Naman Shrestha
With Danny J. Boyle occupying the director’s chair, Lifetime’s ‘The Bear Lake Murders’ is a crime thriller movie that centers upon the unlikely team-up of the local sheriff, Roy Martin, of the picturesque resort town of Bear Lake and a big-city female detective named Ally Foster. They join forces to get to the bottom of a series of accidental deaths that take place annually in the town and tackle the sinister mystery that surrounds the residents once and for all.
As they delve deeper into the case, they start to believe that they might be looking for a serial killer who hides in plain sight behind the facade of a tourist or resident. With the killer hunting down numerous vacationers each year, Roy and Ally must work together to uncover the mystery before more people fall victim. Although the town of Bear Lake is portrayed as a popular tourist destination with lots of scenic vistas, it appears to be hiding a dark secret behind its idyllic nature.
Where Was The Bear Lake Murders Filmed?
The shooting of ‘The Bear Lake Murders’ was carried out entirely in British Columbia, primarily in Kelowna. A minor portion of the crime movie was also seemingly shot in Vancouver. The cast and crew members got together on the set for the first time as the principal photography commenced on August 20, 2024. For the next couple of weeks, they spent their time together daily until the production was ultimately wrapped up on September 4 of the same year. During one of the night shoots, they witnessed the surreal northern lights in the sky, making the experience all the more exciting and memorable.
Kelowna, British Columbia
A major portion of ‘The Bear Lake Murders’ was lensed in and around the city of Kelowna, which is situated on Okanagan Lake in the westernmost province’s scenic Okanagan Valley. From the looks of it, the Okanagan Lake is ever so present in the backdrop of several exterior shots involving different characters as the mysterious murders are being investigated. The calming sense of the water body works in contrast to the disturbing elements of the narrative.
Over the course of filming in the city, the production team was treated to streaks of Green, pink, and purple colors in the sky as the northern lights displayed their magic, leaving everyone present on the set mesmerized and in awe of the natural phenomena. It appears that the crew also seemingly took over a few residential properties and other establishments to tape pivotal interior sequences for the suspenseful tale. From what we can tell, they headed a bit south of Kelowna to the district municipality of Peachland, where additional portions of ‘The Bear Lake Murders’ were recorded.
Vancouver, British Columbia
For shooting purposes, the filming unit of ‘The Bear Lake Murders’ also traveled to the city of Vancouver, which is situated in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland region. Besides the Lifetime production, the city has served as a production location for numerous movies and TV shows like ‘Woman of the Hour,’ ‘Bad Times at the El Royale,’ ‘The Pink Panther,’ ‘Along Came a Spider,’ ‘The Recruit,’ ‘Murdoch Mysteries,’ and ‘The Killing.’
The Bear Lake Murders Cast
Hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, Mercedes de la Zerda portrays Ally Foster, the burned-out female detective, in ‘The Bear Lake Murders.’ Throughout her acting career, she has taken up challenging roles and showcased her versatile acting talents. Widely recognized for her roles in ‘John Tucker Must Die’ as the Stoner Girl, ‘The Pregnancy Project’ as Sonya, and ‘War for the Planet of the Apes’ as Lang, she has also been featured in several TV shows, including ‘Cross,’ ‘The Sinner,’ ‘Nancy Drew,’ ‘Designated Survivor,’ ‘Hemlock Grove,’ and ‘Bates Motel.’
Opposite her features Tom Stevens donning the garb of Roy Martin, the town sheriff who teams up with Ally to uncover the mystery behind the annual murders. He might seem like a familiar face to many of you as he features in multiple film and TV projects, like ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days,’ ‘Secrets of a Marine’s Wife,’ ‘Dying to Be You,’ ‘Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: A Very Foul Play,’ ‘Deadly Class,’ ‘The 100,’ ‘Moonshine,’ ‘Cedar Cove,’ and ‘Wayward Pines.’
The Lifetime thriller also features various other talented actors in supporting roles, including Blake Williams as Brodie Doyle, Magalie as Rebecca Martin, Brandon Giddens as Miles, Tavia Cervi as Eve, Chris Fassbender as Caden Hodge, Jennifer Procé as Sienna Hartley, and Jonas Janz as Austin.
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