Martina Radwan's documentary 'One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5' offers an inside look at the production of the Netflix series' concluding season. Directed by Radwan, the film follows creators Matt and Ross Duffer and the cast through key moments, from table reads to massive setpieces. It premieres on Netflix on January 12.
Martina Radwan, an Emmy-winning cinematographer and documentary director, helmed 'One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5' to celebrate the Netflix hit's final chapter. Hired in summer 2023, Radwan began filming that fall after the dual strikes concluded, embedding herself in Atlanta's production by year's end. She attended set daily, capturing the journey from the first table read to the wrap, including epic sequences like Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) discovering his powers to battle Demogorgons in Volume 1's conclusion and the series finale's clash in the Abyss.
Radwan, who moved from Germany to New York in the 1990s, aimed to highlight the Duffers' creative process amid the show's massive scale. 'Because often, especially with a show that’s that big, that gets left out,' she told Variety. 'That it’s still a very creative process, and still a very collaborative process.' A fan who rewatched the series and researched the brothers, Radwan noted the expanded scope while preserving its core: 'And that’s when it became clear — the scope has grown so much,' she said. 'And yet, at the heart of it, it’s still ‘Stranger Things.’'
The documentary centers on Matt and Ross Duffer but features reflections from stars including Millie Bobby Brown, Sadie Sink, Finn Wolfhard, and Schnapp. It explores themes of coming-of-age for cast and crew, emphasizing practical effects like the football-field-sized Pain Tree set, which Radwan sees as emblematic of an era ending with future productions leaning toward CGI. Discussions in the writers' room reveal debates, such as Ross Duffer's concern over 'Demogorgon fatigue' despite their role in the finale.
Radwan praises the ambiguous ending, screened in a New York theater to enthusiastic applause. 'I think people loved it, but I think they’re surprised,' she said. 'Because it’s an ambivalent ending, which I love... it’s the reaction that the Duffers wanted — the question mark.' Emotional wrap moments unified the team, with Matt Duffer initiating a group hug, underscoring a decade's shared experience.
