PONYBOI is a 2024 American thriller film that tells a deeply personal story about identity, survival, and self-discovery. Directed by Esteban Arango and written by River Gallo—who also plays the title role—the film expands on Gallo’s 2019 short film of the same name. Set in New Jersey, the story follows Ponyboi, a young intersex sex worker, who works at a laundromat alongside his pregnant best friend, Angel (played by Victoria Pedretti), and spends nights with Vinnie (played by Dylan O’Brien), a dangerous pimp and Angel’s baby’s father. When a drug deal goes wrong, Ponyboi finds himself fleeing from the mob, setting the stage for a chaotic and emotional journey. In addition to Gallo, O’Brien, and Pedretti, the cast includes Murray Bartlett as Bruce and Indya Moore as Charlie.
WHERE WAS PONYBOI FILMED?
Principal photography for PONYBOI took place in New Jersey cities and some parts of New York City. The movie was shot up to December 2022. The places where the movie was shot give it a rough, real look that fits with Ponyboi’s journey, both emotionally and physically. River Gallo has said in interviews and on social media that the movie was largely based on their own childhood memories in New Jersey, which makes the locations very symbolic.
Here’s a breakdown of the main filming sites used in PONYBOI:
JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY
As one of the primary urban settings of the film, Jersey City was used to capture some of the busier, more industrial moments in Ponyboi’s life. It was a great place to film because it was close to New York while still having a New Jersey feel.
PALISADES PARK, NEW JERSEY
One of the most significant locations in the film is the laundromat where Ponyboi works with Angel. The scenes at the laundromat were shot at the L & P Laundromat in Palisades Park, which is at 16-B NJ-5. This small town spot is an important part of the character’s daily life and shows—how boring his life was before everything went wrong. For the story that comes next, it’s also the place where the movie starts.
OCEAN TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY
Ocean Township offered more suburban and coastal vibes for the film’s softer, more reflective moments. The peaceful surroundings of this area provided a stark contrast to the tension of Ponyboi’s dangerous relationships, especially as he navigates his feelings for Vinnie.
KEARNY, NEW JERSEY
Kearny was the setting for several important scenes. During filming, one address—1 Hackensack Avenue—was used. A lot of the scenes with the mob and the bad drug deal probably took place in this industrial area. The roughness of this setting fits with the darker themes of the movie.
ASBURY PARK, NEW JERSEY
Asbury Park, which is known for its artsy boardwalk and old-fashioned city charm, was also used for filming. This place might have been a beautiful setting for Ponyboi’s more reflective or transitional scenes in the story. The natural beauty of the New Jersey coast is mixed with the rough edges of real life.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
Most of the filming happened in New Jersey, but some scenes were also shot in New York City. This gave the scenes a fast-paced, chaotic energy that matched Ponyboi’s growing emotional turmoil and desperation.
River Gallo has often spoken about how deeply personal this film is to them, with New Jersey playing a major role in both the film and their own identity. In an Instagram post, Gallo shared, “That’s a wrap on PONYBOI, my very first feature film I wrote and starred in. I am honored and humbled by all the incredible artists that have come on board to fully realize my chaotic little Y2K New Jersey intersex fever dream.”
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