Have you ever Heard of the film Better Off Dead and are interested in knowing the filming locations for the film? Better of dead is an American Black comedy film released on August 23, 1985. Savage Steve Holland directs the film. Savage Steve Holland wrote the story of the film Isidore Mankofsky the astounding cinematography.
The series was produced by Michael Jaffe under the production company A&M Films in partnership with C.B.S. Theatrical Films. Warner Bros. distributed the film. It had a run time of 97 minutes and a box-office collection of $10.3 million. Cusak thought the film could have been better.
The film was well-received by the audience. People liked the movie in secret rather than openly loving it because of the crude jokes in the film. The audience loved the satirical comedy of the film. The audience felt the film spoke to them and had a deep meaning.
Cusak walked out of the screening as he didn’t like the movie. The film received an overall writing of 6.90/10 on various platforms. The film’s cast was powerful, and the audience felt a connection to them. It was said the film had a body of a tired teen comedy and the soul of a student film.
The film’s core cast includes John Cusack as Lane Myer, a high-school student Curtis Armstrong as Charles De Mar, Diane Franklin as Monique Junot, Kim Darby as Jenny Myer, and David Ogden Stiers as Al Myer.
The supporting cast of the film includes Amanda Wyss as Beth Truss, as Lane’s girlfriend, Aaron Dozier as Roy Stalin, a bully, Demaian Slade as Johnny Gasparini, Scooter Stevens as Badger Myer, Yuji Okumoto as Yee Sook Ree, Brian Imada as Chen Ree, Laura Waterbury as Ricky Smith, Chuck Mitchell as Rocko, Vincent Schiavelli as Mr.Kerber, Rick Rosenthal as Smitty and, E.G., Daily as Herself.
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Premise Of Better Off Dead
The film’s plot follows the general layout of high-school life for the students. Lane is a high school student madly in love with his girlfriend, Beth. He has been dating Beth for six months before she breaks up with Roy Stalin, the handsome and popular ski team captain. In reality, Roy is a bully.
Lane’s only two passions in his life were his ex-girlfriend and skiing, and with one of them being gone, he doesn’t know what to do next in life. Lane is rejected during the skiing tryouts by Roy. He also gets made fun of by Beth for driving an old station wagon. In reality, Lane owns a Camero, but he hasn’t been able to drive it as the car requires some repairing.
The story develops with Lane either trying to attempt suicide, a comical failure, or to win his ex back. To win Beth back, Lane decides to ski K-12 but fails miserably. Lane is further embarrassed after he gets fired from his job at the pig burger joint in front of Beth. As time passed, Lane met with a beautiful young foreign exchange student Monique.
Monique has a crush on Lane, and she helps him build some self-confidence. During a tuff between Roy and Lane, Roy insults Monique leading to Lane’s decision to challenge him for a ski dual from the K-12. Roy accepts the challenge, and the duo starts the preparation for the race. Monique helps Lane to prepare for the race. On race day, Lane wins, and Beth tries to hug him.
Lane rejects the hug from Beth and drives off in the Camaro, repaired by Monique with her. The end credits of the film witnessed Lane and Monique kissing in the Dodger stadium, whereas, at the same time, Lane’s brilliant younger brother Badger launches a rocket through their house roof.
Better Off Dead- Filming Locations
The movie is shot in parts of Alta, Brighton, and Snowbird in Utah. The film had hand-written animations done by Savage Steve Holland in collaboration with Bill kpop. The scene with hamburgers and fries coming to life was shot with a stop motion.
1636 – Virginia Avenue
The scene of the film with Meyer’s house was shot at 1636 Virginia Avenue, Glendale, California, U.S.A. The Meyer family home is shot here. The production crew of the film selected this location because of the scenic beauty of the location. The exterior of Meyer’s house in the film is also shot here.
The film’s beginning is shot here with Lane Meyers waking up and getting ready for the ski tryouts while his dad tries to stop the paper boy from breaking the last window in the garage. The end of the film with Badger launching a rocket through the house roof is also shot here.
1633 – Virginia Avenue
The Virgina Avenue, located in Glendale, California, was used by the production crew to film the scenes with Smith’s house, where Monique, the foreign exchange student, resides. The first shot involving the house is when Monique stares out the window to look at Lane.
One of the memorable shots filmed here was when Lane parks outside the house and witnesses Monique throwing lemons at the street signs.
Dan’s Market
The film’s production crew selected the location of Dan market to shoot the scene where the audience witnessed the grocery store in which Charles admitted to being unable to get drugs. The shot is in Dan’s Market- Holladay, Utah, U.S.A.
Lankershim Boulevard
The production crew selected Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood, California, in the U.S.A. for the Pig Burger joint scene. The scene where Lane gets fired from his job at the burger joint is shot here.
The location is a thoroughfare in the eastern region of San Fernando. It is shot in the former Sandy’s Char Burger present in the location. The location is now closed and abandoned. It is now used to sell cars, even though the signage for the joint is still present there.
In N Out
The In N Out Service Centre in North San Fernando Boulevard, in California, U.S.A., was used by the production crew to shoot the scene where Johnny Gasparini, the eccentric paperboy in the movie, gets washed off the roof of Lane Meyer’s car when he is asking for his $2 back.
Baldwin Avenue
The production crew used Baldwin Avenue in Sierra Madre, California, U.S.A., to shoot the scene where Lane Meyer throws his car stereo out the window of his car in a fit of rage after getting tired of listening to break-up songs.
North Baldwin Avenue
The production crew used the North side of Baldwin Avenue, Sierra Madre, California, U.S.A., to shoot the scene where Lane ends up rear-ending Rocco’s car while racing the brothers. Rocco exits the car and threatens Lane to activate his dental plan.
The location is also used to shoot the scene where Lane and Monique are drag racing with the Asian brothers and end up in the mud puddle. Their scene also has nuns crossing the road.
South Avenue
The South Avenue 60 in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., was used by the production crew to shoot the scene where Lane Meyer attempts suicide by trying to jump off a bridge, which became a comically failed attempt as he falls into a garbage truck.
Clark Junior High School
The production crew used Clark Junior High School for scenes involving the exterior of Lane’s school. The scene with the school dance sequence was also shot in this location. All the scene involving the school sequence in the film was shot here. The school is now known as Clark Magnet High School. It is located at 474 New York.
Monrovia
The production crew used the street with mountains in the background present in the foothills of Monrovia, next to Pasadena, to shoot the scene involving the two Howard-Cosell-voice brothers who are always harassing Lane Meyers. The brothers are of Asian descent.
Snowbird Ski Resort
The film’s production crew used the Snowbird Ski Resort located near Salt Lake City to film the scenes involving all the ski actions. The scene with Lane and Charles in line at a grocery store was also shot nearby. The “Mid Gad” lift scene at the film’s end, where the ski pole is visible in the background, was also filmed in this location.
Malibu Lake
The production crew used the Malbou Lake, located in Agoura, California, to shoot the scene involving a lake fogged out with all the crazy paper carriers present in the background.
Better Off Dead Was Much Loved By The Fans
Even though the film had a pretty normal storyline with no uniqueness, the film was well-loved by the audience at the time. The film received mixed reviews from critics. The film was a day-to-day high school romance that was quite popular then.
How To Watch Better Off Dead Film?
The film is available for the viewers to stream through Hulu, or they can stream the film through Amazon Prime after renting it for a day.
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