The Netflix show American Primeval takes viewers on a thrilling trip into the wild heart of the American West. With a six-part series written by the talented Mark L. Smith and directed by Peter Berg, the show paints a harsh but true picture of a time and place that were known for being raw. Berg (Film 44) and Newman (Grand Electric), the show’s executive producers, have made sure that it takes viewers deep into the harsh reality of the Utah Territory in 1857,—where religion, sovereignty and survival all clash violently. This movie looks at a time that changed the American spirit and stars Taylor Kitsch as the lead. But where did this great Old West story filmed? Let’s Find Out..
American Primeval Summary Plot
The story of American Primeval takes place in the Utah Territory in 1857 and is about the harsh and unbending forces that shaped the American frontier. The show is mostly about Sara (Betty Gilpin), a desperate woman who hires Isaac (Taylor Kitsch), a Shoshone guide, to take her and her son west. In real life, the show shows how the U.S. Army, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Native American groups like the Shoshone, Southern Paiute, and Ute fought each other along their dangerous journey.
People are shocked by how the first episode shows the Mountain Meadows Massacre, a horrible event in which a militia and Paiute auxiliaries killed over 120 pioneers. Even though the show is mostly made up, it doesn’t hold back from showing how hard life was during this unstable time.
Where Was American Primeval Filmed?
From February 2023 to March 2024, filming took place in New Mexico. The changing landscape of New Mexico, with its rough mountains and wide deserts, made for a very real historical backdrop. The state’s popularity in movies isn’t a coincidence; it has a strong film industry with skilled workers, helpful infrastructure, and a dedication to protecting cultural heritage. Let’s explore all filming locations of “American Primeval” in detail:
Santa Fe, New Mexico
A lot of the action in the show takes place in Santa Fe, which was also the center of production. Amber Dodson, Director of the New Mexico Film Office, talked about how important the show was and how it employed over 4,000 New Mexicans, including 750 crew members and over 3,400 extras. The production not only showed off the beautiful scenery in the area, but it also helped the local economy.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque was also very important to the filming. Its flexible landscapes let the crew recreate a wide range of environments, from empty plains to dense forests. This ability to adapt was very important for keeping the series’ commitment to realism.
Ranch at Bonanza Creek
Bonanza Creek Ranch, a place that is often used in Westerns, became the center of the production. Here, a copy of Fort Bridger was built, and later it was partially burned down, just like the real one did during the Utah War. Racks of drying fish, tepee skeletons, and hand-dyed and stitched clothes made by Native American artisans were just a few of the many details that went into the set.
Every part of the production was influenced by director Peter Berg’s commitment to realism. No part was too small, from the costumes to the sound. For the show, more than 1,300 clothes were made, and each one was worn and worn down to show how hard life was back then. The make-up artists took “grunge” to a whole new level by making sure that every character looked like they had lived through years of hardship in the wilderness.
Even the sound design put a lot of emphasis on being real. Wylie Stateman, a sound designer, and his team recorded field effects in Santa Fe. They focused on things like wind and left out birds on purpose to make the atmosphere creepy.
New Mexico was a tough and rewarding place to film for the cast and crew. Howard Berger, who was in charge of makeup, talked about how hard it was to make the show’s gritty look. He said, “We just kept making it dirtier and dirtier.” Peter Berg insisted on “more dirt,” which made sure that the characters looked like they did in the show’s unflinching story.
Derek Hinkey, who plays the Shoshone warrior Red Feather, liked how the production paid attention to cultural accuracy. “When you walk onto the set, man, it’s crazy,” he said, describing how strange it was to see Native American actors dressed in traditional clothing.
An Indigenous cultural consultant named Julie O’Keefe stressed how important it was to get every detail right. She worked with a group of experts to make sure that Native American characters were portrayed in a way that didn’t fall into stereotypes and respected their histories.
The fact that American Primeval was filmed in New Mexico shows how popular it is becoming as a location for big productions. EDD Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes said, “New Mexico’s investment in the film industry is paying off.” She pointed out that the series created thousands of jobs and helped local businesses.
Amber Dodson agreed and said that the state’s film ecosystem, which is helped by companies like Netflix, makes it a great place for big projects like American Primeval.
The show American Primeval does more than just tell a story; it immerses viewers in the harsh landscapes and turbulent history of the American West. With New Mexico’s beautiful scenery as a backdrop, the show has a level of realism that is rarely seen on TV. Every part of the production shows a dedication to bringing history to life, from the historic charm of Santa Fe to the intricate details of Bonanza Creek Ranch. As viewers dive into the harsh and honest world of American Primeval, they will be taken back to a time and place that helped shape the country, all thanks to New Mexico’s rugged beauty.
See More: The Substance Filming Locations (2024) – A Horror Movie
