Hell Motel (2025) Filming Locations: Where Shudder’s Chilling Series Was Shot

Shudder’s upcoming horror miniseries HELL MOTEL is gearing up to terrify viewers with its mix of slasher horror, dark humor, and true crime obsession. Created by Aaron Martin and Ian Carpenter, the same minds behind Slasher: Ripper, the eight-episode limited series stars Emmy-winner Eric McCormack as Hemmingway, a wickedly sharp-tongued chef with deadly secrets. Produced by Shaftesbury, with Adam MacDonald directing, the series dives deep into the horror genre while reflecting on our cultural obsession with real-life crime and murder.

THE STORY OF HELL MOTEL (2025)

Set in a newly reopened Cold River Motel — the site of a gruesome, unsolved Satanic mass murder from the 1980s — the show follows ten true crime fans invited for an exclusive weekend retreat. What starts off as a thrilling opportunity quickly turns into a nightmare when guests begin to die under increasingly horrific circumstances. The murders escalate in brutality, echoing the grisly events that happened decades ago. Each character brings a unique obsession or connection to true crime, including Blake (played by Atticus Mitchell), a writer and survivor of a previous mass killing, and Paige (played by Paula Brancati), a washed-up scream queen trying to reclaim fame.

Eric McCormack’s Hemmingway serves as both a literal and narrative chef, cooking up more than just food with his sinister presence. Other key cast members include Shaun Benson as Crow, a psychic medium, Emmanuel Kabongo as Kawayan, a murder-obsessed artist, and Genevieve DeGraves as Adriana, a flight attendant with dangerous tastes. Michelle Nolden and Brynn Godenir play Portia and Ruby, new owners of the motel, while Canadian drag star Icesis Couture makes a stylish guest appearance as Magenta.

WHERE WAS HELL MOTEL FILMED?

While the Cold River Motel might be fictional, the chilling world of Hell Motel was brought to life in Ontario, Canada, with the majority of filming taking place in and around Toronto. Production started in late August 2024 and wrapped after 52 production days in early November 2024. Despite its terrifying storyline, cast members described the experience on set as incredibly fun and memorable.

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FILMING IN ETOBICOKE, TORONTO

The heart of filming was based in Etobicoke, a suburban district in southwestern Toronto. The neighborhood’s older architecture and quiet streets gave the perfect eerie setting for the Cold River Motel, transforming familiar urban surroundings into something dark and ominous.

Specific scenes were filmed along Browns Line Street in the Alderwood neighborhood, where recognizable storefronts like South Shore Bar & Grill and Gus Tacos served as backdrops. These real-life businesses were cleverly integrated into the fictional world of Hell Motel, helping blur the line between reality and fiction. The Mimico neighborhood, particularly Burlington Street, is also believed to have featured in various shots.

Etobicoke’s mix of suburban calm and gritty character made it an ideal setting to replicate the fictional motel’s isolated and haunted atmosphere. The fall weather during filming further added to the unsettling tone, with changing leaves, fog, and rain enhancing the show’s visual mood.

ALNWICK/HALDIMAND, ONTARIO

In addition to Toronto’s Etobicoke district and neighborhoods like Alderwood and Mimico, HELL MOTEL was also filmed on location in the Township of Alnwick/Haldimand in Ontario, Canada. This rural township lies along the north shore of Lake Ontario and offers a mix of forest, farmland, and small-town infrastructure — ideal for horror backdrops requiring isolation and natural scenery.

While the fictional Cold River Motel was likely created using a mix of set design and real locations, this region’s remote appeal helped enhance the chilling atmosphere of the slasher series. The addition of Alnwick/Haldimand to the show’s filming list aligns with the production’s intent to build an eerie, immersive environment steeped in tension, history, and true crime mythology.

Michelle Nolden, who plays Portia, posted on social media, “This one was a wild and crazy ride. Amazing cast and team to work with. So much fun. So much blood.”

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RAIN, FIRE, AND OTHER TECHNIQUES

Not everything was natural — in scenes where weather was required, like the rainy night when the group finds a camper ablaze, the production team used practical effects. Tall sprinklers were positioned to create the illusion of heavy rain. Combined with dramatic lighting and clever camera work, these techniques helped intensify the horror aesthetic.

Although the Cold River Motel does not exist in real life, the fictional location feels real due to the effective use of practical sets and repurposed buildings throughout the Toronto area. It’s likely the motel interiors were filmed on a controlled soundstage or converted space to allow for elaborate gore effects and choreography.

BEHIND THE SCENES

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Despite the dark storyline, behind-the-scenes life was lighthearted. The cast and crew bonded over pizza and snacks between scenes. Pictures from the set showed the team laughing, posing with blood-covered props, and enjoying themselves in stark contrast to the chaos on screen. According to insiders, it was this camaraderie that made filming both productive and enjoyable.

Eric McCormack joked, “When Aaron and Ian called to tell me they had written another irredeemable a-hole for me, I said, ‘Where do I sign?’ If you hated Basil Garvey, wait till you meet Hemmingway.”

HELL MOTEL (2025) EPISODE GUIDE SCHEDULE

HELL MOTEL (2025) OFFICIAL TRAILER

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