Hulu’s new psychological horror film Hold Your Breath, co-directed by Karrie Crouse and William Joines, tells the story of Margaret Bellum, played by Sarah Paulson. Margaret is a single mother living in a remote town in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. She is raising her two daughters alone and has to face a scary, unseen enemy. The film shows how Margaret tries to protect her home from this mysterious danger that moves through the dust storms. As the dust storms become stronger, she has to deal with her troubled past and the frightening presence around her.
Where was Hold Your Breath filmed?
Hold Your Breath was mainly filmed in New Mexico. The specific locations include Santa Fe, Galisteo, and Stanley. The production also used some shots of the landscapes in Oklahoma. The film was originally called Dust, and the main shooting started on August 5, 2022, and ended by early November 2022. To create the big dust storms in the film, the crew used tons of loose dirt, which was blown at the actors for realistic effects. There were health and safety coordinators on set, but Sarah Paulson, the lead actress, argued with them to allow more dust to be used. She found the filming of the dust storm scenes very exciting, even though she had to do them for 17 hours at a time!
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe and its surrounding areas were the main filming locations for Hold Your Breath. Santa Fe is the capital of New Mexico and is a historic city located in the Chihuahuan Desert. This location stood in for the dusty plains of Oklahoma shown in the movie. Santa Fe has good facilities for filming and an experienced local crew, which made it easier to shoot the film. The movie used 152 crew members from New Mexico and more than 153 local background actors. Many other films and shows have also been shot in and around Santa Fe, including AMC’s Dark Winds, Netflix’s Longmire, and the horror thriller Carriers.
Galisteo, New Mexico
Galisteo is a small place in Santa Fe County and was also an important filming location for Hold Your Breath. Its dry and wide-open land helped create the movie’s eerie and empty feeling. The scenery here represents a forgotten town covered in dust, similar to rural Oklahoma. To prepare for her role, Sarah Paulson studied the Dust Bowl, which was a terrible time that caused a lot of financial and emotional damage to the people. She watched Ken Burns’ documentary The Dust Bowl to understand it better. Her hard work on set, including dealing with the challenging dust effects, was meant to show the deep emotional impact of the dust storms.
Nearby Galisteo is the Cerro Pelon Ranch, which is a movie studio covering 20,000 acres. This ranch has several backlots and is known for being one of the best locations for Western films in the state. It is likely that Hold Your Breath used this ranch because it has great facilities for filming. Other movies filmed here include 3:10 to Yuma, Cowboys & Aliens, and Godless.
Stanley, New Mexico
Stanley is another rural town in Santa Fe County that helped create the backgrounds seen in Hold Your Breath. It has a small population and flat land that stretches far into the distance, which adds to the movie’s feeling of isolation and fear. The production team filmed various outdoor scenes in Stanley, using its old buildings as perfect backdrops. The filming likely took place at the Stanley Ranch film production facility, which was recognized in early 2023. This facility is located at 374 Jaymar Road and covers 480 acres. It has a historical house built in the 1920s. Shows like Waco and Roswell have also been filmed at this location.
In summary, Hold Your Breath showcases the haunting beauty of New Mexico’s landscapes while telling a gripping story of fear and survival during the Dust Bowl era. The filming locations play a significant role in enhancing the movie’s psychological horror elements, creating a perfect setting for Margaret’s terrifying journey.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) – Hold Your Breath
Q: Where was Hold Your Breath filmed?
A: Hold Your Breath was primarily filmed in New Mexico, specifically in locations such as Santa Fe, Galisteo, and Stanley. Some establishing shots of Oklahoma landscapes were also included in the production.
Q: When was Hold Your Breath filmed?
A: Principal photography for Hold Your Breath began on August 5, 2022, and concluded by early November 2022.
Q: What is the release date of Hold Your Breath?
A: Hold Your Breath was released on Hulu on October 3, 2024.
Q: Who are the main cast members of Hold Your Breath (2024)?
A: The main cast of Hold Your Breath features Sarah Paulson in the lead role as Margaret Bellum, a single mother trying to protect her daughters in a dust-covered town. Fiona Shaw plays a mysterious entity that adds to the film’s tension. Margaret’s daughters are portrayed by Kristine Froseth and Kylie Rogers. Together, they bring to life the gripping story of fear and survival during the Dust Bowl era.
Q: Who directed Hold Your Breath?
A: Hold Your Breath was co-directed by Karrie Crouse and William Joines, both of whom contributed to creating the film’s psychological horror elements.
