There are only a handful of directors who can make psychological horror films like M. Night Shyamalan, and his movie Old (2021) was one of the best horror movies of that year. The psychological horror film follows a family who plan their vacation on a tropical island. Soon, their perfect family vacation turns into a nightmare when they get stuck on a secluded beach with no way to get out. In this article, I’ll discuss the movie and tell you where was Old filmed.
Old features an exciting cast with Gael García Bernal and Vicky Krieps in the lead and other renowned actors like Rufus Sewell, Alex Wolff, Thomasin McKenzie, Abbey Lee, and Nikki Amuka-Bird in the supporting roles. Bernal is a critically acclaimed Mexican actor and the recipient of a BAFTA Award for his performance in the biographical drama film The Motorcycle Diaries.
Krieps is a German actress who has worked in American movies and German and French films. She rose to fame after playing the role of Alma Elson in Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2017 historical drama film Phantom Thread. On the other hand, you may have seen Thomasin McKenzie and Alex Wolf in successful movies like Jojo Rabbit and Hereditary.
Now, to get back to your primary concern regarding where was Old filmed, the psychological horror movie was filmed in Samaná, Dominican Republic.
Helmed by M. Night Shyamalan, Old was first released in New York City on 19th July 2021, followed by its wide release in the United States on 23rd July 2021. The psychological horror film is a Perfect World Production distributed internationally and in the US by Universal Pictures. It was released on digital platforms on 4 October 2021. However, now let’s look closely at the movie’s filming locations.
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Where Was Old Filmed? Breathtaking Locations You Shouldn’t Miss!
M. Night Shyamalan’s Old received positive reviews from critics, but some of them were not pleased with the movie’s screenplay and dialogues, whereas others praised the direction and cinematography. The psychological horror film was nominated for various awards, including a People’s Choice Award. Not to mention, the movie was a blockbuster and commercial success as it earned over $90 million against a production budget of just $18 million.
Shyamalan is a critically acclaimed filmmaker and screenwriter widely known for his unconventional, offbeat thrillers and psychological horror films. Old got a rating of 5.8 on IMDb and an audience score of 58% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, let’s move forward and find out where was Old filmed.
Samaná, Dominican Republic
The psychological horror film was filmed entirely in the Caribbean country of the Dominican Republic, except for a few scenes that were filmed in the Pinewood studios situated in the country. The movie was filmed during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the cast and crew had to follow strict guidelines. Principal photography commenced on 26 September 2020 and was wrapped up by 15 November 2020.
All the beach scenes in the movie were filmed at Playa El Valle beach, which is situated in the province of Samaná Peninsula in the eastern region of the Dominican Republic. The beach that turned into an iconic place lies on the Atlantic Ocean coast.
According to reports, the production of the psychological horror film was complicated, as the cast and crew were filming during hurricane season. Shyamalan, in an interview, stated that the production process was a logistical nightmare. The cast and crew shot most of the scenes early in the morning and during the night. The production team had to build a massive wall that was used to shoot some of the sequences. After a couple of days, that wall was damaged by a hurricane.
Other Filming Locations
A portion of Old was filmed at Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios, situated in the famous beach town of Juan Dolio. It falls under San Pedro de Macoris province, which is in the southern part of the country. Scenes were shot on the south backlot on Autovia del Este Km 55 and on the north backlot on Autovia del Este Km 64.
Plot Of Old (2021) | When It’s Only A Matter Of Time!
The story of Old revolves around Guy Cappa, played by Gael García Bernal, and Prisca Cappa, played by Vicky Krieps. Guy and Prisca are married and have two kids. They decide to go their separate ways as their marriage is not working out. To make the transition a little better for their kids, they decide to go on a family vacation to a tropical island, where they stay at a luxury resort.
The Cappa family meets other people and families at the resort and plans to spend a day at a beautiful secluded beach on the island. After reaching the beach, they all have a wonderful time until they realize they cannot leave it. They try their best to find a way out, but they fail. Soon, they realize that the beach, in a mysterious way, is causing them to age rapidly, bringing them closer and closer to their death.
Final Words
If you were planning a family vacation, the Dominican Republic would be a great choice. There are numerous spectacular beaches to visit and numerous activities to participate in. Having said that, if you haven’t seen Old yet, hurry up and watch it as soon as possible. And if you wish to read more such fascinating filming location articles, keep an eye on the Viebly website.
Which Is M. Night Shyamalan’s First Movie?
Praying with Anger is M.Night Shyamalan’s first movie.
Is Old Available In Other Languages?
No, Old is only available in English.
Where To Watch Old Online?
You can watch Old on HBO MAX.
Which Are The Top Three Gael García Bernal Movies?
Amores Perros, The Motorcycle Diaries, and Bad Education are the top three Gael García Bernal movies.
