by Michael Maher, Jr.Concept art by Michael Maher, Jr.Concept art by Michael Maher, Jr.Concept art by Michael Maher, Jr.
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 In an interview with TV Guide, Paul Graff, a member of the VFX team, described the tunnels as such: "The tunnels are in the real world but they're basically an organism by itself. They aren't made out of earth, they have a skinny exterior because it's literally like a creature itself."
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Dig Dug"
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "The Gate"
4. ↑ "Will the Wise"
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "The Spy"
6. ↑ "Stranger Things: Spotlight | The Look | Netflix" The *Stranger Things* YouTube channel. Uploaded June 22, 2018.
7. ↑ "‘Stranger Things’: Hawkins Gets More Colorful and the Upside Down Grows Darker in Season Two" *IndieWire*. July 25,2018 .
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 The VFX Wizardry Behind Stranger Things 2 (NAB Show 2018) | Adobe Creative Cloud The "Adobe Creative Cloud" YouTube channel. April 19, 2018.