Naman Shrestha
The creators of ‘Slasher,’ Aaron Martin and Ian Carpenter, reunited for the creation of Shudder’s ‘Hell Motel,’ a psychological horror anthology miniseries. It follows a group of ten true crime enthusiasts who get an invitation to become guests at the newly renovated Cold River Motel on its opening weekend. Intrigued by the history of the motel, which was the site of a mysterious and unsolved satanic mass murder three decades ago, they accept the invitation and soon regret their decision. A murder spree ensues as a masked murderer haunts the eerie motel by stalking the guests one by one. Horror and claustrophobia take over as the Cold River Motel becomes an additional character, heightening the overall tension in each episode.
Hell Motel Filming Locations
‘Hell Motel’ is filmed in Ontario, specifically in and around Toronto. According to reports, principal photography for the inaugural iteration of the horror miniseries got underway in late August 2024 and went on for 52 production dates before wrapping up in early November of the same year. As the premiere of the show approached, Michelle Nolden, who portrays Portia, took to social media to share her experience of shooting the show. She stated, “This one was a wild and crazy ride. Amazing cast and team to work with. So much fun. So much blood.”
Toronto, Ontario
For the purpose of filming ‘Hell Motel,’ the cast and crew visited several locales in Toronto, Ontario. In particular, the administrative district of Etobicoke in the southeastern part of the province was chosen as the primary shooting site for the horror miniseries. The production team reportedly set up camp in the southern part of the former city to film the show. As per reports, a few scenes were captured on Browns Line Street in the Alderwood neighborhood. You can likely spot a few popular establishments like South Shore Bar & Grill and Gus Tacos serving as the backdrops for some scenes. Alongside that, a few sequences might have been lensed in the Mimico neighbourhood, probably on Burlington Street.
The suburban area of Southern Etobicoke doubled up as the ideal spot to capture the sinister misadventures that transpire in the lives of the true crime obsessives after they make the life-altering decision to hole up in the spot of a mass murder — the renovated Cold River Motel. While the quietness helped generate a sense of isolation, the diverse landscape and architecture complemented the setting. Furthermore, as the shooting took place during the fall, the weather conditions helped the production team to elevate the tense and chilling atmosphere. However, some sequences required the use of creative filming techniques. For instance, tall sprinklers were placed on both ends to depict the rainfall during the sequence where the characters discover the camper up in flames.
While bringing ‘Hell Motel’ to life, the cast and crew got along really well and had a blast on set. From bingeing on pizzas and chips during break to goofily posing with the blood-soaked props, the team members ensured the vibe behind the scenes was in complete contrast to the suspenseful one on-screen. Etobicoke is not a stranger to facilitating film and television production. Over the years, the district has served as the shooting spot for many movies and shows, such as ‘Urban Legend,’ ‘Resident Evil: Apocalypse,’ ‘Locke & Key,’ ‘Spiral,’ ‘Bride of Chucky,’ ‘Silent Hill: Revelation,’ ‘The Marsh,’ ‘Goosebumps,’ and ‘Funeral Home.’
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