Engulfed in unease and driven by secrets no one dares to speak aloud, Netflix’s The Beast in Me unfolds like a quiet storm, its tension creeping in through shadowy hallways, deserted roads, and landscapes that mirror the emotional turmoil of Claire Danes’ character. The thriller thrives on atmosphere, using setting as a silent antagonist. Therefore, as the story pulls viewers deeper into its world of suspicion and survival, one question naturally rises: Where were these haunting, meticulously crafted scenes brought to life?

The answer to the query is embedded in the very landscapes that define the story of The Beast in Me.

The Beast in Me, led by Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys, filmed widely across New Jersey, the very state it embraces on screen. Production ran from September 2024 to late January 2025, covering Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Passaic, and Union counties, according to NJ. Key areas featured in the series include Route 3 in Secaucus, Silver Spoon XR Studio, multiple Newark spots such as Branch Brook Park and Halsey Street, and several Jersey City sites including Harborside 5, Morgan Street, and Mana Contemporary.

The series also relied on locations that showcase quieter corners of New Jersey, adding to its moody, small-community tension. Filming took place at Bayonne’s 16th Street Park, Colonia’s Hazel Wood Cemetery, Old Bridge Waterfront Park in South Amboy, and Red Bank staples like Jr’s, 26 West on the Navesink, and The Molly Pitcher Inn. Crews also used Dobco in Wayne, the former North Jersey Developmental Center in Totowa, and wooded areas such as Westfield’s Tamaques Reservation and Cranford’s Dreyer Farms, per NJ. What is the plot of The Beast in Me that requires such expansive shooting, though?

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The Beast in Me follows a grieving author who becomes intrigued by her neighbor, laying the groundwork for an edge-of-the-seat thriller.

The Beast in Me tells the story of a writer grieving her son who becomes increasingly drawn into the unsettling mystery surrounding her new neighbor, turning her quiet life into a tense game of cat and mouse. The series unfolds across eight episodes, each building on the show’s central question: What truly happened to the man’s missing wife? Created by Gabe Rotter and steered by showrunner Howard Gordon, with whom Claire Danes had previously worked on Homeland, the series arrived on Netflix on November 13.

Ultimately, grounded in New Jersey’s vivid mix of urban grit and quiet suburban unease, The Beast in Me uses its locations not merely as scenery but as emotional bedrock for its slow-burning tension. As the final episode settles in, the settings still linger, amplifying the series’ mood long after the credits roll. It is also this blend of atmosphere and craft that makes The Beast in Me a worthwhile addition to Netflix’s growing collection of thrillers, closing the story on a note that feels both haunting and earned.

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What do you think of The Beast in Me and its filming locations? Let us know in the comments.