If you were around in the 1960s and 1970s, you might recall a black-and-white TV series called “Dark Shadows,” a cult favorite and gothic soap opera. The magnificent scenes in “Dark Shadows” were later recreated for the 2012 film by well-known director Tim Burton. It featured cliffs, a raging sea, and even a castle.
The TV series focuses on a woman who applies to work as a governess for a wealthy family but instead finds herself involved in the family’s unusual happenings and mysteries, which only get crazier when an elderly relative and vampire named Barnabas Collins shows up. Over time, we learn the drama and background of Barnabas’ life as well as the history of the witch who put a curse on him.
When the series was made into the aforementioned film, shooting locations took center stage with an extended budget. So, where was “Dark Shadows” filmed?
‘Dark Shadows’ Filming Locations
“Dark Shadows” was filmed in Canada, Scotland, and England. Principal photography reportedly began on May 18 and finished on September 30, 2011. The film’s cinematographer was Bruno Delbonnel. The team of artists consisted of production designer Rick Heinrichs along with Colleen Atwood, who was best known for her work on “Alice in Wonderland.”
Was ‘Dark Shadows’ Filmed in Maine?
While the story’s action takes place in Maine, the Pine Tree State is not depicted on film. The majority of the actors and crew resided in England.
Several shots were filmed at the Isle of Mull, a charming and sparsely populated Island in the Inner Hebrides archipelago, located west of Scotland’s main island.
Cast and crew also filmed in Canada’s Whitby, Ontario. This huge township is present in Southern Ontario’s Durham Region. Specifically, they filmed the scenes at the boarding school for females at Trafalgar Castle. The school is at 401 Reynolds Street, initially constructed in 1874.
The rest of this movie was filmed in England.
Where Is The Mansion From ‘Dark Shadows’?
Collinwood Manor, the family mansion, is a fictional site. A set production was constructed not far from Farnham, Surrey. When filming the mansion, some creative behind-the-scenes work was also done. For instance, a 30-foot miniature mansion is shown in many scenes! However, the first small-screen series did feature a real setting.
The fishing community portrayed in the film and Collinwood Manor were also fictional and filmed at Pinewood Studios in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire.
Pinewood Studios
There are a few studios that Pinewood Studios owns all over the world. There are two, Pinewood Studios and Shepperton Studios, located only in the United Kingdom. The location of Pinewood Toronto Studios is Ontario, Canada. They also have a studio in the middle of the Caribbean, in the Dominican Republic.
Their studios are well recognized for the well-known films that have been filmed there, including 007, Willow, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Jurassic World: Dominion, and many others.
It’s interesting to note that the British studio near London is home to “the unique permanently-filled Underwater Stage, one of Europe’s largest exterior tanks.”
These locations specialize in water filming in particular, and they employ a group of highly qualified personnel to guarantee that all performers and production teams are kept safe during filming.
The asylum scene in ‘Dark Shadows’
What about asylum? Dr. Julia Hoffman from Carter used bedsheets to flee from the asylum. Beckenham Place Park in Lewisham was used to film the scenes that took place at Windcliff Sanitarium. This area is presently used as a golf course and historical park close to Bromley in South London. You can come here for a pleasant stroll and some sightseeing any day of the week.
What Location Did ‘Dark Shadows’ Film Its Beach Scenes?
The rocky beach scenes were filmed at Great Mattiscombe Sands near Start Point, some nine miles from Kingsbridge, on the south coast of Devon.
While some of the cliffside scenes were CGI-generated, other scenes were shot at Star Point in the Great Mattiscombe Sands, not far from Kingsbridge, UK. You have access to this “Dark Shadows” filming location, but you’ll need a car to get there via the A379 highway.
Box Office Details
- Film Budget: $150,000,000
- Opening weekend: $29,685,274
- Gross (World): $245,527,149
What Lurks in the ‘Dark Shadows’?
These filming locations are beautiful and worth a visit for true “Dark Shadows” fans. If you want to view them in person, arrange a quick journey to Tarrytown, Kingsbridge, South London, and Sleepy Hollow. Being at the locations where the vampire Barnabas Collins and his ancestors claimed to have spent decades in the world of “Dark Shadows” is truly fascinating.
