Maine
9 movies and TV shows that were set in Maine, though you might not realize it
This story was initially printed in January 2020.
“The Turning” is a horror film that’s a recent retelling of Henry James’ basic ghost story “The Flip of the Screw.” As a part of the modern-day adaptation of a narrative initially set in Nineties rural England, the setting has been moved to rural Maine — or a minimum of, the Hollywood model of it, because it was truly filmed in Eire.
Regardless, it’s seemingly few individuals would have observed that this film was set in Maine if we hadn’t stumbled throughout that truth whereas researching different issues — particularly contemplating that “The Turning” at present has only a 27 % recent ranking on Rotten Tomatoes, which doesn’t bode effectively for its recognition.
However that obtained us pondering: what different movies and TV reveals are set in Maine that we didn’t understand had been truly set right here? Which Maine-set motion pictures managed to slide by with out many individuals noticing they befell right here, both as a result of they weren’t truly shot in Maine (as is the case with most Hollywood movies), or as a result of they did such a foul job of representing the Pine Tree State that individuals didn’t even understand Maine was what they had been representing.
Listed below are among the most well-known movies and sequence set in Maine. We wager you didn’t learn about a minimum of one in all these, if not all of them.
Simon Birch (1998)
This tearjerker was primarily based on John Irving’s 1989 novel “A Prayer for Owen Meany,” which was truly set in New Hampshire. Director Mark Steven Johnson modified the setting from New Hampshire to Maine, and altered the protagonist’s title to Simon Birch. The movie itself was shot in Ontario, Canada.
Lake Placid (1999)
With a reputation like “Lake Placid,” you’d suppose this ridiculous film a few monstrous, man-eating saltwater crocodile could be set within the upstate New York city of the identical title, which hosted the Winter Olympics twice. It’s not, nevertheless — it’s set in Maine, alongside the shores of the fictional Black Lake in Aroostook County. It stars Invoice Pullman, Bridget Fonda and a splendidly salty Betty White, and it was shot nearly solely in Canada.
Kids of a Lesser God (1986)
This Academy Award-winning movie, primarily based on the Tony Award-winning play, is definitely set in Maine, at a fictional college for the deaf. Its location isn’t notably entrance and heart within the film, nevertheless, as the main focus is on the connection between the 2 foremost characters.
The Iron Large (1999)
The totally pleasant movie — the primary from Brad Chook, who went on to put in writing and direct “The Incredibles” and “Ratatouille” for Pixar — is about in Maine within the Nineteen Fifties.
Hope Springs (2012)
This romantic drama starring Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones and Steve Carell, is about largely in a coastal resort city in Maine — Camden, mainly. Or perhaps Boothbay? Bar Harbor? Onerous to inform, because it was shot solely in Connecticut (ouch).
Go away Her to Heaven (1945)
This movie noir basic starring Gene Tierney is about at a fictional Maine property known as Again of the Moon in addition to in Bar Harbor, together with a number of early scenes in New Mexico and Georgia. Regardless, the entire thing was shot in California.
The Weight of Water (2002)
This Sean Penn-starring, Kathryn Bigelow-directed drama, primarily based on the bestselling novel by Anita Shreve, is technically set in Maine — on the Isle of Shoals, which is off the coast of Kittery, so almost in New Hampshire. Regardless, it was shot in Nova Scotia.
The Lighthouse (2019)
This unsettling black-and-white movie, up for an Oscar subsequent month, is about at a Maine lighthouse, although it was shot solely in Nova Scotia.
Nancy Drew (2019-present)
The brand new teen drama on The CW, primarily based on the basic younger grownup thriller sequence, is definitely set in Maine, in a fictional city known as Horseshoe Bay.