The film is set in Los Angeles, but the entire movie was actually shot in and around Houston, Texas. Director Adam Rifkin explained that shutting down entire sections of Los Angeles freeways would have been impractical and too expensive for the film's budget, so they chose a less congested and cheaper stretch of road. Interestingly, they barely closed any roads and even had Charlie Sheen and Henry Rollins perform all the stunts themselves during rush hour in Houston. It was a bold move that paid off handsomely, as the chase looks very realistic. The production selected several different Houston highways to try to add variety, but a few sharp-eyed Houstonians on Reddit noticed that Jack and Natalie keep passing the same oval building throughout the film, proving they were doing laps on the loop road that encircles Houston. Obviously, this is easier for filming, but not very convincing if the characters are supposed to be heading toward Mexico.

Filming Locations:

Store

In the Movie

The scene where Jack makes an impulsive decision to take a random female shopper, Natalie, hostage. The police, of course, are armed and point their guns at Jack. He then grabs Natalie, orders them to put their weapons on the ground, and kick them over to him.

In Reality

The scene was filmed in the city of Kemah, Texas. Located on Galveston Bay, it is a popular tourist destination known for its excellent fishing and sunny beaches. The final scene of the film was also shot there.

Road

In the Movie

The scene where after escaping the store with Natalie, Jack drives onto the freeway with a whole crowd of police cars on his tail. Honestly, at this point he has no idea what to do next—the kidnapping definitely wasn't part of his plan, so we see Jack starting to lose his mind.

In Reality

The scene was filmed on Sam Houston Parkway. This loop road encircles the city of Houston and has several notable buildings along the side, which is exactly what Reddit users identified. Since it's a highway, the best way to visit is to drive it yourself. Grab a friend—with their consent, of course—and hit the road.

Police Station

In the Movie

The scene where at the police station it becomes clear that the hostage is a millionaire's daughter. Therefore, there is immense pressure on the police to find Jack and bring him to justice quickly. All forces are directed toward capturing the criminal.

In Reality

The scene was filmed in the actual functioning building of the Houston Police Department. Why build sets or use a studio when you can get access to a real working facility, right? Since it's an active police building, you can simply walk in as a movie fan and take a couple of photos.