Where was Moonflower Murders filmed?

As a devoted fan of the intricate world of Anthony Horowitz’s Atticus Pünd mystery novels, I eagerly awaited the release of Moonflower Murders, the sequel to Magpie Murders. The fact that Susan Ryeland, our beloved protagonist, is back in action was more than enough to get me hooked.

In the next installment, titled Moonflower Murders, Susan Ryeland is once again delving into the intricate mysteries surrounding Atticus Pünd, a character from Anthony Horowitz’s renowned novel series. This new story follows Magpie Murders, another captivating mystery that has been a best-seller.

After retiring from her career as a book editor, she now manages a quaint hotel in Crete with her partner Andreas. When a pair of English visitors request her assistance in locating their lost daughter, she graciously accepts the task.

Following the tragic murder of a guest at the grand Branlow Hall hotel in Suffolk on Cecily’s wedding day, she vanished not long afterwards.

The solution to that puzzle can be found within one of Alan Conway’s cherished detective stories, where the proprietor of a different inn, known as The Moonflower, is similarly slain.

Susan, as the foremost expert in the minutiae of Atticus Pünd, is their only hope.

Similar to Magpie Murders, the filming for Moonflower Murders also occurred in Ireland; however, unlike Ireland’s cooler clime, another location with a significantly warmer environment was incorporated during the production process of this series.

For more information, read on.

Moonflower Murders filming locations

Where was Moonflower Murders filmed?

Initially, Susan is introduced in Moonflower Murders residing in Crete. Consequently, it was this location where Lesley Manville and her film crew chose to shoot the scenes related to that plotline.

To achieve this, series producer Suzanne McAuley explained their approach: “Firstly, we needed to team up with a Greek production company. I was looking for a smaller, intimate company located in Crete, similar to my own firm [Salt Films] in Ireland. This way, we could collaborate effectively, rather than partnering with a large corporation that isn’t based in Crete.

Initially establishing a good rapport was crucial for working effectively with those we’d be collaborating with overseas. After informing them about our project, we spent eight days scouting with some of the most gracious, skillful, amiable, and diligent individuals in Greece who intuitively knew what we were seeking and were adept at showing it to us. This allowed us to gauge what we wanted to find.

That led them to the Hotel Trifilli.

McAuley mentioned, “We stumbled upon a hotel so perfectly suited for our storyline, it was as if designed specifically for us.” This allowed Anthony Horowitz to visualize the locations where we planned to film many of our Greek scenes. We were then able to adjust the script to better fit these locations, making the production process increasingly enjoyable.

According to McAuley, the varying settings and time periods gave the team a sense of producing “three distinct series simultaneously.

Leaving behind the old-fashioned era, complete with periods, we ventured into the contemporary world. Now, our journey takes us to Greece, an exciting adventure awaiting us.

Howth Castle in Dublin was another of the locations used in Moonflower Murders.

The building served dual purposes; it functioned as Branlow Hall, a contemporary inn located in Suffolk that belongs to the Trehernes. Tragically, a homicide occurred within its walls on the very day of their daughter Cecily’s wedding. Shortly afterward, she vanished without a trace.

To make it clear to the audience that Moonflower and Branlow were distinct establishments, set decorator Justine Wright emphasized the need for a striking visual contrast between the two hotels.

Inspiration for Branlow’s design came from Kit Kemp, an architect known for creating hotels in both the UK and New York. I found her work truly inspiring as she skillfully blends various textiles, vibrant colors, and global art influences. Her designs seamlessly integrate traditional furniture with bold, unique hues. The result is a space that not only caters to hotel guests’ practical needs but also showcases a luxurious contemporary boutique aesthetic. This is the origin of the style we’ve adopted.

Regarding the film’s timeframe, Wright mentioned: “Since the filming timeline for the period was at the start, we immediately delved into examining 1930s movie references, focusing on classic Hollywood hotels, and similar elements.

There was plenty of observing stunning, vintage Hollywood residences, such as those once inhabited by Mae West and Errol Flynn. We were simply collecting diverse design aspects from authentic Hollywood abodes.

2024-11-16 21:34

Moonflower Murders filming locations

Read More