The film was primarily shot in Moab and Thompson Springs, Utah, utilizing the stunning desert landscapes of the American Southwest. The story follows a family man named David Harrison who travels with his wife and daughters to the remote desert town of Purgatory, where a colony of vampires attempts to live peacefully using synthetic blood instead of human. However, a group of traditionalist vampires led by a renegade threatens to disrupt the peace, leading to an open conflict between the reformed vampires and those who want to return to their predatory habits. The film features an ensemble cast including David Carradine, Bruce Campbell, and Morgan Brittany. It was directed by Anthony Hickox, also known for films like 'Waxwork', 'Waxwork II', 'Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth', and 'Warlock: The Armageddon'. The music was composed by Richard Stone. Although the film was completed around 1989, it was released directly to VHS in October 1991 and received its first DVD release only on September 23, 2008. During location shooting, several temporary sets were built, including a gas station specially constructed for the film and immediately dismantled after filming ended.

Filming Locations:

Purgatory Town (Thompson Springs)

In the Movie

Scene where the vampire town of Purgatory is shown, where a colony of reformed vampires has established a life in a remote desert. The Bar Cafe building stands out as the main meeting place in town, giving the settlement an eerie, isolated Western feel amidst the Utah desert landscape.

In Reality

The scene was filmed in the small unincorporated community of Thompson Springs, Utah, at the intersection of Frontage Road and Sego Canyon Road. This nearly abandoned town in Grand County served as the fictional vampire settlement of Purgatory in the film. The same bar-cafe building at this location also appeared in Thelma & Louise, where Louise talks to Hal on a payphone. Thompson Springs was once a railroad stop but has since become nearly deserted.

Scenic Roads of Arches #1 — Arches National Park

In the Movie

Scene where they drive north through the park, with the Three Gossips rock formation visible on the left and Courthouse Towers on the right, immediately establishing the sense of a remote desert on the way to the vampire town of Purgatory.

In Reality

The scene was filmed on Arches National Park Road inside Arches National Park near Moab, Utah. This stretch of road is particularly known for views of the Three Gossips rock on the left and Courthouse Towers on the right when driving north. It is one of the most recognizable scenic drives of the American Southwest, with massive sandstone formations towering over the road.