What Lies Beneath was a movie starring Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer, filmed in 1999 at the DAR State Park in West Addison, VT. Other filming locations were in Chittenden and Washington counties. In 2000, the movie was released and quickly became a box office hit.

Vermont was one of the primary filming locations for the movie, and it provided the perfect backdrop for the suspenseful and eerie storyline. The state's picturesque landscapes, charming towns, and historic homes served as the ideal setting for the movie's spooky atmosphere.

Revisiting the Eerie Filming Locations of What Lies Beneath in Vermont

In 2000, parts of the supernatural thriller What Lies Beneath starring Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer were filmed in picturesque Vermont. Despite being set in Vermont, the movie was primarily filmed on Hollywood sound stages. However, the production spent time on location in Vermont to capture exterior shots that helped establish the eerie, rural setting.

A Plot Full of Twists and Turns

What Lies Beneath is about a couple, played by Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer, who experience strange hauntings and paranormal activity in their home in Vermont. As the plot unfolds, dark secrets from the past come to light dramatically and shockingly.

Although the fictional setting for the house was supposedly Waterbury, VT., the filmmakers actually filmed in West Addison, on the border of Lake Champlain, featuring the old Lake Champlain bridge just years before its demolition and replacement.

Filmmakers specially constructed the beautiful house at the DAR State Park, since it never existed, and tore it down after filming was completed.

Below is a photo of the house under construction for the movie. Courtesy of the Facebook Group What Lies Beneath 2000.

Continuing Mystique and Intrigue

Although no one reported any ghostly encounters during filming, the film's use of real Vermont locations adds a layer of intrigue and mystery. Even 20+ years later, visiting these spots provokes memories of the skin-crawling events that played out there on the big screen thanks to the atmosphere captured on film.

What Lies Beneath takes advantage of Vermont's natural beauty and tranquility, then twists it into something more chilling and sinister.

Hollywood Come to Vermont – Again

Shawn Sweeney of Shelburne, VT, was a film location manager. The last movie Shawn worked on was “What Lies Beneath,” with Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer filmed here in Vermont. A full working house and a half house were built and disassembled in Addison on Lake Champlain. In 2004, Shawn incorporated pieces of the set house into his new house in Shelburne, Vermont.

Shawn Sweeney started his career when he purchased a live entertainment venue in Burlington, VT. Bands like Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Betty Carter, Richie Havens, Phish, The Spin Doctors & Blues Traveler all played the stage there. The next step in his journey was a slightly bigger one as he started working for renowned filmmaker Spike Lee. Following his work on “Malcolm X” and “Jungle Fever,” Shawn worked on various films throughout the U.S., ultimately becoming a location manager responsible for finding and securing locations for filming. Construction and renovation sets were an integral part of the production process. This was his first taste of designing and building on a large scale.

The movie's lake house has been destroyed

Although local rumors abound that the movie's house still stands, the images below confirm the truth. They replaced the house with a new pavilion which now graces the state park property.

I asked the state park caretaker, and he said there were actually two houses built for the movie. The house that the main characters lived in and the mysterious neighbor's next door. Both buildings are now long gone and exist only on What Lies Beneath celluloid (or home video)

What Lies Beneath Memories

I remember one night when filming was taking place at UVM. The lighting was so bright that it made night time seem like day. Harrison Ford also frequented RiRa's, an Irish pub on lower Church Street in Burlington.

During the late 1980s and 1990s, Hollywood seemed to descend upon Vermont, as film crews shot major motion pictures such as Ethan Frome, Spitfire Grill, Sweetheart's Dance, and Cider House Rules throughout the state.

Other movies filmed in Vermont at the time

Filmmakers shot Me, Myself & Irene, starring Jim Carrey and Renée Zellweger, throughout Chittenden County around the same time. Although the story says locals battled to control the fast water, Jim Carrey was stuck on a rock near the Milton dam for a couple of hours, and he was furious. Mr. Carrey was not at all gracious about signing autographs and a bit “vocal” about his opinion of the locals.

The “What Lies Beneath” film crew had a successful Vermont shoot, showcasing the state's unique charm and beauty to global audiences. From its historic towns to its stunning natural landscapes, Vermont provided the perfect backdrop for this classic thriller.

We updated this article on 10/29/21.

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