Netflix’s ‘The Pale Blue Eye’ Based on Louis Bayard’s 2003 novel of the same name, is a mystery thriller written and directed by Scott Cooper. Set at West Point Academy in the 1830s, it revolves around the mysterious death of a young cadet, initially thought to be a suicide.
However, when the body is examined in the morgue, the horrifying truth is revealed – the victim’s heart is missing and is deftly removed from the body. The case causes hysteria among everyone associated with the military academy, so to keep things under control and solve the murder, the leaders seek the help of a local detective named Augustus Landor.
To get to the bottom of the case, Augustus enlists the help of one of the cadets, Edgar Allan Poe. While the dark undertone determines the overall feel of the narrative, the use of eerie and historical locations takes it to another level. So it’s only natural that viewers want to know all about the actual filming locations of ‘The Pale Blue Eye.’
Where Was The Pale Blue Eye Movie Filmed?
“The Pale Blue Eye” was filmed entirely in Pennsylvania, mainly in Greater Pittsburgh, Lawrence County, and Somerset County. Principal photography on the Christian Bale starrer reportedly began in late November 2021 and wrapped up in late February 2022.
Although the story takes place at West Point Academy and the Hudson Valley, the filmmakers chose to use the vast and versatile landscape of Pennsylvania to shoot the film.
Pennsylvania
A significant portion of “The Pale Blue Eye” was filmed in Greater Pittsburgh, the region centered around Pittsburgh. For example, the Allegheny Cemetery at 4734 Butler Street in Pittsburgh and the Old Economy Village at 270 16th Street in Ambridge, Beaver County are a few important filming locations for the film. Additionally, the production team camped at Moraine State Park at 225 Pleasant Valley Road in Portersville, specifically Lake Arthur, which stood in for the Hudson River in the thriller.
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The cast and crew of “The Pale Blue Eye” began filming at the Compass Inn Museum at 1386 US-30 East in Laughlintown, Westmoreland County. In the film, this historical museum stands in for an 1830 tavern, which is an ideal location since the Compass Inn used to be a high-end stagecoach stop and tavern at the time. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 and currently serves as a history museum open to the public.
In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in early December 2021, journalist Pete Silbermann explained how they chose Pittsburgh, specifically the Compass Inn Museum, as the main filming location for the film. He said: “Finding a place like the Compass Inn was fantastic. We’re building on that a bit. Visually, it fits the story perfectly. Scott fell in love with it when he saw it, and it works absolutely brilliantly for the film.”
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Silbermann added, “A large part of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh are doing the same thing. The architecture is fantastic. When you find something that looks that old, even if it’s a little renovated and it fits the story, it feels fantastic.” In addition, Penguin Court and the adjacent Thomas Road Farm in Laughlintown were two other pivotal production locations.
Other parts of “The Pale Blue Eye” were recorded in Lawrence County, just 60 miles from Greater Pittsburgh. In December 2021, the cast and crew were spotted filming several key sequences at Westminster College at 319 S Market Street in New Wilmington. It doubled for West Point Academy with buildings in the Collegiate Gothic style.
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Various parts of the university campus feature prominently in the mystery film, including Old Main, Browne and Ferguson Halls, and the McGill Library. Additionally, McConnells Mill State Park at 1761 McConnells Mill Road in the Perry and Slippery Rocks neighborhoods served as an important filming location for Scott Cooper’s direction.
For filming purposes, the crew of “The Pale Blue Eye” ostensibly traveled to Somerset County, which is located along the direct southern edge of the state. It consists of many state-protected areas such as Kooser State Park, Laurel Hill State Park, Laurel Mountain State Park, and Laurel Ridge State Park.