Demonic is a 2021 science-fiction, supernatural horror film written, directed, and co-produced by Neill Blomkamp. Having directed other science-fiction films such as District 9, this was Blomkamp’s first time venturing into the realm of horror.
With no reference material of a real life story or book upon which the movie has been based, Blomkamp experimented by blending a Black Mirror-esque advanced tech vibe with religious Christian elements, tying them together masterfully to present Demonic.
The protagonist, Carly (Carly Pope) navigates through a rough relationship with her homicidal mother in a simulation-induced dreamscape world, only to find out that her mother was possessed by a demon.
As the story unfolds, it takes the audience through a journey of background lore about the demon and ties it with futuristic technology as Carly escapes from the crutches of the demon. However, apart from knowing about the movie itself, some would like to know about where and how it was shot. Let’s dive right into that!
Filming Locations
Blomkamp had initially decided to film the movie in the deserts of New Mexico. However, with the COVID-19 outbreak, his plans had to take a turn. He has expressed his love of filmmakers shooting low-budget horror films in locations they had easy access to. As most of the productions went into halt, Blomkamp began shooting Demonic secretly in the summer of 2020, in British Columbia with the help of AGC Studios.
Okanagan, British Columbia
Demonic is reported to have been shot primarily in Okanagan Valley. Also known as Okanagan Country, it is renowned for its fruit orchards and wineries. As the filming began while COVID-19 had taken over the world, Blomkamp ensured that the entire cast was quarantined before they came on set and every protocol for viral precaution was maintained.
How was Demonic Filmed?
One of the most exciting aspects of this movie is the simulation technology used by the doctors at Therapol to verify whether a person is under demonic possession or not. They would use a device to connect to the person who would create a dreamscape land. Another person could enter the simulation using that technology and they could interact. This is how Carly would interact with her mother Angela.
Both Neill Blomkamp and Carly Pope have explained what technology was used to film these particular scenes in separate interviews.
Neill Blomkamp
In an interview with Variety, Blomkamp said –
“The process is called volumetric capture. It’s unlike motion capture, so it’s unlike the process of a typical motion capture audiences are used to. Motion capture would apply the motion of a body or facial capture to something artists build separately. This version is: Your actors are in hair and makeup and wardrobe — that is how they look. The only difference is that instead of filming them with a film camera, you’re capturing them in 3D.”
This technology in particular isn’t new but the approach is quite unique. Blomkamp added that this technology helped him add 16 minutes of CGI in his low-budget horror film but of course, it came with its glitches and errors due to being a product of early technology. Once its resolution rivals that of film cameras, the technology will be quite the revolution.
Carly Pope
In an interview with Screen Rant, Pope said –
“I will talk to you from a very neophyte perspective. It’s volumetric capture, which effectively [means] you are captured by 360 degrees of cameras – in this case, I think we used 260 cameras. It’s in a round, and you are within that cage, and every angle of you is captured in order for the data to be turned into a three-dimensional geometric avatar that then you can place into a photoreal environment.
We also use a technology – I think it was this, or it was an offshoot of this – called photogrammetry, which is where you capture real environments, and that becomes your place. Then your geometric self is placed into these environments, and my understanding is you can actually shoot it in-camera, so you can actually direct it.”