Movie Locations

Lights! Cameras! …Action? Absolutely! Thanks to its unique landscapes, southwestern Pennsylvania has been home to multiple film and television productions over the years. While filming in southwestern Pennsylvania isn’t new, the area continues to see a surge in new productions. In just an hour’s drive, films have their choice of urban, rural, industrial, small town, and historical settings. And although it doesn’t see as many film and television crews as its counterparts in Fayette, Greene, and Allegheny counties, Greene County has had its share of Hollywood.

Night Zero & A Jury of His Peers — Waynesburg, PA

Night Zero, a Tredd Productions 2018 science fiction movie starring George Aquila and directed by Mark Cantu, filmed in Waynesburg in the late summer of 2017. In Night Zero, three couples struggle for survival after a catastrophic event, an alien chemical attack that makes people crazy.

A Jury of His Peers (2018) is another Tredd Production movie, filmed just months after production for Night Zero wrapped. They filmed parts of both movies in downtown Waynesburg mostly because of the historical courthouse sitting on High Street.

Act of Vengeance — Nemacolin, PA

1986’s Act of Vengeance is a double-local delight. Not only were scenes filmed in the area — most notably the Nemacolin coal mine — the story is local to the area as well. Starring Charles Bronson and Ellen Burstyn, the movie is based on the book Act of Vengeance by Trevor Armbrister. The story focuses on Joseph Yablonski, his union work, and the eventual murders of him and his family. Scenes for the movie were filmed at the Nemacolin coal mine and used Nemacolin Volunteer Fire Department’s fire trucks and locals as extras. While not much of the film’s mining locations remain, a few mine buildings are still standing.

Severe Injuries & Razor Days — Waynesburg, PA

Happy Cloud Media husband and wife team Mike Watt and Amy Lynn Best have filmed parts of their movies in the Waynesburg area. Two of their films, Razor Days and Severe Injuries, filmed in Waynesburg. In Razor Days (2012), three damaged women set out on a journey to hunt down those who have them most, including a trio of cannibalistic weekend warriors. Severe Injuries (2003) shares the story of an inept serial killer stalking residents of a sorority house and finds himself up against a murderous competitor.

The Road — Nemacolin, PA

Act of Vengeance wasn’t the last time Hollywood turned to Nemacolin for a movie based on a book. The Road (2009) used Nemacolin’s coal mining background differently. Instead of the retelling of a historical event, the director John Hillcoat turned to Nemacolin for the post-apocalyptic world from Cormac McCarthy’s novel of the same name. They filmed scenes with stars Viggo Mortenson, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Robert Duvall at the slate dump. The slate dump is still visible from parts of Cumberland Township and Nemacolin.

My Uncle John is a Zombie & Midnight — Spraggs, PA

My Uncle John is a Zombie (2016) stars John A. Russo, writer of cult classics Night of the Living Dead and Return of the Living Dead, as a zombie kept hidden by his niece and nephew who suddenly becomes famous when the world discovers he can talk and reason as though he were alive. They filmed parts of the movie at Shields Herb & Flower Farm and Shields Demesne Winery. The winery produced and bottled a special edition wine called Uncle John’s Brain Juice after filming. And the winery’s winemaker Alex Shields was featured in a cameo.

Many of the My Uncle John is a Zombie team returned to Greene County for another feature film — 2020’s Midnight. Midnight is the remake of John Russo’s 1982 film of the same name and based on his original novel. A teenage girl runs away from home and then picked up by a couple on a camping trip. The trip turns deadly when a cult attacks the group.

Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania — Carmichaels, PA

In Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania (2005), former coal queen and actress Sarah Rush returns to Greene County for a documentary about the 50^th anniversary of Carmichaels Bituminous Coal Show. The documentary, produced by Patricia Heaton and David Hunt, featured many locals from the area and showcased their work on the coal show. Locations featured in the film include the Carmichaels-Cumberland Township Volunteer Fire Department and the Carmichaels Area School District.

Destination Fear & Kindred Spirits — Waynesburg, PA

Episodes of the Travel Channel’s Destination Fear and Kindred Spirits were filmed in Waynesburg at the Greene County Historical Society Museum. In Destination Fear, maverick paranormal explorer Dakota Laden takes his sister, Chelsea Laden, and best friend, Tanner Wiseman, on a cross-country road trip to visit the most-haunted locations in America. The trio visited the museum in early 2021 and the episode premiered later that year.

Fearless duo Amy Bruni and Adam Berry take on the most emotional and terrifying cases of their careers in Kindred Spirits. Two of America’s leading paranormal investigators head out to haunted locations to capture evidence and bring closure to each home. Kindred Spirits filmed at the museum in 2022 and the episode aired in January 2023. All locations featured in both shows can be seen with a visit to the Greene County Historical Society Museum.