Thanks to Robert of Set-Jetter, Brian of Reel to Real Movie and TV Filming Locations and Paul of Then & Now Movie Locations for allowing me to use some of their photos for this page.
The film opens at Smith's Grove Sanitarium, which is in reality the MacDougall Correctional Institution in Ridgeville. The photos below were found online but fortunately include some of the areas used for filming. The exterior of this institution makes an appearance later on, when the inmates are being transferred out on the bus (see further down).
Once the podcasters and Dr. Sartain walk out onto the checkered courtyard the location switches to the Magnet Military Academy in Charleston. The school was constructed in 2007 and designed to mirror The Citadel Military College, which is also located in Charleston. To ensure that the building resembled a secure facility the production added bars to some windows, whilst others were reduced in size digitally. A large entryway at the far end of the courtyard was also covered up.
Photo: Set-Jetter
One of the key locations in the film is Laurie's house, which is situated at exactly 32.950971, -80.086112 (on the land between Collins Road and Palmetto Commerce Parkway in North Charleston). Collins Road itself can be seen when the podcasters are on route to the house. They are travelling West on this road before reaching the gate/driveway, which is located at 32.952924, -80.085507.
Whilst this is private land some fans have risked venturing onto the property and a few have been allowed inside the house if the owner is around. It should also be noted that access to Collins Road by car may not always be possible as it's gated.
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations
Allyson, Vicky and Dave begin their walk Alamo Street, with them heading towards O'Hear Avenue. Once they read O'Hear they make a right and head North, eventually stopping in front of the house at 4654 O'Hear Avenue where Dave lights the firecracker.
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations
Three locations were combined to form the interior of the school. The corridor with the lockers was located at the Military Magnet Academy, which is the same location as the Smith's Grove courtyard. The classroom was located at the Danny Jones Complex Armory, in a room on the North side of the building. A bookcase was placed in the middle of the room to make the classroom appear smaller. It should be noted that Allyson's p.o.v of Laurie was shot from the opposite side of the building, looking towards Exchange Park. Finally, the high school party was shot in the Danny Jones Gym, which is located just across the street from the Complex Armory building.
Photo: Set-Jetter
Photo: Reel to Real Movie and TV Filming Locations
Laurie and Allyson's conversation beside the football field was filmed on the South side of the Attaway-Heinsohn Field at North Charleston High School. This area was completely razed at the end of 2018 to make way for the North Charleston Center for Advanced Studies.
After leaving Laurie's house the podcasters make their way to the Siesta Motor Lodge, with them occupying room 133 (located towards the rear of the motel). John Passarella also used the real name of the motel in the novelisation, so he must have been privy to the location details at the time of writing.
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations
For the exterior of Smith's Grove Sanitarium we return to the MacDougall Correctional Institution, where the earlier interior scenes were filmed. The security gate that the bus passes through is located on the far Eastern side of the facility at 33.170442, -80.288721. The shots of Laurie inside the car were however filmed in the parking lot at 7555 Palmetto Commerce Parkway.
Photo: Set-Jetter
Photo: Set-Jetter
The bus crash scene was filmed on Autonomous Drive in Ridgeville, which is not too far from the Smith's Grove location. The father and son travel West along this road before encountering the prisoners and the crashed bus at approximately 33.148951, -80.294534.
One location from the original to make an appearance in '18' is the cemetery. Although they did not return to the Sierra Madre Pioneer Cemetery (where the original was filmed), the production did a great job with the location by recreating the Sinclair headstone, which can be seen in the '78' version. Judith's headstone was setup in the 'Wilson' plot at roughly 32.819291, -79.943418, which is located in the Greenhill section of the cemetery.
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations
The scene at the hospital was also filmed at the Danny Jones Complex Armory, the same location as the school classroom.
The podcasters stop to fill up at pump 5 of the BP Gas Station in Hanahan, where they subsequently meet their demise. The station's interior was also used for filming, however, the ladies room was a set constructed on a soundstage.
Photo: Set-Jetter
Photo: Set-Jetter
Photo: Set-Jetter
Photo: Set-Jetter
Next up is Karen's house, located on Stocker Drive. In the time since filming the bay window at the front of the house has been replaced, but the interior looks pretty much the same as it did in the film.
Photo: Reel to Real Movie and TV Filming Locations
Photo: Set-Jetter
Photo: Set-Jetter
Photo: Set-Jetter
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations
Now we switch to Julian's house, where he is watched over by Vicky. Aside from the house exterior, the interior and backyard were also used for filming. Julian's bedroom is located at the front of the house, adjacent to the room The Shape is standing in when he is shot at by Laurie. Officer Hawkins arrives just prior to this and pulls up in front of 41 Fenwick Drive, before heading into the house to discover a deceased Vicky.
After leaving the party Allyson and Oscar can be seen walking South along President Street, just South of its intersection with Huger Street.
The Elrod house is another location from the series to return, albeit from a different timeline. Allyson and Oscar climb over the wall at the far North end of the backyard, before Allyson heads towards the gate, which provides access to Sutherland Court. The wooden gates that usually belong to this property were replaced with iron versions, to facilitate the filming of Oscar's death.
Photo: Set-Jetter
Photo: Set-Jetter
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations
After finding Oscar impaled on the gate Allyson runs from Sutherland Court to the house on the corner at 490 Huger Street, but receives no assistance. She then runs further down the road to the neighbours at 500 Huger Street, who are more helpful.
After leaving the Elrod house The Shape can be seen walking North on Lancaster Street, heading towards its intersection with Monitor Street. He is subsequently run into by Officer Hawkins at the North East corner of the Danny Jones track.
Photo: Then & Now Movie Locations
I have to ask!! How do you get into the actual house to get these shots?? Is Laurie Strode's house still standing? I heard they burned it down for real during the making of H Kills?
ReplyDeleteActually I didn't get inside myself, those photos were kindly donated by the Then & Now Movie Locations website (credited beneath the photos). The house they burnt down for Kills was actually a different house that was modified to look like Laurie's house (the address is 700 Cherrytree Rd NE, Winnabow). As far as I know Laurie's house from 18 is still there, right off Collins Road in North Charleston.
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