Nightmare in Virumaa: Northeast Estonia introduced as horror movie location
A 30-strong group of international filmmakers, currently taking part in the Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) in Estonia, took a trip to the northeast, where a local film foundation introduced the area as a great horror movie location.
Ida-Viru and Lääne-Viru counties were once the hub of Estonian industry, to some extent still are, but many factories, mines and small towns now lay abandoned. The group was taken to the Kreenholm factory site, sitting on a island in the Narva river. The huge complex once gave jobs to thousands, but now lays largely empty.
Film producers and directors said every country has abandoned buildings and sites but in Estonia, those places are easily accessible, with Tallinn's Old Town a perfect example, as one can walk around and feel like it is the 13th or 14th century, and 100 meters later arrive in modern Europe.
Besides the abandoned Soviet-era heavy industry Estonia also offers more than a 100 manor houses, many forgotten and in bad shape.