Thrash, a Survival Thriller Where Sharks Meet a Hurricane
Released worldwide on Netflix on April 10, 2026, Thrash opened at #1 on Netflix's global movie chart during its debut weekend, becoming one of the platform's most-watched English-language originals of the year. The R-rated shark disaster thriller is written and directed by Norwegian filmmaker Tommy Wirkola, best known for Dead Snow and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters. Wirkola leans into his signature blend of gleeful B-movie absurdity and disaster-movie scale, producing what critics have called "Netflix and chomp" — a movie that knows exactly what it wants to be.
Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton) leads as Lisa Fields, a heavily pregnant woman trapped in her car as a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane submerges her coastal town and brings a school of ravenous bull sharks to Main Street. Djimon Hounsou (Black Panther, A Quiet Place: Day One) co-stars as Dale, a marine biologist chasing the sharks' unusual behavior, and Whitney Peak (Bird Box: Barcelona) appears as Dakota Edwards, an agoraphobic young woman who fails to evacuate in time. Matt Nable, Andrew Lees, and Alyla Browne round out the supporting cast. Stephen King publicly praised the film on social media shortly after release, calling it "pure Saturday-night chaos" — a recommendation that propelled viewership further.
Though the film is set in the fictional South Carolina town of Annieville, none of it was shot in the United States. The production filmed entirely in and around Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, using the region's versatile geography, studio infrastructure, and Federation-era suburbs to convincingly stand in for the American South. This guide breaks down every key filming location — with coordinates, transit directions, and scene context — so fans can retrace Thrash's path across Victoria.
Behind the Scenes
Principal photography began in July 2024 and ran for approximately 11 weeks, with Docklands Studios Melbourne serving as the central production hub. Of the facility's six sound stages, the dedicated water stage — one of the largest indoor tanks in Australia — was the decisive factor in choosing Melbourne over other potential production bases. Virtually every major flood sequence, including the signature shot of Lisa trapped in her slowly submerging car as a bull shark circles, was built and shot inside this tank with a combination of animatronic shark rigs and practical water effects. Wirkola has said in interviews that he wanted "real water, real fear" and minimized CGI wherever possible.
Phoebe Dynevor performed the majority of her own water stunts while wearing a prosthetic pregnancy belly engineered to stay buoyant without floating the actor. On some days, she spent more than ten consecutive hours partially submerged. Dynevor has described the shoot as "the hardest physical job I've ever taken" in press interviews, noting that an on-set swim coach and a medical team were permanent fixtures of the water stage.
Mornington Pier, about an hour's drive southeast of Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula, was chosen for Dale's research vessel scenes. The pier's pastel-colored beach boxes, shallow bay, and long pedestrian walkway gave the production an immediately recognizable "American small-town harbor" profile. Locals report that the production kept the pier accessible to the public during most of the shoot, cordoning off only the immediate filming area at any given time.
Williamstown and Canterbury provided the film's critical "mundane Americana" backdrop. Canterbury's tree-lined streets, wide footpaths, and Federation-era homes were transformed into South Carolina suburbia through a remarkable set-dressing operation: American-style signage, US license plates on parked cars, and even re-painted mailboxes. The location department approached residents months in advance for permission, and several homeowners agreed to have their front gardens partially re-landscaped to match the production's reference photos of Charleston suburbs. Williamstown's waterfront — with views back toward the Melbourne CBD skyline — doubled for the road Lisa drives along as the storm first makes landfall.
Mount Macedon, about 65 km northwest of Melbourne, provided the film's most geographically ambitious shots. The region's volcanic ridges, misty forests, and wide, empty highways were used for sweeping aerial sequences showing the approaching hurricane system. These wide shots are intentionally quiet and almost pastoral — a deliberate counterweight to the claustrophobic chaos of the flooded town sequences.
Travel Guide to Filming Locations
Melbourne CBD Route (Half Day): Docklands → Southern Cross Station → Flinders Street Station
- Docklands Studios Melbourne: The studios themselves are not open to the public, but the surrounding Docklands waterfront is a popular promenade. Take the free City Circle Tram (Route 35) or Tram 70 from the CBD, or walk 15 minutes from Southern Cross Station. Nearby Harbour Town shopping precinct and the NewQuay Promenade have restaurants with harbor views, perfect for a meal before or after a location visit.
- Southern Cross Station: Melbourne's architecturally distinctive transport hub (famous for its undulating roof) is the departure point for regional trains heading to Frankston (for Mornington Pier) and Macedon (for Mount Macedon).
Mornington Peninsula Route (Full Day): Mornington Pier → Mornington Bathing Boxes → Arthurs Seat
- Mornington Pier: From Southern Cross Station, take the train to Frankston Station (about 55 minutes), then Bus 788 for 20 minutes. The pier itself is free to access and is a beloved local fishing and swimming spot. Visit at sunset to capture the same golden light Wirkola used for Dale's introductory scenes.
- Mornington Bathing Boxes: A 10-minute walk from the pier, these 82 pastel-colored beach boxes are one of Australia's most photographed Instagram spots.
- Arthurs Seat Eagle: A 15-minute drive from the pier, this gondola lift climbs to a viewpoint overlooking Port Phillip Bay.
Williamstown Route (Half Day): Williamstown Beach → Nelson Place → Gem Pier
- From Flinders Street Station, take the train to Williamstown (about 25 minutes). Nelson Place is the town's 19th-century waterfront boulevard, lined with heritage pubs, cafes, and maritime museums. The views back toward the Melbourne CBD skyline are some of the best in the metro area — and closely match the coastline Lisa drives along in the film.
Canterbury Route (Quick Visit): Canterbury Station → Maling Road
- Train from Flinders Street on the Belgrave or Lilydale line to Canterbury Station (about 20 minutes). Maling Road is a small heritage shopping strip with boutique cafes; it appears briefly in the film as Dakota's neighborhood high street.
Mount Macedon Route (Day Trip): Memorial Cross → Hanging Rock → Macedon Ranges wineries
- Train from Southern Cross to Macedon Station (about 1 hour), then taxi or ride-share to the summit (15 minutes). A rental car is strongly recommended if you plan to visit Hanging Rock or the Macedon Ranges wineries the same day.
- Best time to visit: Australia's spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May) offer the most pleasant weather in Melbourne. For the moody, overcast palette of the film itself, winter (June–August) is the most atmospheric — bring a waterproof jacket, as Melbourne weather is famously changeable.
Fan Pilgrimage
Within days of its Netflix debut, Thrash ignited a fresh wave of location tourism around Melbourne. Hashtags #ThrashLocations, #AnniveilleIRL, and #DocklandsShark surged on TikTok and Instagram, with fans posting short videos recreating Lisa's water-bound scenes along the Docklands waterfront. A viral TikTok meme in which fans pose in mock-terror in front of the Docklands canal water racked up tens of millions of views in the first week.
Mornington Pier saw a visible spike in international visitors following the film's release, and local tour operators have quickly launched "Dale's research vessel" boat tours — short bay cruises departing from the pier pitched explicitly to Thrash fans. Visit Victoria, the state's tourism authority, has leaned into the film with official content highlighting Thrash locations on its social channels, treating the production as a signature showcase of Victoria as an international film destination.
Canterbury residents have been surprised by the sudden interest in their quiet neighborhood. Some homeowners have posted polite signs asking visitors to stay on the sidewalk and avoid photographing private windows or residents. Visitor etiquette matters: treat Canterbury as the ordinary suburban neighborhood it is, photograph only exterior architecture, and never linger in front of private homes.
Beyond Melbourne, international audiences have made Thrash a genuine global phenomenon. The film topped Netflix's charts in dozens of countries, including South Korea, where it became the top-watched film on the platform during its opening weekend. Phoebe Dynevor's costume — a simple sundress layered under an oversized button-up shirt, worn throughout most of the film — has inspired imitations across Pinterest and Korean fashion media under tags like #트래쉬OOTD.
Nearby Food and Attractions
Docklands (CBD West): The studio sits within walking distance of the Harbour Town shopping precinct and the NewQuay Promenade, a waterfront strip lined with restaurants offering views of the harbor. The Woolshed Pub on the waterfront is popular for Australian steaks and a rotating craft-beer lineup. A 20-minute walk east brings you to central Melbourne landmarks including Federation Square, the Queen Victoria Market, and Flinders Street Station — all must-visits on any Melbourne trip.
Mornington Peninsula: Mornington village itself is a compact, walkable town with strong specialty-coffee culture. Commonfolk Coffee Company and Mornington Village Coffee are among the most respected roasters on the peninsula. The region is also a major wine-producing area, and a day tour can easily cover Montalto, T'Gallant, and Main Ridge Estate — leading Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers. The Arthurs Seat Eagle gondola and the Peninsula Hot Springs are popular add-ons for a weekend visit.
Williamstown: The seaside town has a genuine Victorian-era maritime character. Nelson Place is lined with seafood restaurants — Seawall Restaurant's fish and chips are a local favorite. The HMAS Castlemaine Museum Ship, a converted WWII corvette, is docked permanently at Gem Pier and makes an ideal family stop. A harbor ferry also runs between Williamstown and Southbank in central Melbourne, an alternative to the train and a scenic way to reach the CBD.
Canterbury / Eastern Suburbs: Canterbury's Maling Road is a petite heritage shopping strip with bakeries, cafes, and boutiques. Nearby Box Hill hosts one of Melbourne's largest Chinese communities and arguably the best authentic Cantonese and Shanghainese food outside of Asia itself, centered around Whitehorse Road and the Box Hill Central market.
Mount Macedon / Macedon Ranges: The region around Mount Macedon has become a weekend-trip favorite for Melbournians. The summit's Memorial Cross, Hanging Rock (famous for the novel and film Picnic at Hanging Rock), and the Macedon Ranges wine trail — known especially for cool-climate sparkling wines — make for an excellent day out. Towns like Woodend and Trentham offer cozy country pubs perfect for ending a day of location hunting.
