The crime thriller film “Finestkind,” written and directed by Brian Helgeland from Paramount+, centers on the reunion of two estranged brothers, Tom and Charlie, as adults. The brothers’ only choice in light of their dire financial situation is to team up with a dangerous criminal organization.
A young woman by the name of Mabel is also drawn into the midst of the mayhem in the meantime. Now, every one of the participants must make some sacrifices as their bonds are put to the test to escape this dangerous scenario. The cinematic mystery showcases remarkable performances from its skilled ensemble cast, which includes Ben Foster, Toby Wallace, Jenna Ortega, and Tommy Lee Jones.
Viewers frequently wonder where “Finestkind” was filmed because a large portion of the narrative takes place inside the namesake ship and on open waters. In particular, Boston, Bristol County, Brockton, Scituate, Stoughton, and Dedham were used as filming locations for “Finestkind.”
Principal photography on the Brian Helgeland-directed film reportedly began in April 2022 and concluded in June of that same year, a mere two months later. According to reports, one of the crew members had a serious leg injury during the shooting, while other crew members expressed dissatisfaction about not getting paid the promised wage. Now, let’s examine every single site that appears in the Paramount+ production!
Finestkind Filming Locations
Bristol County, Massachusetts
Bristol County, which borders the counties of Plymouth, Norfolk, and Dukes, was the site of much of the filming for “Finestkind.” The towns of Fairhaven and New Bedford are two notable places that were used as filming settings. Regarding the former, a movie set was constructed next to Cove Street on the fourth floor of the Elm Street Parking Garage, located at 51 Elm Street in New Bedford.
Upon arriving in Fairhaven, the “Finestkind” production crew settled into a few local businesses, such as F J Moriarty Liquors at 101 Middle Street and Rasputin’s Tavern at 122 Main Street. The Fairhaven Bike Path, Scott Street, Egypt Lane, Main and Church Streets, Union Wharf, and Hedge Street were also used for filming several outside sequences.
Additional production locations that appear in multiple sequences are the well-known Fort Phoenix State Reservation at 100 Green Street and the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge, which connects New Bedford and Fairhaven.
The outside sequences featuring the titular ship, a fishing vessel called “Finestkind” for the film, were also shot on the Sandra Jane. The director, Brian Helgeland, was questioned by Collider regarding his experience shooting in New Bedford. In many ways, it’s a tranquil town, so company movements weren’t a huge thing, he added.
It was really simple to maneuver about, shoot, and go from point A to point B. The location manager would say, “Okay, well,” and I would reply, “No, not this one,” which struck me as very strange.
Boston, Massachusetts
A segment of “Finestkind” was also filmed in Suffolk County, Boston, the state capital of Massachusetts. For director Brian Helgeland and his cast and crew, filming in the City of Champions turned out to be an exciting rollercoaster ride.
The director gave a detailed account of the event and some fascinating anecdotes from the happenings on the set in an interview with The Cinemen. When inquired about any significant challenges they had while filming scenes in the water, Helgeland responded, “We were just as fast on the water as we were on land.” A portion of it is that the weather was quite fortunate for us.
Other Locations in Massachusetts
The “Finestkind” production crew also relocated to many other areas in the Baked Bean State, including the towns of Dedham and Stoughton in Norfolk County and Brockton and Scituate in Plymouth County, to film. Specifically, a few shots were shot at the Supreme Coffee & Donuts café, located at 741 Crescent Street in Brockton.
One of the filming locations was a house on Edward Foster Road in the coastal town of Scituate, which is well-known for its historical significance and beaches. To tape several scenes during the first day of filming, the crew also built a set in a Stoughton building complex.
