Where was M. Night Shyamalan’s new movie Old filmed?

M. Night Shyamalan’s new mystery drama thriller, Old, is set to release in theaters on July 23, 2021. It marks a milestone in the filmmaker’s career because it’s his first movie shot entirely somewhere other than Pennsylvania or the Greater Philadelphia area.

But where was his new movie Old filmed? And are there any haunting superstitions tied to the location? Let’s take a look.

M. Night Shyamalan’s movie Old was filmed in the D.R.

The Dominican Republic, or D.R. as travelers affectionately abbreviate it, is no stranger to welcoming Hollywood. Other movies have taken advantage of its tropical setting and beautiful waters too, including some blockbusters like The Godfather (1972), The Godfather: Part II (1974), Apocalypse Now (1979), and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003).

A few horror movies were filmed there too, such as Zombie Flesh Eaters (1979), The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988), 47 Meters Down (2017), and Cabin Fever 3: Patient Zero (2014). And now M. Night Shyamalan’s newest movie.

But where exactly in the Dominican Republic was Old filmed? That would be on the sands of Playa El Valle, what TripAdvisor describes as “a serene beach tucked away on the Samana Peninsula.”

Playa El Valle seems to be one of those secluded Caribbean gems that’s not readily mobbed by tourists. It’s accessible from Punta Cana, where most visitors to the D.R. find themselves. However, with its beaches and all-inclusive resorts, most vacationers don’t trek far from Punta Cana.

Are they any ghosts or haunting legends about Playa El Valle?

None that I could find. Perhaps the scariest things to happen there were the scenes that were shot for the movie Old?

However, something pretty cool kept popping up during my research into Playa El Valle: an eco-friendly hotel in the jungle.

Dominican Tree House Village

Just outside of Samana, nestled in the trees of the jungle and near the Lulu waterfall, are “charming rustic-style bungalows” for rent according to VisitDominicanRepublic.org.

If you’ve ever dreamed of “glamping” in the trees, this would be a place to do it. We’re talking Robinson Crusoe style where you climb wooden staircases and traverse suspended bridges to access the bungalow rooms with thatched roofs, curtains for “walls,” and beds draped in bug nets.

The Dominican Tree House Village is a resort though, so you’ll also find a spa, pool, and even a yoga dome if you want to get your namaste on.

Is Bahoruco the spookiest place in the D.R.?

The capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, which is about three hours from where Old was filmed, has a few haunted places. One that comes up a lot is the House of Gargoyles, a sixteenth-century building that used to house Jesuit monks but is now home to the Institute of Hispanic Culture.

It gets its name from its exterior, which is covered in gargoyles. Some have claimed to see apparitions there too. Amazingly, they had me at gargoyles though. The ghosts are a bonus.

But spooky? Naw. Ghosts and gargoyles don’t eat people.

However, I’d have to think twice about visiting the Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo National Park, which is a UNESCO Biospehere Reserve. It’s in the Baoruco province on the southwestern side of the country and two things roam there that might eat people: crocodiles and Biembiens.

Uncommon Caribbean explained that among the ecosystems you’ll find in the national park are everything from tropical highlands and cloud forests to mangroves, caves, and lagoons, including Enriquillo Lake, the largest lake in the Caribbean. Since it’s located in a part of the country that’s below sea level, it’s also salty. Yet, crocodiles, which normally prefer fresh water, live there.

It’s in the Bahoruco highlands that we find the mythical creatures called Biembiens. The legend goes that they’re descended from African Slaves and Indians who escaped into the mountains, transforming into half-man, half-creature wild beings over time.

Some say Biembiens stalk their prey at night, including humans. Others say they’re shy and avoid people.

Because I fear they’d take one look at my meaty bones and start drooling if they are man-eaters, I think I’ll err on the side of caution and avoid their territory if I ever find myself in the Dominican Republic.

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Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, as well as obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.

Speaking of healing, to learn how she channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.