Zombie Nation: Scotland is the place to escape to

Release of new zombie movie ‘Redcon-1’ highlights thrilling locations

Film fans experiencing the new zombie movie Redcon-1 (set to be released in UK cinemas on Friday, 28 September) and witnessing exciting Scottish film locations on screen can then head north to experience the real thing: Scotland has plenty of impenetrable castle fortresses, hills and mountains, and famous visitor attractions to provide the perfect place to escape a potential apocalypse!

Scotland is an ideal setting for a zombie invasion story. Zombie favourite World War Z has already been filmed here. In addition, a study in 2015 identified the Highlands as the best place to escape to in the UK, due to the mountainous terrain, which would take longer for zombie hordes to reach*.

Redcon-1, an independent film,was shot across numerous parts of Scotland including: Washington Street, Barrowlands; The Clyde River in Glasgow; M&D’s theme park in Motherwell; Peterhead Prison in Aberdeenshire; The National Mining Museum in Midlothian; and Nobel Business Park in Ardeer, Ayrshire.

The film, directed by Chee Keong Cheung, has been called a “fresh take on the zombie genre” and “a badass British mashup of heavy hitters like The Raid and 28 Weeks Later” (Starburstmagazine.com**) and much of the buzz is down to a stunning range of sequences shot across Scotland with amazing support provided by Scottish zombie fanatics who came out in force to support filming. The film tells the story of a squad of eight Special Forces soldiers assigned to a suicide mission to rescue a scientist from a city ruled by the undead.

Chee Keong Cheung said:

“In terms of filming locations, Scotland has got it all: from buzzing urban streets, to photogenic vistas and beaches, to enclosed dark atmospheric buildings. It certainly had everything we needed and is a great place to re-locate to in case of a zombie apocalypse.

“We also received such a great response from zombie fans in Scotland, we couldn’t have done it without their generosity and friendliness. Scotland is such a warm and welcoming place”.

Look out for the following heart-stopping Scottish locations on the big screen in Redcon-1:

• Washington Street, Glasgow
• Barrowlands, Glasgow
• Govan Shed, Glasgow
• Watt Brothers, Sauchiehall Street & Aqua Parade Aquarium Store, Glasgow
• McGowan House, Nobel Business Park, Stevenson, Ayrshire
• Ardeer Beach, North Ayrshire
• Campbells Auto Salvage, Bathgate, West Lothian
• M&D Fairground, Motherwell, Lanarkshire
• National Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
• HMP Peterhead Prison, Peterhead
• The Clyde, Glasgow
• Rings & Things, Bathgate, West Lothian

Legions of the undead on the way? No problem. Check out these places in Scotland for a hiding place.

Scotland’s Secret Bunker, Fife

What better place to escape to than a fortified bunker underground? Visitors to the site journey down a 450 foot tunnel and through the blast doors to discover the secrets of the bunker, which was built to help safeguard Scotland during the Cold War in the event of a nuclear attack. www.secretbunker.co.uk

Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh

Many people might choose somewhere high to get to in the event of masses of the undead. Once at the top, when not distracted by flesh-eaters, there are stunning panoramic views to be enjoyed across the whole city and to the Firth of Forth and beyond.

RRS Discovery, Dundee

The cast of TV’s Fear the Walking Dead took refuge for a time in a boat, and the RRS Discovery at Discovery Point in Dundee might be a good option as it has stood the test of time (construction of the boat started in 1900). Although berthed by the V&A Dundee museum, with no plans to set sail anytime soon, it still has many small cabins and spaces for exploring. www.rrsdiscovery.com/about-discovery/

Scotland’s castles and historic sites

Scotland is thought to have around 3000 standing castles, ruins and documented sites, providing fortresses on lochs, behind iron gates and stone walls, and high up on hills, providing a challenge for even the most persistent of zombies. Sites to consider for a safe place include Stirling Castle or perhaps the Wallace Monument, which stands 67 metres high. Alternatively, the four-storey tower house Castle Stalker in Argyll is surrounded by water, offering a safe haven (as long as accessing by boat or low tide). Similarly, Crathes Castle in Aberdeenshire is fortified by strong doors and thick walls providing a high point with plenty of safety from the elements.

Scotland’s islands

Whether arriving by plane (such as to Barra, landing directly on the beach) or by boat, Scotland’s islands provide a great escape. Whether heading to the Isle of Mull from Oban, or one of the small isles of Muck, Rhum, Canna and Eigg from Mallaig, visitors to Scotland are bound to find their own perfect spot to escape from it all. Also, the more remote it gets, the fewer humans there are (even the ones that bite).

The Highlands, of course….

With its high points, including Ben Nevis (the highest mountain in the British Isles) and Glen Coe, and rocky terrain, it’s no wonder the Highlands of Scotland was chosen as the best place in the UK to escape zombies*. And with its cosy hotels, bothies and remote pubs with roaring fireplaces, visitors are definitely guaranteed a spot in which to hide from the world.

For more information about Scotland and Scottish filming locations, go to: www.visitscotland.com

For more information on Redcon-1 go to: http://redcon1film.co.uk/ or watch the official trailer at https://youtu.be/OqYyEJpa7xg