A ghost haunted by visions of the woman he loved in a labyrinth of shifting memories.
This visually stunning independent feature is an experimental film born of the pandemic era. Filmed almost entirely on Whidbey Island in the summer of 2021, it’s a twisting tale of grief and salvation. Ian (Chris Stack) is a ghost of his former self, haunted by visions of the woman he loved in a labyrinth of shifting memories.
Throughout his imagined conversations with Liv (Samantha Soule), Ian sometimes seems to step through doors in his physical reality: at times in the old cottage they shared, at times in the fancy new beach house that replaced it. The new house is one of only two locations not on the island, and was filmed in Renton, WA. The old house was largely filmed at a vintage beach house overlooking Holmes Harbor, outside of Freeland. A well-known house in Coupeville bridges some location gaps between each of the houses in the story, and both the Whidbey dwellings are often available as vacation rentals.
Although Whidbey Island is never mentioned by name, there are references throughout to the fact that it’s an island in the Pacific Northwest. Listen out for Ian’s brother mentioning Capitol Hill at 00:14:46, Liv mentioning Seattle at 00:23:46, and a reference to the Mariners at 01:01:25. Whidbey-specific clues can be seen throughout too, such as a Musselfest poster on a wall at 00:13:07 and Ian wearing a Blue Fox Drive In t-shirt 00:26:03. On set, many of the actors and crew could be seen sporting island merch such as Cozy’s Roadhouse hats and Langley Whale Center t-shirts.
The historic Schooner SUVA is also featured at some of the most moving moments of the film, which is available for day sail tours throughout the summer. Most of the other island locations are public land and businesses that cinephiles can visit for a real-life taste of this gorgeous cinematography. Due to the feverish nature of some of the jumps in Ian’s memories, rather than point out every time stamp this list will highlight moments at all the important locations. Look out for Whidbey Island residents, businesses, and organizations all over the final credits!
Location details and time stamps:
Island Roads
Ian (Chris Stack) does a lot of cruising around scenic island roads in his old Jeep (fun fact: in real life this car is owned by a resident on Whidbey’s neighboring Camano Island). Some of the roads featured in the film include Humphrey and Heggenes Roads (Clinton) plus Ebey’s Landing and Hill Roads (Coupeville).
• 00:01:04
• 00:02:25 (note the bluff at Ebey’s Landing in the background)
• 00:06:43
• 00:07:35
• 00:19:35
Beverly Beach Cabin
This lovely place tucked amongst the trees overlooking Holmes Harbor was originally built in the 1940s, and represents the place where Liv (Samantha Soule) and Ian spent most the most time together.
• 00:01:55
• 00:02:14
• 00:02:46
• 00:03:51
• 00:04:33 (Liv walks clothed out into the water at Beverly Beach)
• 00:08:10
• 00:26:29 (Ian walks up path at Beverly Beach but into Cliff House, where he overhears Liv and a lover)
• 00:54:50 (Ian watches from water as Liv and Ash frolic on the beach)
Coupeville Cliff House
This charming and historic 1867 house is perched above Coupeville with views over Penn Cove and the Coupeville Wharf to Mt. Baker on a clear day. The cozy upstairs bedroom ties some of Ian’s memories together between the two houses of the story.
• 00:12:25 (Liv is reading Virginia Woolf’s “To the Lighthouse” that Ian gifted her)
• 00:26:29 (Ian walks up path at Beverly Beach but into Cliff House, where he overhears Liv and a lover)
• 01:13:24 (Ian wakes up at the Cliff House after his confronting night at the bar)
• 01:14:16 (Liv’s sister Beth sees new house for the first time)
Clinton Foodmart
This small grocery store overlooks the ferry route from Clinton to Mukilteo and made the perfect island grocer for the story, since it really is right across the street from the bar where Liv’s sister Beth (multi Emmy award winner Merritt Wever) works in the film.
• 00:02:38 (Ian pulls into parking lot in his Jeep)
• 00:02:57
• 00:05:24 (Ian checks out) Fun fact: one of the teenagers serving him at the counter is played by the son of one of the film’s directors (Daniel Talbott) and one of its actors (Addie Johnson Talbott)
• 00:05:46 (behind the winged-helmet cyclist real island signage can be seen: a Whidbey Telecom phone booth, a reference to Village Pizzeria on a sandwich board missing some letters, and a sign for 3 Sisters meats)
• 00:06:09 (behind the topsoil bags in the parking lot, Cozy’s Roadhouse can be seen across the street)
• 00:06:35 (as Ian drives out of the Foodmart parking lot, Beth notices him from across the street)
• 00:28:20 (grocery shopping again, Ian runs into Beth)
Cozy’s Roadhouse-now the Shrimp Shack @ Cozy’s
This establishment is the longest continually operating tavern on Whidbey Island, and has been known as Cozy’s since “opening for the first time” after Prohibition. Built in 1900 and officially opening in 1932, it’s a favorite for locals and serves as the bar where Beth works on the island in the movie. This is where Ian sees Ash (Will Pullen) and begins wrestling with his worst Liv feelings and memories.
• 00:06:17 (Beth is taking the garbage out at work when she spots Ian across the road)
• 00:42:56-00:48:29 (Ian wakes up at Cozy’s and watches two guys playing pool, having flashbacks to being at the bar with Liv-Beth is in both timelines) Fun fact: the pinball machines were courtesy of the much-loved, now defunct Machine Shop Arcade, and the neon signs were created by local company Heavy Light Works.
• 00:50:02-00:53:09 (Ian is in and out of Cozy’s and flashbacks to Liv and Ash, when Beth comes over to chat with him)
• 00:55:43 (Ian is wrestling with bad memories at Cozy’s, with cuts away to a dark feast scene)
• 00:59:51-01:01:25 (Ian is about to leave the bar but approaches Ash instead and gets confrontational)
• 01:05:13-01:08:25 (Beth kicks Ash and Cody out of the bar, then she and Ian talk on the bench outside after closing) Note the lights of Island Nosh in the background of the last bench shot.
Blue Fox Drive-In
This beloved vintage drive-in theater has been an island staple since 1959, featuring movies year-round, an arcade, go-kart track, and open-air tavern. Appearing briefly but memorably throughout the film, an early screening of “Midday Black Midnight Blue” also occurred here, so patrons were able to watch Liv and Ian at the Blue Fox from the Blue Fox!
• 00:22:50-00:23:46
• 00:40:04
Schooner SUVA
Built in 1925, this elegant timber schooner has lived her whole life on Penn Cove and still departs regularly from her home port at the Coupeville Wharf. Charters, tours, and day sailings are available, and the dedicated ship crew were delighted to host the film crew, capturing some of the most touching moments of Liv and Ian’s story, not to mention some of the most striking imagery of the movie.
• 01:08:50-01:13:23 (Ian wakes up in the SUVA with Liv, or dreams it on the car ride home with Beth)
• Particularly beautiful wide shots of SUVA sailing through the mist at 01:09:37 & 01:12:29, and from above at 01:11:33)
• 01:19:09-01:24:43 (on deck and below, with pretty sailing wide shot at 01:24:01)
Coupeville Wharf
This historic structure was built in 1905 and is the anchor of downtown Coupeville, still regularly in use for mooring boats while also housing a coffee shop, gift shop, kayak rentals and marine life displays. The iconic wharf can be spotted in many movies, television shows, and commercials.
• 00:38:12 (View of Coupeville Wharf from above at low tide)
• 00:38:18 (Liv and Ian walk quietly along the wharf, interspersed with footage of big argument)
• 00:40:09 (Memories start colliding as Ian and Liv stand at the end of the wharf)
4 Front St, downtown Coupeville
The street level of this building was a bakery for many years and has been used in several films, with the lower level accessible to the public at times, depending on the business within. The street level now houses Molka Xete Mexican Kitchen and the downstairs balcony portrayed Beth’s apartment.
Fun fact: Merritt Wever’s scenes as Beth had to be filmed over the course of three busy days, before she was due on another project she was shooting with Nicole Kidman. The upper level of this building that was used as Beth’s apartment was also used as the shop owned by Sally Owens (Sandra Bullock) in Practical Magic, where her sister Gillian (Nicole Kidman) came to work. What a small world!
• 01:13:57-01:14:15 (Beth stands on the deck outside her apartment, looking at the view of Mt. Baker across Penn Cove)
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