Road to Perdition

The Road to Perdition, of course, reflects both moral and physical concepts. On a moral level, Michael Sullivan must personally resolve the differences between what he does for a living and what he believes as a spiritual man. The path he chooses for himself and his son - finding sanctuary at Perdition, Michigan - stems from his dilemma. It is also a necessary journey to physically save his son and morally save himself.

As he did with the characters of the Michael Sullivan family, Max Allan Collins invented the town of Perdition. Scenes in the movie that take place in the fictional town were filmed in one of the most beautiful settings in the Midwest.

Interior "Perdition, Michigan" scenes take place in a structure that was built on the beach especially for the project. Soon after filming wrapped, the structure was demolished. (The county bought the land and will soon turn the film site into a park.) Local newspapers, like the Holland Sentinel, have on-line pictures of both the scene and the "cottage."

On the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, one cannot see across the "Big Lake." On a stretch of beach between Holland and Grand Haven, the peaceful scene, with its beautiful sunsets, is totally opposite what one would expect from a town called Perdition. Michael Sullivan’s internal tension is thereby projected on the big screen: How can violent deaths occur in such a place?