Directed by acclaimed filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, Old is a supernatural thriller set on a lush private beach where a family on vacation soon finds out that they are all aging rapidly. The supernatural beach they find themselves on somehow reduces their lives to a single day, making the film in the throes of a philosophical dread. It is inspired by the comic strip by Pierre Oscar Levy and Frederik Peeters entitled Château de sable.
Known for his offbeat horror, M. Night Shyamalan and the crew spent considerable time researching the perfect locations for this film to match the director’s vision. The film also marks the first time the filmmaker has not shot a single scene in his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wondering where they finally brought Old to life? We have everything you need!
Old movie locations
Old was filmed largely in the Dominican Republic. The Caribbean region in which the country is located is world famous for its spectacular coastlines and this is where the film crew finally found the perfect locations to shoot the film. In addition to the hurricanes that occasionally occur in the region, the production team faced complications from the Covid-19 pandemic that required adherence to strict health guidelines. Principal photography started September 26, 2020 and ended November 15, 2020. Let’s take a closer look at the specific locations where “Old” was filmed!
Samana, Dominican Republic
The beach where most of the film was shot outdoors is Playa El Valle, in the Samaná Peninsula province, east of the Dominican Republic. The beach itself sits on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and is flanked by lush mountains on either side. The natural beauty of the beach makes its supernatural aspects all the more sinister.
The production was a complicated affair, and M. Night Shyamalan called it a logistical nightmare all the more intimidating given that the filming took place during hurricane season in the Caribbean. Combined with the fact that not only natural lighting but also the tides and water level on the beach had to be taken into account, the crew were filming scenes from the beginning of the script in the morning and the end of the script every day. night.
In a behind-the-scenes video clip shared on the film’s official Twitter account, the director described building a massive wall that was to be used for filming. Shortly after its construction, it was badly damaged by a hurricane. However, it seems like all the effort was worth it, as the beach at Playa El Valle fit well with M. Night’s vision for the film’s main setting.
For @MNightShyamalan and his daughter, Ishana, #OldTheMovie is a family affair. Get tickets now: https://t.co/HbjhUdF3VV pic.twitter.com/vO0ahm7zEq
— Old (@oldthemovie) July 22, 2021
Other places in the Dominican Republic
Besides the beach, part of the production was also done at Pinewood Studios in the Dominican Republic, located in the seaside town of Juan Dolio, in the province of San Pedro de Macoris, in the southern region of the Dominican Republic. The north and south studio lots are located on Autovía del Este Km 55 and Autovía del Este Km 64, respectively, approximately 40 miles east of the capital Santo Domingo.
The film also used a luxury resort in the Dominican Republic to film the film’s opening scenes when the family arrives at their vacation spot – Anamika Resort. The seaside resort and the Caribbean beach used for the filming are in fact replacements for an island off the coast of France where the film takes place.
