The average sewer doesn’t inspire thoughts of glamorous Hollywood movies. However, the mysterious draw of a dark, dank place where few people ever venture has seen sewers become an unlikely star in many movies. From chase scenes to brooding bad guys, let’s take a look at the top five instances where sewers form the backdrop for the action in some classic films (spoilers ahead).
5) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
The Indiana Jones films give us adventure at its best. With Harrison Ford getting into all sorts of sticky situations in far flung locations, it was surely only a matter of time before he found himself exploring underground. Lo and behold, in Last Crusade Indy breaks his way through the floor of the Venice Library and into the rat riddled sewers and catacombs, looking for clues to find the Holy Grail with baddies hot on his trail.
4) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
For the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the sewers don’t just feature as a fleeting chase scene, it’s their home. The crime fighting, martial arts aficionados live in the New York sewer system, finding surprisingly sizeable spaces to practice their skills, as well as kick back and eat pizza.
3) IT
Some movies prey on the fact sewers are dark, expansive places, where few will ever go, turning them into a creepy backdrop – IT is one of these movies. Although many people find the Stephen King novel the film is based upon to be superior, the original film and its 2017 remake were both popular and deliver on the horror front. The monster shaped as a clown lurks in the sewer system, leading to some scary scenes as the characters are drawn into its lair.
2) The Italian Job
The Italian Job, starring Michael Caine, is an excellent crime caper which includes arguably one of the most iconic car chase scenes ever. As three Minis in red, white and blue speed away from the heist, riches in tow, they take all manner of routes to try and lose the people pursuing them. One of these routes sees them squeezing their little Minis through the sewers, a scene which was actually filmed in Coventry!
1) The Shawshank Redemption
At number one, we’ve put one of the best rated films of all time: The Shawshank Redemption. This is a poignant, moving film about friendship, hope and freedom set in a prison, following the lives of a group of inmates. With marvellous performances, the story culminates with Andy Dufresne making a break out of the prison by crawling through 500 yards of putrid sewers. The moment where he makes it out of the sewer and is finally free, out in the pouring rain – truly iconic.
We may not have featured in any Hollywood movies, but the talented team at Wildon UK are experts in sewage treatment and wastewater. Operating throughout the UK, our skilled engineers can offer quality installations, maintenance and repairs for a wide range of sewage systems. If you have any enquiries, simply contact our friendly team today.
Go back to