Culture 2 min read By Morgan Griffin
Knives Out uses lesser-known Massachusetts locations that fans recognize
The first Knives Out film filmed in corners of Massachusetts rarely seen on screen, drawing local viewers who recognized the settings from their own lives.
Viewers who know the Massachusetts countryside are finding a personal connection in Rian Johnson's Knives Out, the 2019 whodunit whose filming locations include parts of the state that rarely appear in major studio films. A Reddit user who grew up in the area where the movie was shot said the choice stood out on a rewatch, noting that while Boston has long been a favored backdrop, other parts of the state have been largely overlooked by Hollywood.
The poster's appreciation centers on the thrill of seeing familiar streets and buildings on a large screen in a major production. He also described a personal link to the film: he and his wife had a date at a restaurant that appears early in the movie. The post reflects a broader pattern in which regional audiences feel a special kind of recognition when a place they know becomes part of a story watched by millions.
The discussion that followed invited other users to share similar experiences, asking whether they had seen their own hometowns or familiar local spots appear in films despite not being major tourist or production hubs. The thread points to a common appeal of film production beyond the usual centers: a movie set in a hometown can turn an ordinary place into something viewers recognize, and in some cases, feel proud of.
The conversation also highlights how the geography of filmmaking tends to concentrate around a handful of cities. Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Boston are the places most viewers associate with movies, which makes appearances by smaller or less familiar locations stand out. For audiences in those areas, a scene shot down the street from their own home can make a film feel closer and more personal.
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