Filming Locations of Love and Death: Analyzing the New Zealand Connection

The HBO original miniseries Love and Death (2023), starring Elizabeth Olsen and Jesse Plemons, was filmed entirely in Texas, USA, primarily within the Austin metropolitan area and surrounding towns like Wylie and Seguin. Although New Zealand is a primary hub for high-budget Max and Warner Bros. productions, it did not host the filming for this specific true-crime drama.

The Geographical Identity of Love and Death

When discussing the production of Love and Death, it is essential to distinguish between the location of the story and the location of the filming. The series depicts the real-life 1980 true-crime case of Candy Montgomery in Wylie, Texas. To maintain historical and atmospheric accuracy, the production team chose to film on location in the Lone Star State rather than utilizing international tax-incentive hubs like New Zealand or Eastern Europe.

The search for "Love and Death filmed in New Zealand" often stems from a confusion with other high-profile HBO/Max productions that relocated to New Zealand during the same production window. Most notably, the series Our Flag Means Death moved its entire production to New Zealand for its second season, utilizing the country's unique coastal landscapes and world-class soundstages. However, for the Candy Montgomery story, the "Texas-ness" of the environment—the specific architecture of Southern Methodist churches, the suburban sprawl of the late 70s, and the oppressive heat—was considered non-negotiable for the show's aesthetic.

Detailed Breakdown of Texas Filming Locations

While New Zealand offers diverse landscapes, it could not easily replicate the specific suburban vernacular of 1970s North Texas. The production utilized several key sites across Central Texas to recreate the world of Wylie, Texas, as it existed decades ago.

The Austin Metropolitan Area

Austin served as the primary production base. The city’s older residential neighborhoods provided the "anywhere USA" look required for the suburban setting while allowing access to a deep pool of local crew and technical infrastructure. Many of the interior shots, including the courtrooms and the intimate domestic settings, were filmed in and around Austin to leverage the city's established film industry.

Wylie and the Church Settings

The real events took place in Wylie, Texas. While some establishing shots were captured in the actual town, the production heavily utilized Seguin and La Grange. One of the most critical locations was the church, where Candy Montgomery and Allan Gore first began their affair. The production used the First Baptist Church of Seguin and other local Methodist chapels to capture the wood-paneled, community-centric atmosphere of the 1980s Southern church experience.

Smithville and La Grange

These small towns, located east of Austin, are staples of the Texas film industry (famously used in Hope Floats and The Tree of Life). For Love and Death, they provided the town square aesthetics and older storefronts that have been lost to modern development in the rapidly growing Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Why New Zealand is Often Mistaken as the Location

The confusion regarding New Zealand as a filming location for Love and Death is likely due to the "Max" branding and the overlap of creative talent. In recent years, New Zealand has become the "go-to" destination for prestige television that requires high production values and specific natural beauty.

1. Shared Production Ecosystem: Many directors and cinematographers who work on Max originals have deep ties to the New Zealand film industry.
2. The "Our Flag Means Death" Factor: Because both Love and Death and Our Flag Means Death were prominent titles on the same streaming platform during 2023 and 2024, search queries often conflate their production details. The latter was famously filmed in Auckland and surrounding coastal regions.
3. The Rise of "Aotearoa Gothic": New Zealand has established a niche for "Love and Death" as a theme—dark, psychological dramas that explore the intersection of passion and violence. This has created a mental association between the country and the genre.

Exploring the "Love and Death" Theme in New Zealand Cinema

While the HBO series stayed in Texas, New Zealand has a storied history of filming productions that tackle the identical themes of domesticity, forbidden love, and sudden death. If you are interested in the New Zealand filming landscape as it pertains to these motifs, several major productions define the "New Zealand Gothic" aesthetic.

The Power of the Dog (Central Otago)

Directed by Jane Campion, this film is a masterclass in the themes of repressed love and eventual death. Though set in Montana, it was filmed entirely in the Maniototo region of Central Otago. The vast, isolating landscapes of the South Island were used to mirror the psychological isolation of the characters, proving New Zealand's ability to "double" for the American West.

Evil Dead Rise (Auckland)

For those focusing on the "Death" aspect of the query, Evil Dead Rise (2023) was filmed in Auckland. This production utilized the city's industrial areas and the Mt Wellington studios. It represents the technical peak of New Zealand's horror production capabilities, involving massive amounts of practical effects and soundstage work.

One Lane Bridge (Queenstown)

This local New Zealand production is a contemporary example of the "Love and Death" trope. Filmed in the stunning environs of Queenstown and Glenorchy, the series uses the iconic Dart River bridge as a literal and metaphorical site of death, framed against the backdrop of complex local relationships.

Comparing Filming Locations: Texas vs. New Zealand

To understand the different technical requirements that lead a production to choose Texas over New Zealand (or vice versa), we can compare the attributes of Love and Death with similar productions filmed in Aotearoa.

The Technical Advantage of Filming in New Zealand

Even though Love and Death remained in the U.S., the New Zealand film industry (often called "Wellywood" in reference to Wellington) continues to attract global projects that deal with high-stakes human drama. As of 2026, the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate (NZSPR) remains one of the most competitive in the world, offering a 20% base rebate for international productions, with an additional 5% "Uplift" for productions that provide significant economic benefits to the country.

New Zealand's crew base is also uniquely specialized in "Green Filming" and digital integration, thanks to the legacy of Wētā FX. For productions that require a mix of natural beauty and complex post-production—elements often found in modern dramas—New Zealand offers a streamlined pipeline that Texas currently cannot match in terms of sheer scale.

Common Misconceptions and Troubleshooting the Search

If you are looking for a specific production titled Love and Death that was filmed in New Zealand, you may be encountering one of the following:

• The Gone: A 2023/2024 co-production between New Zealand and Ireland. It is a mystery thriller involving disappearances (potential deaths) and complex personal histories, filmed in Te Aroha and Auckland.
• Choose Love: A Netflix interactive film filmed in Auckland. While much lighter in tone, it focuses on the "Love" aspect and utilized many of the same locations frequently used by international crews.
• A Death in the Family (Obscure/Independent): There are several smaller independent films with "Death" in the title filmed in Wellington’s fringe districts, but none have the global footprint of the HBO series.

Expert Guidance for Location Scouting in New Zealand

For filmmakers or enthusiasts looking to visit the sites of New Zealand’s most famous "Love and Death" stories, the following regions are the most significant:

1. Piha and Karekare: Famous for The Piano, these black-sand beaches represent the romantic and often dangerous side of New Zealand nature.
2. Central Otago: The home of The Power of the Dog and One Lane Bridge. It offers a dry, golden aesthetic that is often mistaken for the American Midwest or Spain.
3. Wellington South Coast: A rugged, wind-swept area often used for brooding dramas involving isolation and tragedy.

FAQ

Was any part of the HBO series Love and Death filmed in New Zealand?

No. Every episode of the 2023 miniseries was filmed in Texas. The production utilized locations in Austin, Wylie, Seguin, Smithville, La Grange, and Lockhart to maintain the authenticity of the North Texas setting.

Why do people think Love and Death was filmed in New Zealand?

This is largely due to the association between the streaming platform Max (formerly HBO Max) and New Zealand. High-profile shows like Our Flag Means Death and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Season 1) have made New Zealand a synonymous location for "Prestige TV," leading to occasional confusion regarding other series on the same network.

What major true-crime or dark dramas were actually filmed in New Zealand?

Notable examples include Top of the Lake (filmed in Queenstown and Glenorchy), The Power of the Dog (Central Otago), and Heavenly Creatures (Christchurch). These films and series share the dark, psychological themes found in Love and Death.

Is there a New Zealand equivalent to the story of Love and Death?

While not exactly the same, the 1954 Parker-Hulme murder case in Christchurch is New Zealand's most famous "domestic" crime involving close relationships and a shocking death. It was famously adapted into the film Heavenly Creatures by Peter Jackson.

Can I visit the filming locations of Love and Death?

Yes, but you will need to travel to Texas. Most of the locations, such as the town squares in Seguin and the suburban streets of Austin, are public areas. However, many of the homes used for the Montgomery and Gore residences are private property and should be viewed only from public roads.

Summary Recommendation

If your interest is specifically in the HBO series Love and Death, you should focus your research on the Central Texas film corridor. If you are looking for the unique cinematic "Love and Death" aesthetic that New Zealand provides, you should explore the works of Jane Campion or the recent wave of Aotearoa Noir television series like The Gone and One Lane Bridge. New Zealand remains a premier destination for filming, but it was not the backdrop for the Candy Montgomery story.