The Cursed is a gothic horror movie that came out in 2021. Sean Ellis directed, wrote, and co-produced it. The movie is set in the late 1800s and is about a French village that is being terrorised by a dangerous supernatural force after a fight between a Romani clan. With Boyd Holbrook, Kelly Reilly, Alistair Petrie, and Roxane Duran in lead roles, the film dives deep into the myth of werewolves—but with a terrifying twist rooted in folklore, revenge, and transformation.
From cursed silver fangs to atmospheric fog-filled fields, much of the haunting power of The Cursed comes not just from its story, but from its meticulously chosen locations. The production team brought this eerie narrative to life by filming in real French villages, ancient churches, and secluded countryside estates—making the visuals feel both cinematic and unsettlingly real.
Where Was The Cursed Filmed?
The Cursed was filmed in two phases. The first phase took place from April 8 to May 29, 2019, and the second from February 10 to March 4, 2020. Filming occurred mainly in Cognac and nearby areas in the Charente region of western France.
Cognac, Charente Department, France
The heart of The Cursed was filmed in and around Cognac, a small commune located in the Charente Department of western France. It is famous for its brandy, but it is also known for its cobblestone streets, quiet vineyards, and rustic architecture. It was more than just a beautiful place for director Sean Ellis; it was personal. Ellis lives in Cognac and already knows the area well, which made it easier to find real locations that fit the nineteenth-century mood of the movie.
Cognac served as the perfect stand-in for the fictional haunted village at the center of the movie. The production team specifically chose Cognac for its isolation and untouched beauty. “There is no real travel infrastructure, no direct flights or highways; it’s rather isolated and hidden,” Ellis explained in an interview. This isolation helped create a natural sense of seclusion, which worked perfectly for a story about a cursed land cut off from the world.
Actor Boyd Holbrook shared that the fog featured in many eerie scenes wasn’t always artificial. “It actually is how it is,” he said, describing how natural fog blankets the vineyards in the mornings. “It’ll go to about maybe noon, and then it’ll start to lift.” This environmental authenticity contributed heavily to the film’s unsettling mood.
Domaine du Coureau – Salles-d’Angles, France
Just southwest of Cognac lies Domaine du Coureau, an estate in Salles-d’Angles, which was used as the filming location for the Laurent family’s manor. The estate was perfect for the gothic look needed for the movie — with its large grounds and historic front. The hauntingly grand look of the manor and its remote location helped set the tone for much of the movie’s drama and horror.
The estate was the physical and emotional centre of the cursed storyline and was the main focus of many important scenes. From quiet nighttime attacks to the emotional collapse of the Laurent family, much of the movie’s most powerful sequences unfolded within this property.
Charente-Maritime Department – Lonzac, France
The crew also filmed in the nearby Charente-Maritime Department, especially in the village of Lonzac, as well as in Cognac and the Charente Department. Lonzac, which is on the western edge of France, gave artists more rural exteriors and natural landscapes they needed for outdoor scenes.
The peaceful village and famous church were shown in several scenes, which made the link between tradition, religion, and the supernatural even stronger. The similar styles of architecture between Lonzac and Cognac helped the movie’s different filming locations fit together well.
Église Saint-Denis de Lichères
The Romanesque Église Saint-Denis de Lichères, which is near Cognac, was used for filming as well. This church was probably the village church that was used in the movie. It’s where some of the most exciting and dramatic scenes happen— like the scary attack in the last act.
Why These Locations Worked So Well
One thing that makes The Cursed stand out is how real the village and its surroundings feel. The natural, old-world look was improved — by director Sean Ellis’s choice to use 35mm film and anamorphic lenses. “We tried to do as much of it in camera as possible,” Ellis said in an interview with Variety. The result was a deeply immersive film where the environment seemed to breathe and react to the story’s dark developments.
Because many of the filming locations were real, the production required minimal set dressing. Most of the visual work was done by the towns’ existing buildings— the fog, and the quiet surroundings. This not only helped make the scary parts more real, but it also gave the movie a unique background that you don’t see very often in modern horror movies.
A lot of the work was done on-site in Cognac and the surrounding areas by Vintage Film Paris, Peninsula Films — and local coordinators. These partnerships made sure that filming in these rural areas went smoothly and kept the director’s goal of a real feel.
Officail Trailer
Visit netfilming.com—your go-to source for TV shows, movies, filming locations, and behind-the-scenes production news.
Secret Life of My Other Wife (2025) Filming Locations: Where Was the Suspenseful Drama Shot?
