Location report: the spooky side of São Paulo

Story Productions • Oct 29, 2021

Just in time for Halloween, Story Productions takes a look at some of São Paulo's spookier spots for filming

São Paulo's Metro | Photo by Maintenance Coordinator Carlos Frederico Guedes Pereira

São Paulo might be a New World city, but it still has plenty of history, and dark history too. A train station turned prison for dissidents during the military dictatorship is now a museum, the Estação Pinacoteca. There are crypts and cemeteries, which have served as locations for filmmakers over the years, including in Pinball – a short horror film directed by Ruy Veridiano and shot by DoP Alziro Barbosa.


The ground beneath our feet houses an entire underground world that most of us know nothing of. São Paulo's municipal theatre for example, built in 1911, has a vaulted basement which is now a cocktail bar, but also has a tunnel that the performers used to access to get to the theatre. Read on for some of the scary locations for filming in São Paulo.


For a glimpse of the São Paulo locations used by filmmakers in the horror genre, read our interview with Dennison Ramalho

Quartel Rondas Ostensivas Tobias de Aguiar | Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Not many people know of the underground world below São Paulo. The Quartel Rondas Ostensivas Tobias de Aguiar is a police battalion's headquarters with a network of tunnels underneath that connect the headquarters to other police and military buildings. The tunnel was used by soldiers in many battles over the years. It's main function was as an escape route, should the battalion be under seige, as well as for supplies to be delivered to the troops. These days the tunnels are a museum and some productions have been filmed there. 

Quarta Parada Cemetery | Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Founded in 1893, Quarta Parada Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in São Paulo. It has imposing tombs and large looming sculptures that are not for the faint hearted wandering here at night.

Consolação Cemetery | Photo from Wikimedia Commons

A stroll through the narrow alleyways of Consolação Cemetery in São Paulo opens up a world of possibilities for shooting a horror film. There are guided tours of the cemetery thanks to its artworks (including by Victor Brecheret) as well as the illustrious part of some of the artists and politicians buried there.


Works from important artists are displayed in the mausoleums, that house the remains of great Brazilian personalities. It's a popular spot for shooting TV series, films and video clips. The horror film Sinfonia da Necrópole (2016) by director Juliana Rojas was filmed here, as was the music video to "Lying in State" by Megadeth.

São Paulo's Metro | Photo by Maintenance Coordinator Carlos Frederico Guedes Pereira

São Paulo's metro system runs for more than 100 kilometres and currently has 90 functioning stations as well as disused stations. It's an interesting spot for an underground production as not only does it offer ample space for a large production, it has plenty of options when it comes to artificial lighting.

Vila Maria Zelia - Chapel and School for children | Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Located in the east of São Paulo in the neighbourhood of Belenzinho, Vila Maria Zelia become known as a worker's neighbourhood. 

Vila Maria Zelia - School for children | Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Construction on it started in 1912 to provide housing for the employees of a large textile company, Vila Maria Zélia is a mini-town with its own chapel and a school for boys and for girls who studied separately at the time.

Vila Maria Zelia - Wharehouse   Photo by Leonardo Eichin / Shutterstock

Currently, the only non-residential buildings in use are the chapel and the old pharmacy, which has become the base for a theatre group. The area has been the setting for a number of productions from films to shorts and videos.

Vila Maria Zelia - An abandoned building  |  Photo by Sylvia Masini / Shutterstock

Vila Maria Zelia - A street view | Photo from Wikimedia Commons

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