The film was primarily shot in Los Angeles, California, although the script was originally written with New York in mind. Principal photography took place in Los Angeles due to logistical and financial reasons. The Pacific Electric Building was used as the police station, and the Alexandria Hotel was used for scenes in John Doe's apartment. The Ambassador Hotel also served as one of the locations where scenes of the meeting with the widow of the greed victim were filmed. The climactic scene was shot in the Mojave Desert, near Lancaster, north of Los Angeles. The filmmakers had to carefully select locations to resemble New York, since all the libraries and buildings in Los Angeles were too modern for the script. As a result, the film achieved a dark and realistic atmosphere that enhanced its drama.

Filming Locations:

Rosslyn Hotel (closed)

In the movie

Scene where John Doe arrives at the police station. He surrenders.

In reality

The scene was filmed at The Rosslyn Annex Hotel is a historic building in Los Angeles, California, built in 1923 at the corner of 5th and Main Streets. The building was designed by the firm Parkinson & Parkinson in the Beaux Arts style and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. The building is across the street from the original 800-room Rosslyn Hotel, built in 1914. Both buildings, designed as twins, were topped with mammoth illuminated signs with names. In 2015, the building was renovated and now houses homeless veterans, low-income and market-rate tenants.

Avenue H - 120th Street W

In the movie

Scene where John Doe confessed to committing another murder. He is ready to show the crime scene. Somerset and Mills take him with them to show them.

In reality

Police station area

In the movie

Scene where John Doe comes to surrender at the police station. John, covered in blood, suddenly appears at the police station and surrenders to the authorities. He offers a deal: in exchange for a solo trip with detectives Somerset and Mills to the burial site of the last two victims, he will confess to the crimes and point out the location. This unexpected event becomes a turning point in the plot, as Doe has always been several steps ahead of his pursuers.

In reality

The scene was filmed in Los Angeles. It is an ordinary industrial area. The filmmakers carefully selected locations to resemble New York. For exterior scenes, industrial and abandoned areas were often used to create the dark and grimy atmosphere necessary for the plot.

Library

In the movie

Scene where Somerset comes to the library. This scene shows how Somerset tries to understand the killer's motives related to the seven deadly sins. He pays attention to the spiritual and intangible, trying to find a connection between the crimes and the literary sources that might have inspired the killer. In the library, Somerset browses books related to the theme of deadly sins and compiles a list of literature that Mills should read. This scene highlights the difference in investigative approaches between Somerset and Mills.

In reality

The scene was filmed in Los Angeles at 650 South Spring Street. This building is often used as a location for films and TV series due to its versatility and historical significance. In particular, its interior was used as the library in the film, where Somerset studies literature about the seven deadly sins.

Building where the murder took place

In the movie

Scene where John Doe tortured a man for a whole year, forcing him to lie in bed. This led to complete exhaustion and physical decay. Detectives Somerset and Mills arrived at the crime scene, where they discovered a horrifying sight: the victim's body was in a state of extreme emaciation, and the room was neglected and dirty. Seeing this horror, the detectives realized how perverted and cruel the killer was. This scene highlights the ruthlessness and perversion of John Doe, who considers his actions justified within his distorted morality.

In reality

The scene was filmed on Broadway in Los Angeles. This location was chosen for its unique architecture and ability to create the dark atmosphere necessary for the plot. The filmmakers often chose similar locations to convey the sense of neglect and grime characteristic of the film. Detailed work was done on each location to create a feeling of claustrophobia and neglect.