Billy’s death is packed with nods to 80s cinema. The mall setting is a direct homage to Dawn of the Dead (1978), where consumerism meets horror. His sacrifice mirrors John Coffey’s in The Green Mile—a misunderstood soul finding peace through death. Even the metal chair he’s tied to evokes The Empire Strikes Back’s carbonite chamber.
Also, note that Billy’s shirt in the flashback is exactly the same one he wears in his final scene—a subtle thread of memory. The Duffer Brothers love their visual callbacks. Next time you rewatch, count how many times you see a yellow shirt; it’s a clue for character arcs.
