Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon premiered at SXSW Film Festival on March 12, 2006. Presented as a documentary, it follows fictional aspiring serial killer Leslie Vernon as he seeks to follow in the footsteps of his idols: Jason, Michael, and Freddy.
This was one of the more popular movies in the horror world when I first really started getting into horror, and I always wondered where all of the locations were. Some of them were pretty easy to find – the library was a known location online, and the restaurant’s real sign at the time was visible in the movie. But Leslie Vernon’s house/farm itself was a complete mystery.
The names of several small towns they filmed in were listed in the credits and on IMDb so I started there, and slowly but surely it started to come together! Leslie’s main house was the final location I found, and I just happened upon it searching Google Maps near some of the aforementioned towns. I also asked around on Reddit, and someone actually responded with the address, albeit the day after I finally found it on my own (of course!).
Movie Location: Leslie Vernon’s House & Farm
Filming Location: Banks, OR 97006 (Private Property)
Date of Photos: July 2024
I was astounded that not only was the house still standing, but that it was virtually unchanged from what was seen on screen. It’s in rough shape, but the yard seems to be taken care of and it’s surrounded by neighbors and other farms. Be careful, and PLEASE be respectful.
Movie Location: “Rabbit in Red”
Filming Location: 345 E Historic Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale, OR 97060
Date of Photos: July 2024
Movie Location: Johnny B’s Restaurant
Filming Location: 1212 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97214
Date of Photos: July 2024
This was a Lardo at the time of my visit.
Movie Location: Library (Exterior)
Filming Location: 251 St. Helens St., St. Helens, OR 97051
Date of Photos: July 2024
The end credits mentioned “The Olde School Co. in St. Helens” so I looked that up and voila – the exterior for the library!
Movie Location: Library (Interior)
Filming Location: 801 SW 10th Ave., Portland, OR 97205
Date of Photos: July 2024
This is the Multnomah County Central Library. There are two rooms that are perfect mirror images of each other, so I wasn’t sure which one they actually filmed in. So I took pictures of both!
Movie Location: School
Filming Location: 230 Strand St., St. Helens, OR 97051
Date of Photos: July 2024
This building is also notably featured in Halloweentown (1998). It is about 2 blocks over from the library exterior location above.
Movie Location: Leslie’s Other House
Filming Location: 30674 SE Ely Rd., Estacada, OR 97023
Date of Photos: July 2024
I found this a little confusing in the movie, but this is supposed to be the house where Leslie Vernon currently lives. The main action takes place at his supposed childhood home. There is a very brief shot of the house number in the movie so I was able to find it, but it’s private property and not really visible from the road.
Movie Location: Eugene’s House
Filming Location: 28545 SE Paradise Rd., Eagle Creek, OR 97022
Date of Photos: July 2024
Eugene’s house was demolished some time after filming and a new house was built in its place.
Movie Location: Barn (from DVD featurette)
Filming Location: 22704 NW Reeder Rd., Portland, OR 97231
Date of Photos: July 2024
I’m not sure exactly what scenes were filmed here, but this barn is visible in the special features and I just happened to stumble upon it while Googling the other locations. So I swung by it and snapped a pic!
Movie Location: “Elm Street” House
Filming Location: 1428 N. Genesee Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046
Date of Photos: August 2022
This is indeed the actual house also used for the filming of A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984).
Movie Location: “Haddonfield” Houses
Filming Location: 1530 & 1536 N. Orange Grove Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046
Date of Photos: August 2022
These are the actual houses that were seen in Halloween (1978). I love that now I have a picture of the Wallace house that matches up with the screenshot! (It has been heavily remodeled since the filming of Halloween.)
