Film was filmed primarily in and around the Altadena and Pasadena areas of Los Angeles County, California. Based on a novella by Stephen King from his collection "Different Seasons," the movie tells the story of a bright high school student who discovers that an elderly neighbor is a fugitive Nazi war criminal and forces him to recount his wartime atrocities, leading both characters down a dark psychological path. The production was notably surrounded by controversy during filming and ultimately never made much of an impact at the box office despite featuring strong performances from Ian McKellen and Brad Renfro. The filming locations gained renewed attention in January 2025 when devastating wildfires struck the Altadena area, destroying some of the recognizable sites used in the film, including the school building that had also appeared in Rob Zombie's Halloween remake in 2007.

Filming locations:

Kurt Dussander's House

In the movie

Scene where Todd Bowden arrives at Kurt Dussander's residence and confronts the elderly man about his past as a Nazi war criminal, beginning their twisted psychological relationship at this modest house nestled in the Altadena foothills.

In reality

The scene was filmed a residential property on Highland Avenue in Altadena, a quiet neighborhood street situated near the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. The house served as the home of the fugitive Nazi war criminal character Kurt Dussander in the film. This area of Altadena was severely impacted by the January 2025 wildfires that devastated much of the community.