This 2019 film about celebrity stalking, and starring legendary actor John Travolta as the mentally ill antagonist Moose, is not one of his best roles, yet features several areas around Birmingham that show off the versatility of our landscapes and neighborhoods, as they are passed off as posh parts of Los Angeles, as well as seedier fare around Hollywood Boulevard. Telling the story of Moose’s deranged obsession with popular actor Hunter Dunbar (played by Devon Sawa), that eventually results in the murder of Dunbar’s maid, and later his being tortured and held hostage in his own home as Moose’s obsessive tendencies spiral out of control, the movie is a psychological thriller along the lines of 1990’s Misery, but without the great acting. That being said, the film is still fun and scary at times, and local viewers will note the inclusion of locations like the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the outside of beloved downtown restaurants like Paramount and Brick & Tin, and the inside of the original location of former curio store What’s on 2nd? being used for pivotal scenes throughout the production. Highlighting the ways in which spaces and places in Birmingham can be made to be practically anywhere, the film is a great reminder that imagination is just as important to the magic of filmmaking as anything else when it comes to picking out areas to shoot in.
FUN FACT: Director Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit fame was spied around town multiple times during filming, including a night hanging out at legendary rock club The Nick.
Trailer Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtmlHgrxfEc