At the CineEurope conference, Aaron Taylor-Johnson stated that the movie was shot with practical effects and on real locations. Therefore, the film has a large-scale shooting map. The main location of the film group was London. On the streets of the British capital filmed large-scale chase scenes. The movie team captured such sights as Lloyds Bank, St. Paul's Cathedral, All Saints Chapel and the famous London Wall in the Barbican. There in London, the production team successfully recreated the vibrant atmosphere of New York City. In addition to the capital, the creators looked into another colorful English city: Cardiff, which is located in Wales.
The decoration of the movie was a full-scale shooting in Turkey, and more specifically in Trabzon. The team filmed there footage of the majestic Sumela Monastery, which is built on a sheer cliff. Lake Mivat in Iceland with its volcanic landscapes served as a backdrop for the lion hunting scenes. On top of that, the film team visited Glasgow in Scotland. There they filmed several scenes in the Necropolis cemetery.
Cemetery
In movie
Scene where Nicholas Kravinof (Russell Crowe) tells his son Sergei (Aaron-Taylor Johnson) that his mother has died. They argue, the boy believing that the blame for this tragedy lies with his father because he kicked her out. Nikolai parries that his mother was weak and her mind was clouded, and she drove herself into the grave.
Real
Scene was shot in a cemetery in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. Glasgow Necropolis is an old Victorian cemetery. It is located on a high hill next to St. Mungo's Cathedral. The footage shot in this cemetery gave the scenes a chilling atmosphere
Glasgow
Lion hunt
In movie
Scene where the Kravinof family is hunting a lion. The brothers got close to the predator. Sergei pointed his rifle to shoot, but hesitated for a second and the lion pounced on him. Deciding that his son was dead, Nikolai ordered the team to drop him and leave.
Real
Scene was shot on Lake Mývatn in Iceland. The surrounding area of the lake is known for its mesmerizing lava fields and craters. These unique and spectacular landscapes provided the perfect backdrop for Craven's immersive character world. The breathtaking desert environment was the perfect reflection of the character's inner conflicts.
