Netflix 'Stranger Things' Season 4: When Kate Bush's 'Running up That Hill' saved Max
Sadie Sink's Max came inches close to dying after Vecna decided to choose her as one of his victims in 'Stranger Things' Season 4. The Netflix blockbuster teased a massive major character death, only for a surprise savior — Kate Bush. Music has always been a vital cog in the success of the 80s horror drama, and the new season further cements the fact by making some songs of the era crucial to the storyline. Vecna is introduced as the big baddie in the fourth installment who preys on people suffering from a traumatic past.
While he initially claims victims, Max is saved miraculously when the Hawkins gang figure that music therapy helps in breaking free from his clutches. In episode 4, Max is at the end of her tether when he sees visions that Vecna induces before killing the victims. He picks her as one of the victims after she was shown to be haunted by the death of her step-brother Billy (Dacre Montgomery). She's inches away from her death when Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) plays one of the tracks that Max listens to — 'Running Up That Hill' by Kate Bush to wake her up from the trance she's in.
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The sequence is heartening as it snaps back to reality when she runs and breaks free of Vecna's clutches, and all the while Bush's scintillating soundtrack plays in the background. It also helped that Bush was a fan of the show and agreed to the use of the song. Talking to Elle, 'Stranger Things' music supervisor Nora Felder explained the reason behind the song being picked. “At the start of this season 4, Max seems to be trying to manage her extremely complex feelings of emotional estrangement from her friends, meshed with the devastating loss of her brother Billy. ‘Running Up That Hill’ is very deeply connected to Max and ultimately serves as her emotional touchstone and source of strength,” she said
Felder also said the research to pick the right song was exhaustive. “A lot of brainstorming went on as this song [selection] really had to be something unique and special serving as such an integral part of the story,” she explained. “When I was running through varied ideas to present, as is part of the process, I remember getting instantly excited. ‘Running Up That Hill’ popped in my head. It is such an inspiring and soulfully centered song which seemed like something Max could really identify with.
"The song also has a great musical build which was also a key element Matt and Ross [Duffer, the Stranger Things creators] wanted. I was really quite pleased that it resonated with the Duffer Brothers. We were all thrilled that Kate Bush was a fan of the show and allowed the use of the song." With Nancy (Natalia Dyer) next up on Vecna's kill list, we wonder if there's another classic that might play a part in saving her.
'Stranger Things' Season 4 Volume 1 is streaming on Netflix.