21 Everyday Places You'd Never Guess Were Used for Dark Movie Scenes

3. Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, USA (12 Monkeys, 1995)

This imposing, castle-like structure was once a real, pioneering prison known for its radial design and emphasis on solitary confinement. Long abandoned and decaying by the 1990s, its crumbling cellblocks and eerie atmosphere provided the perfect setting for the grim mental institution depicted in Terry Gilliam's dystopian sci-fi film, 12 Monkeys. The very real decay and oppressive architecture lent chilling authenticity to scenes of psychological breakdown and confinement, transforming a historical site into a nightmarish vision of the future.