Lights, Kamloops, action! Our otherworldly landscapes, varied geography, and wide-open spaces have provided ideal locations and lots of inspiration for movie makers over the years. Here are six TV shows and movies that have used the Kamloops area as a backdrop for all the action.
The Stand
Stephen King’s mini-series, The Stand, about a planned pandemic might seem a little too close to home now, but some of the filming locations can be seen at a safe distance in the Village of Ashcroft, an hour away from downtown Kamloops. With other scenes being filmed on Paul Lake Road in Kamloops - the gateway to Paul Lake Provincial Park, around Highway 97C and the surrounding area, look out for our region appearing on-screen.
Jurassic World: Dominion (2022)
The location for much of the third Jurassic World movie was filmed near Kamloops and Stars stayed in Kamloops. Main actor Chris Pratt took to his Instagram account to praise the beauty of Kamloops, saying “Kamloops, British Columbia, is so beautiful” as he filmed his drive through the region.
Monster Trucks
Hike along Tranquille River taking in the fall colours and see the spot where the monster in Monster Trucks sped away taking Tripp on a ride he’ll never forget; bring your dog – they’ll love the walk. As you drive past the Kamloops Airport on your way to Tranquille Creek, look out for the Oil Refinery that’s the backdrop for the oil riggers’ man camp, where the monster spun around and outsmarted the FBI.
Van Helsing
Don’t worry, there are no real vampires eating hikers like you might have seen in Van Helsing Season 4. In addition to filming at Tranquille Farm Fresh, you can safely admire the hiking area amongst the hoodoos on the way to Harper’s Trail Winery along East Shuswap Road to retrace the steps of the scenes from this spooky series.
Beyond The Woods
Filmed with a mainly Kamloops crew, this indie film went on to win multiple awards for its psychological thriller tale after its release in 2019. Look out for Kamloops as a backdrop, with spooky scenes taking place in the farming village of Westwold, a 45-minute drive south east of Kamloops.
Cadence
Feel like an old-school film fest? The 1990 Martin Sheen/Charlie Sheen military prison drama, Cadence, (aka Stockade) was based in 1960s West Germany but filmed around Kamloops and Ashcroft. Look out for some retro shots of the region.
Interested in seeing what other movies and tv series were filmed in the Kamloops area? Learn more at the Thompson-Nicola Film Commission Movie Map and our 6 Hollywood Movies Filmed in Kamloops blog.