Scotland's 'Chornobyl' housing scheme takes starring role in new horror film
BBC Scotland News reports that a short film has captured the last images of Clune Park, a derelict housing estate nicknamed "Scotland's Chornobyl," before its demolition. The tenements, built a century ago for shipyard workers, stood empty for years until filming for Alessio Avezzano's sci-fi horror comedy Behind in May 2026.
"It's the last film to be made there. It was announced it would be demolished the day we were filming - we managed to get in there not a moment too soon," said the Scottish-Italian writer and director.
The estate's redevelopment had been stalled due to a dispute between private landlords and local authorities, leaving it in a state of disrepair, reminiscent of the abandoned Ukrainian city of Pripyat after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
Avezzano drew inspiration for Behind from "butt dialling," accidentally calling someone from a phone in one's back pocket, which has devastating consequences in the film. He described the plot as "post-apocalyptic satire" that also explores themes of pandemic response and social media addiction.
The filmmaker was drawn to Clune Park's unique atmosphere:
"The idea it was described as Scotland's Chornobyl has always been fascinating."
Scenes for Behind were shot in accessible areas of the estate, and Clune Park had previously served as a location for Under the Skin, starring Scarlett Johansson. Avezzano is currently working on his first feature film, Midgies, set in Scotland and due for release next year.