Discover the Stunning Filming Locations of The Revenant

Alejandro Iñarritu's 2015 neo-Western film, The Revenant, succeeds largely due to its stunning use of real landscapes. The choice of filming locations played a central role in the project, as the movie features some of the most challenging scenes of Leonardo DiCaprio's career. Set in the American frontier during the early 19th century, the film's historical context and narrative demanded showcasing nature at its most untamed and perilous, leading to the selection of incredibly remote and difficult filming locations.

The Revenant, partially inspired by a true story, follows the tale of frontiersman Hugh Glass. While the film takes some creative liberties, it closely follows Glass's experience of being mauled by a bear in the wilderness, left for dead by his comrades, and miraculously surviving the harsh elements and hostile Arikara tribe to seek vengeance on those who betrayed him. To truly capture the magnitude of Glass's ordeal and evoke the essence of the rugged frontier, The Revenant needed to incorporate some of the most breathtaking yet harsh environments imaginable.

Alberta

Kananaskis Country; Fortress Mountain, Dead Man's Flats, Drumheller Badlands, Elbow Falls, Mînî Thnî

The Revenant ambush - Kananaskis Country; Fortress Mountain, Dead Man's Flats, Drumheller Badlands, Elbow Falls, Mînî Thnî - Alberta

Most of The Revenant was actually filmed in Kananaskis Country, a vast and rugged area located northeast of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. Even though the movie is set in the modern-day Dakotas, the untouched beauty of Kananaskis was chosen by Iñarritu as the perfect backdrop for filming. Despite being in one province, the isolated and wild nature of the region presented its own set of difficulties during production.

British Columbia

Kananaskis serves as the backdrop for many key scenes in the movie. According to Atlas of Wonders, the ambush of Henry by Fitzgerald occurred on Fortress Mountain, where a helicopter was even used to trigger an avalanche. Dead Man's Flats was chosen as the perfect spot to build Fort Kiowa for the film. The Arikara ambush scene was filmed on the Bow River in the First Nations settlement of Mînî Thnî, with the region also featured in various important establishing shots.

Squamish Valley

Leonardo DiCaprio as Hugh Glass gets mauled by a bear in The Revenant. - Squamish Valley - British Columbia

Montana

Even though most of the action and scenery in The Revenant was filmed in Alberta, the most crucial scene in the movie was actually shot in a different Canadian province. Director Iñarritu decided to film the bear attack sequence in British Columbia, specifically in the lush and heavily forested region of the Squamish Valley. This scene received high praise for its terrifying realism and is considered one of the most immersive and violent moments in the film. Leonardo DiCaprio's authentic reaction to the natural surroundings adds to the intensity of the scene and elevates the impact of the special effects used.

Kootenai Falls

The Revenant waterfall scene - Kootenai Falls - Montana

Argentina

Another important and often overlooked aspect of The Revenant is its use of water. Throughout the movie, characters find themselves either escaping by river or being thrown into waterfalls with little chance of survival. Many of these intense scenes, such as Glass's escape from the Arikara, were actually filmed at Kootenai Falls. Interestingly, this location has been featured in other films before, including the 1994 movie The River Wild starring Meryl Streep.

Tierra del Fuego

The Revenant final scene - Tierra del Fuego - Argentina

The production of The Revenant was done in chronological order, which meant they had to work quickly to capture the wintery conditions in Canada and North America before they disappeared. However, as the snow started to melt towards the end of filming, the team had to move to South America. This led to many of the final scenes, like Glass and Fitzgerald's intense fight, being shot in Tierra del Fuego, located on the southern tip of South America in Argentina.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides an insightful look into the captivating use of real landscapes in Alejandro Iñarritu's "The Revenant." The choice of remote and challenging filming locations in Alberta, British Columbia, and Argentina not only enhanced the film's authenticity but also amplified the intensity of its narrative. The stunning natural environments served as a powerful backdrop, showcasing the untamed and perilous world of the early 19th century American frontier.

The filmmakers' meticulous attention to detail and their dedication to filming in chronological order allowed them to capture the changing seasons and the harsh elements experienced by the characters. The use of natural light and the inclusion of real landscapes added depth and realism to the film, immersing viewers in the unforgiving and awe-inspiring wilderness. "The Revenant" stands as a testament to the power of cinema to transport audiences to other worlds and evoke a sense of wonder and awe.