Once Steve went ahead and became America’s most beloved babysitter/Demogorgon battler, Stranger Things was in need of a new high school villain for its second season. Fortunately Dacre Montgomery‘s Billy more than filled the void. His classic ’80s bad boy was charming and menacing, frightening and vulnerable, intimidating and broken, and we never knew just how dangerous he really was. But based on Montgomery’s audition tape for the part, he was capable of being both a lot more terrifying and a lot…well…stranger. As in, totally bonkers.

GQ posted Montgomery’s excellent tape, in which he read a scene as Kiefer Sutherland’s Ace from Stand by Me. Stranger Things 2‘s Billy was clearly in part inspired by Ace, so it was a perfect scene for him to read. He followed that with a scene as Billy, from when he was in the car with his stepsister Max and threatened to run down the boys on their bikes.

After that is when the tape gets weird. Really weird. Montgomery took off his shirt and rocked out to Dexy Midnight Rider’s “Come on Eileen” like he was at Studio 54 in the ’70s and he had just powdered his nose. Truth be told, I have no idea why he did this.

Was Billy supposed to have a coke problem? That would have been interesting wrinkle to add. Maybe this is a sign of things to come in season three. Or maybe Montgomery just wanted to show his range and how he could really freak everyone out if called upon.

What do you think of Montgomery’s audition tape? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Featured Image: Dacre Montgomery/GQ
Image: Netflix