Love & Death brings a shocking true story to life on screen. The HBO miniseries follows Candy Montgomery, a church going Texas woman, whose life takes an intense turn. Elizabeth Olsen features in this engaging adaptation that explores small-town secrets, infidelity, and chilling crime.
While the real events took place in Wylie, Texas, the creators chose several locations across the Lone Star State to recreate this terrifying tale. The show captures the essence of retro suburban America through its strong selection of Texas cities. From historic churches to old-fashioned streets, every location adds a raw quality to this true crime drama.
The filming process changed several communities around the world where Candy's story unfolded. Texas provided the perfect backdrop for this intense narrative about ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances.
Love & Death filming locations
Smithville stands in for Wylie in Love & Death
The production team selected Smithville to represent the city of Wylie. This gated community is situated between Austin and Houston in Bastrop County.
Its old-school downtown area features well-preserved buildings that accurately match the setting of the era shown in the show. Main Street became the main filming location for several outdoor sequences. The crew also utilized a vacant building at 201 Main Street as the exterior office of the sheriff.
A giant Texas flag mural decorates this structure. The Back Door Café, a popular bar on Main Street, is featured in various scenes throughout Love & Death. Smithville has hosted numerous other productions over the years, making it a recognizable spot for film crews.
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Churches across central Texas in Love & Death
Religious settings play a significant role in the show. The United Methodist Church of Lucas appears as St. Peter's Church. This temple was constructed in the 90s by Swiss and German settlers in Coupland.
However, the interior church sequences were filmed at a different location. The Hutto Lutheran Church served as the setting for indoor worship sequences.
Built in the early era of Swedish immigrants, this church features spectacular stained glass ceilings and windows. The windows in the church appear quite often in the choir scenes. The Hyde Park Christian Church in Austin served as another religious institution in the area. While the exterior of the wooden church appears through digital advancements, the interior shots capture the authentic atmosphere of the building.
The Montgomery and Gore Homes in Love & Death
Two residential homes in Austin served as the central family residence. The Gore property is initially situated at 9403 Queenswood Drive in the Castlewood Forest neighborhood. This four-bedroom home, built in the 1970s, covers approximately 1,663 square feet. Most interior sequences were actually filmed on a soundstage in Kyle, a city near Austin. The Montgomery house is located at 5804 Westslope Drive.
The mid-century urban house dates back to an earlier era and offers a spacious residence. Both properties remain private residences to this day.
Additional key locations in Love & Death
Love & Death uses many other Texas venues to tell its narrative. Lil Charlie's restaurant in Lockhart became the diner where Allan and Candy met. The Palace Theatre in Sequin displayed the screening of Grease. The Paramount Theatre in Austin shows up in the venue where Candy watches The Empire strike back. Hotels also featured prominently, and the University Inn in San Marcos was modeled after the Dallas Continental Inn.
The Como Motel in the show is actually the Cottonwood Inn Motel, which is available in La Grange. The Inn of the Hills Hotel in Kerrville stood in for the
Love & Death showcases Texas locations that authentically recreate an intense storyline set in a small-town American past.
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