Snow. Silence. A frozen cabin in the middle of nowhere. That is the mood of Dead of Winter. The film is set in rural Minnesota, but the camera did not roll there. The production had to look elsewhere for the icy backdrop it needed.
Directed by Brian Kirk and led by Emma Thompson, the 2025 thriller follows a grieving widow who walks into something far more dangerous than she expected. The setting plays a big part in that tension. So here is where Dead of Winter was actually filmed.
Finland Stood In for Snowy Minnesota
Though the story takes place in Minnesota, the cast and crew traveled to Finland for the exterior scenes. Filming began in February 2024 in Koli, a small area known for its heavy snowfall and thick forests.
Much of the outdoor footage was shot inside Koli National Park in the North Karelia region. The park offers frozen lakes, steep wooded hills, and wide white landscapes. On screen, it feels remote and harsh. In real life, it gave the filmmakers the snow they could not find in the United States.
Minnesota reportedly had very little snow during production. So the team made the call to move the winter scenes abroad. Thompson later shared how much she admired the Finnish crew, especially as they battled shifting weather to keep the snowy look consistent.
Germany Hosted the Studio Work
For interior scenes and more controlled setups, production shifted to Germany. Sets were built at MMC Film & TV Studios Cologne, one of the country’s major production hubs.
These studio spaces allowed the team to film tense cabin sequences without worrying about the weather. Some additional scenes were also shot in the city of Bonn.
The mix of real snow in Finland and studio work in Germany helped create a believable version of northern Minnesota. On screen, it all blends together. You would never guess the story traveled across Europe to get that frozen American wilderness.
Why the Production Left the U.S.
The move was practical. The film needed deep snow and steady winter conditions. Climate shifts meant Minnesota could not guarantee that look at the time of shooting.
Finland delivered what the script demanded. Thick snow, icy lakes, and forests that feel endless. That realism adds weight to the story. When Thompson’s character runs through the woods, you feel the cold. And that makes the danger feel closer.
Dead of Winter may be set in the American Midwest, but its icy heart belongs to Finland and Germany.
Dead of Winter FAQ
Who is in the cast of Dead of Winter?
The film stars Emma Thompson as Barb, a widow who travels to Minnesota to honor her late husband’s final wish. Marc Menchaca plays the mysterious man she encounters at a remote cabin. Judy Greer appears as his wife, and Laurel Marsden plays Leah, the young woman at the center of the danger.
Where can I stream Dead of Winter?
Dead of Winter is available to stream on HBO Max. It may also be available to rent or buy on digital platforms depending on your region.
When was Dead of Winter released?
Dead of Winter was released in 2025. It later arrived on streaming, where it gained attention during the winter season.
Where was Dead of Winter filmed?
Although the story is set in Minnesota, filming took place in Finland and Germany. Exterior snow scenes were shot at Koli National Park. Interior scenes were filmed at MMC Film & TV Studios Cologne, with additional work done in Bonn.
What is Dead of Winter about?
The thriller follows Barb, a grieving widow who travels to a remote cabin to scatter her husband’s ashes. Her quiet trip turns into a fight for survival when she discovers a young woman being held captive. What begins as a private moment of mourning becomes a tense struggle in the frozen wilderness.
