Bonaventure Cemetery from "Now and Then" and "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil"
LOCATION:
Bonaventure Cemetery, as seen in the films "Now and Then" and "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", is supposedly haunted and a tourist attraction in its own right.
ADDRESS:
Bonaventure Cemetery
300 Bonaventure Road
Thunderbolt, GA
STORY & PHOTOS:
Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, GA is very pretty and pretty creepy. So it's no surprise that movies that were filmed in Savannah chose Bonaventure as a filming location. In 1990s coming-of-age story "Now and Then", four teenage girls hold a cemetery seance and believe they bring back the spirit of Dear Johnny, a young boy who was murdered by a burglar years before. They visit the cemetery several times during the film. Scenes were shot at both Bonaventure and Colonial Park Cemetery (which is in one of the downtown Savannah squares).
One of the more recognizable markers from the movie is the statue of the angel with her hand raised above her head. One featured in the screen shots above looks much shorter than the one in Bonaventure. It's possible filmmakers used the statue in Bonaventure in some shots and created a replica for the scenes filmed in Colonial Park.
The statue is impressive in person and creates a tranquil scene in the cemetery among the trees and Spanish moss.
Savannah-set movie "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" (based on the nonfiction book of the same name) also used Bonaventure Cemetery as a backdrop. In "Midnight", Bonaventure Cemetery played itself. It's where Jim Williams (Kevin Spacey) was buried, as well as the final resting place for the man he shot, Billy Hanson (Jude Law).
Williams' burial, as well as several scenes involving Minerva (Irma P. Hall) communing with spirits, were set at Bonaventure.
Bonaventure Cemetery is beautiful and definitely worth a visit whether you're a film buff or not.
There are a few famous-ish folks buried there, as well.
If you're into the spooky side of things, there are also tours you can take a 90-minute daytime walking tour or the Blue Orb Bonaventure Cemetery Tour, for which round-trip transportation is provided. A visit to Bonaventure Cemetery is a must for any stay in Savannah.
STORY & PHOTO CREDITS:
Written by Christina LeBlanc
Location photos by Christina LeBlanc and Patti LeBlanc
