According to the book's plot, the action takes place in Moscow, so the director chose it for filming. But these are not famous locations, but mainly residential areas, markets, metro, roads not far from the center. There was no goal to highlight Moscow itself, but simply to show the action taking place in a large city that could indeed be the center of the world, where the main forces of the Night and Day Watch are located. 

Filming Locations:

Market

In the Movie

The scene where Anton, getting ready for a mission, discovers he has run out of blood, so he goes to his neighbor, the vampire Kostya, to ask for some. Kostya takes Anton to the market where his father works as a butcher, and they get blood from him.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the Rizhsky Market. They chose a spot with white tiles on the walls, used for cutting and selling meat and fish products. This location was ideal as it didn't even need to be altered.

Swimming Pool

In the Movie

The scene where Yegor is swimming in the pool. When he dives underwater, he notices the water has turned red. Surfacing and checking, he sees blood coming from his nose. At that moment, he loses control and begins to follow the vampire's call, forgetting to take off his swim cap and goggles.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the Chaika swimming pool, an open-air pool located almost in the center of Moscow. Here, in one place under the open sky, there is a large Olympic pool and a standard 25-meter pool. Such a large water space surrounded by buildings makes the shot very interesting and also emphasizes that Yegor's mother is doing well—she lives in the center, and her son attends classes at a top-tier pool.

Metro "Sviblovo"

In the Movie

The scene where Yegor follows the call, not understanding what is happening, and moving through a fog, he enters the metro and then exits at the Sviblovo station. At that moment, police officers approach his father Anton and attempt to arrest him, but the light mage vomits blood, and they decide they don't want to get involved with him.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the real Sviblovo station. It was chosen for the white color of the tiles, which contrasts perfectly with the blood, and also for its actual geographical location. It is no longer in the very center, but in a residential area, though not very far from the pool where Yegor starts his journey.

Moscow Street

In the Movie

The scene where Light mages Semyon, Ilya, and Lena are driving to a call in a Gorsvet car. Along the way, they do not notice Zavulon, the head of the Day Watch. He uses a protective spell and flips the car over himself. No one is injured in this incident, and the light mages continue on their way.

In Reality

The scene was filmed on the road near the Krasnye Vorota metro station. The location was chosen for several criteria: a wide road, which allowed adding "volume" to the frame, and the beautiful entrance group of the metro vestibule, which added an interesting shot to the scene.

Ignat's Workplace

In the Movie

The scene where The light mages, having discovered the cause of the curse funnel, decide to send Ignat there. He specializes in seduction. They decide to relieve Olga's stress with his help and thereby remove the risk of complete destruction of Moscow.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the main entrance of the Bolshoi Theatre, as well as inside the building. This emphasizes that the light mage Ignat also uses his abilities in ordinary life at the theatre. Moreover, judging by the fact that it is the country's main theatre, Ignat is quite successful in fulfilling his needs.