The film was shot in various locations in Connecticut and New York, using real suburban and rural settings to create a harsh, unsettling atmosphere. It was a low-budget work, directed by Wes Craven in his feature debut; producer Sean S. Cunningham even provided his parents' house as one of the filming locations. The story follows two teenage girls who are kidnapped and brutally abused by a gang of criminals, who then unknowingly take shelter in the home of one of their victims' parents. The film heavily draws on Ingmar Bergman's The Virgin Spring but reimagines it as a brutal horror exploitation film that shocked audiences upon release. Much of the outdoor filming was done in Westport, Connecticut, including a local cemetery, nearby woods, and a pond, while New York scenes were shot on the streets of Manhattan. The raw, almost documentary-style cinematography contributed to the film's reputation as one of the most controversial horrors of the 1970s.

Filming Locations:

Phyllis and Mari meet Junior

In the movie

The scene where Phyllis and Mari meet Junior on the street, trying to get drugs before a concert. In this early scene, their risky and naive choices are immediately apparent, setting off a chain of events that leads them to dangerous people in the city.

In reality

The scene was filmed in a residential block of the Gramercy Park neighborhood in Manhattan. The address 229 East 21st Street is on a quiet, tree-lined street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue, where typical early 20th-century New York architecture with brownstone houses and townhouses is preserved.