Old is a 2021 supernatural thriller film directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The movie is about a family that goes on vacation to a private beach, only to discover that they are aging rapidly. The beach mysteriously makes their entire lives pass in a single day. The film is inspired by the graphic novel Sandcastle by Pierre Oscar Levy and Frederik Peeters.
For this film, M. Night Shyamalan and his team searched carefully for the right locations to match his vision. Interestingly, this is the first film by M. Night that did not have any scenes shot in his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Let’s explore where Old was filmed.
Where was “Old” Filmed?
‘Old’ was mostly filmed in the Dominican Republic, known for its stunning coastlines. Despite challenges like hurricanes and strict Covid-19 health guidelines, the crew found ideal locations for the film. Filming started on September 26, 2020, and finished on November 15, 2020. Here’s a closer look at where ‘Old’ was shot!
Samaná, Dominican Republic
A major part of Old was filmed at Playa El Valle beach, located in the province of Samaná on the eastern side of the Dominican Republic. This beach is on the Atlantic Ocean coast and is surrounded by beautiful mountains. The natural beauty of this beach made it a perfect setting for the film’s supernatural story.
Filming at Playa El Valle was challenging. M. Night Shyamalan called it a logistical nightmare. The film was shot during hurricane season, which made things even more difficult. The crew had to deal with changing tides and natural lighting, filming scenes from the start of the script in the mornings and scenes from the end of the script at night. A large wall built for filming was damaged by a hurricane, but despite these problems, Playa El Valle was ideal for the film.
Other Locations in the Dominican Republic
In addition to Playa El Valle, some parts of the film were shot at Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios. This studio is in the beach town of Juan Dolio, in the San Pedro de Macoris province, in the southern part of the Dominican Republic. The studios are about 40 miles east of the capital city, Santo Domingo.
The movie also filmed some initial scenes at a luxury resort called Anamika Resort. This resort and beach stand in for an island off the coast of France where the film’s story is set.
Cast of Old
Old features an ensemble cast. Gael García Bernal plays Guy Cappa, an actuary married to Prisca, who is portrayed by Vicky Krieps. Prisca is a museum curator who has an ovarian tumor. Rufus Sewell plays Charles, a schizophrenic cardiac surgeon married to Chrystal, played by Abbey Lee. Chrystal has hypocalcemia. Alex Wolff plays Trent Cappa, the 15-year-old son of Guy and Prisca. Other cast members include Thomasin McKenzie, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Ken Leung, Eliza Scanlen, Aaron Pierre, Embeth Davidtz, and Emun Elliott.
The filming of Old in the Dominican Republic, especially at Playa El Valle beach and Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios, helped bring the film’s supernatural elements to life. Despite challenges like hurricanes and the Covid-19 pandemic, the chosen locations perfectly matched M. Night Shyamalan’s vision for the film.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Old
Q: Where was Old filmed?
A: Old was primarily filmed in the Dominican Republic. The main filming location was Playa El Valle beach, located in the Samaná province. This beach, with its beautiful natural setting, provided the perfect backdrop for the film’s supernatural story. Additional scenes were shot at Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios in Juan Dolio and a luxury resort called Anamika Resort.
Q: When was Old filmed?
A: The filming of Old began on September 26, 2020, and concluded on November 15, 2020. The production faced challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic and hurricane season in the Caribbean, but the team managed to complete the shoot within this timeframe.
Q: When was Old released?
A: Old was released on July 23, 2021. The film premiered in various countries around this date, bringing M. Night Shyamalan’s latest thriller to audiences worldwide.
Q: Who are the main cast members of Old?
A: The main cast of Old includes Gael García Bernal as Guy Cappa, Vicky Krieps as Prisca Cappa, Rufus Sewell as Charles, Abbey Lee as Chrystal, and Alex Wolff as Trent Cappa. Other notable cast members are Thomasin McKenzie, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Ken Leung, Eliza Scanlen, Aaron Pierre, Embeth Davidtz, and Emun Elliott.
Q: Did the film face any difficulties during production?
A: Yes, the production of Old faced several difficulties. Filming occurred during the hurricane season in the Caribbean, which caused complications. Additionally, the Covid-19 pandemic imposed strict health guidelines that the production team had to follow. Despite these challenges, the team successfully completed the film.
