The upcoming crime-horror movie NO TEARS IN HELL (2025) is a scary dramatization based on one of Russia’s scariest criminal cases. The movie, which was directed by Michael Caissie and co-written with Alexander Nistratov—is about a mother and son who turn their home into a place where people abuse, torture, and eat each other.
Set to be released on VOD on August 12, this psychological horror stars Luke Baines as Alex, Gwen Van Dam as the mother, alongside Tatjana Marjanovic, Audrey Neal, Gabriella Westwood, and Princess Elmore in supporting roles.
BASED ON A TRUE STORY: THE CASE OF THE SIBERIAN RIPPER
NO TEARS IN HELL is based on the life and crimes of Alexander Spesivtsev, a Russian serial killer also known as the Novokuznetsk Monster or the Siberian Ripper, who operated primarily in Novokuznetsk during the 1990s.
Spesivtsev, with the help of his mother Lyudmila, went after street kids and young women who were weak and trapped them in their home, where they were abused and sometimes eaten. He was found guilty of four murders but admitted to 19 and was suspected of more than 80 murders.
The horror depicted in the film is heightened by its connection to real events, making it all the more unsettling. According to director Caissie, “From having to take emotional breaks from the writing to witnessing cast, crew, and even myself crying at the monitor… I knew I was making something important.”
Now let’s dive into the main highlight—the filming locations of NO TEARS IN HELL.
WHERE WAS NO TEARS IN HELL FILMED?
NO TEARS IN HELL was filmed in Whittier, Alaska, and Dothan, Alabama, in 2024— two very different American cities that were chosen to capture the creepy, isolated and scary atmosphere of Spesivtsev’s real-life crimes.
WHITTIER, ALASKA: THE “TOWN UNDER ONE ROOF”
One of the most beautiful places to film is Whittier, Alaska, a small town on the coast that is about—60 miles south of Anchorage and has no other buildings. The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel is the only way to get to Whittier. It is a narrow, one-lane tunnel that goes through the Chugach Mountains for 2.5 miles. . This isolation made Whittier the perfect stand-in for the psychological and physical claustrophobia captured in the film.
The primary filming site in Whittier was the Begich Towers, a Cold War-era building originally constructed in 1974. What makes the Begich Towers truly unique—and ideal for the tone of NO TEARS IN HELL—is that almost all of Whittier’s population lives within this single structure. The tower contains residential apartments as well as many of the town’s public services. For this reason, Whittier is often referred to as the “town under one roof.”
This eerie living condition parallels the grim setting of the movie, where the mother and son operate undetected in their confined apartment space.
DOTHAN, ALABAMA
Additional filming took place in Dothan, Alabama, a city with a very different atmosphere from Whittier. Dothan is the eighth most populous city in Alabama. It is in Houston County and is known for its southern charm and sense of community. Parts of the movie NO TEARS IN HELL were filmed here to get scenes with warmer tones and suburban backgrounds that could have been flashbacks or scenes before the family went crazy.
Behind-the-scenes images shared by crew members and actors on Instagram showcase urban sets, character makeup sessions, and production moments filmed around Dothan. The mix of this southern town and the frozen expanse of Alaska created a vivid contrast between calm and chaos in the visual storytelling.
AN INTENSE EXPERIENCE FOR CAST AND CREW
Director Michael Caissie revealed the emotional toll the story took on everyone involved, saying:
“From having to take emotional breaks from the writing to witnessing cast, crew, and even myself crying at the monitor because it was so intense, I knew I was making something important.”
With Luke Baines leading a powerful cast, and Caissie bringing haunting realism to screen, NO TEARS IN HELL promises to be a harrowing experience. The choice of filming in Whittier and Dothan brings authenticity and gravity to this disturbing tale of real-life horror.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Stay tuned to Netfilming.com for more updates, filming news, and behind-the-scenes.
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