Eric Ernst
Writer

When writing a script, there are many elements a writer has to take into consideration: character, plot, tone, etc. One of the most important is that of location. Choosing a time and place for a story is sometimes simple, as the story could not be told in any other time, at any other place. Other times, the location can be in a multitude of places, at different time periods.

For A Monster in the Attic, Southern Utah was not the first choice for where to set the story. Originally, the film was set in a non-descript wooded area with an imaginative house in its center. However, this location did not serve the story as best it could. Not until we saw the magnificent landscape of Kane County did we realize what the story needed.

In earlier drafts, the house was built in the middle of a clearing in the woods, away from civilization. This provided Darrell and Caroline with protection, but worked against the effort to make them feel vulnerable. Once we examined the harsh elements of the area, we knew this was where the story had to take place.

During our initial scouting trips to Kane County, we visited the area known as Paria (pronounced like Maria). The location of a former township built in the 1860s, but subsequently reduced to shambles by a flood, Paria was obvious to us as where to place their dwelling. Amongst the coarse rocks, Caroline and Darrell would face great resistance to maintaining an easy and comfortable life.

Paria Outlook
The thought-provoking landscape in Paria.