spy thriller

The Amateur (2025)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Rami Malek as Charles Heller standing on a bridge. He is wearing a black trench coat and is looking over his shoulder. At the bottom of the image in glowing blue text is written ‘The Amateur. Don’t underestimate him.’

The Amateur (2025) Poster © Disney

Director: James Hawes
Starring: Rami Malek, Laurence Fishburne, Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Holt McCallany, Julianne Nicholson
Production Company: 20th Century Studios, Hutch Parker Entertainment, Seed Productions
Kent Locations Used: Home Farm

The Amateur (2025) is an American thriller film following CIA cryptographer Charles Heller who, upon losing his wife in a terrorist attack, takes justice into his own hands and embarks on a one-man mission to hunt down his wife’s killers.

Directed by James Hawes (Merlin (2008), Black Mirror: Season 5 – Smithereens (2019)), the film stars Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody, Mr. Robot) as Charles Heller, Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix, Contagion) as Henderson and Rachel Brosnahan (House of Cards, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) as Sarah, with Caitríona Balfe (Belfast, Outlander), Jon Bernthal (The Wolf of Wall Street, King Richard), Holt McCallany (Mindhunter, Fight Club) and Julianne Nicholson (August: Osage County, Blonde) in supporting roles.

Production visited Kent to film at Home Farm in Swale, which doubles for a house in America.

Situated in Swale, Home Farm is a colonial style weatherboarded villa, with veranda’s overlooking the countryside. Inside, rooms are decorated in a vintage chic style with reclaimed wood floors and chateau doors. The property is particularly popular for photoshoots but has also recently featured in Black Mirror: Season 6 – Beyond the Sea (2023), Love Again (2023) and The Unfamiliar (2020).

The Amateur (2025) will be released in cinemas on Friday 11th April 2025.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

The Saint – Season 5 (1967)

Posted on by Kent Film Office

Director: Leslie Norman
Writer: Leslie Charteris, Leigh Vance
Starring: Roger Moore, Jan Holden, John Carson, Kate O’Mara
Production Company: Bamore, Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
Kent Locations Used: Brands Hatch

The Saint (1962-1969) is an ITV spy thriller series following Simon (The Saint) Templar, a wealthy adventurer who travels the world solving mysteries. Season 5 Episode 16, The Fast Women, sees the Saint at Brands Hatch racing circuit, where he meets famous racing rivals Cynthia Quillen and Teresa Montesino, who both have plans to assassinate the other.

The episode is written by Leslie Charteris (The Saint (1997), The Saint’s Double Trouble) and Leigh Vance (The Black Windmill (1974), Mission: Impossible) and directed by Leslie Norman (Dunkirk (1958), X the Unknown). The episode stars Roger Moore (The Carer (2016), Moonraker) as Simon Templar “The Saint”, Jan Holden (Casanova ’73, Agony) as racing driver Cynthia Quillen, John Carson (Doomsday, Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter) as her cheating husband Godfrey Quillen, and Kate O’Mara (The Vampire Lovers, Doctor Who) as her racing rival Teresa Montesino.

Episode 16 is set at Brands Hatch in Fawkham, Sevenoaks and filming took place on the racing circuit and in the pits.

Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit with views across almost the entire Indy Circuit. Surrounded by woodland, the site also contains a rally course and off-road 4×4 course which are available for filming. Other productions to have filmed there include Grand Prix (1966), CI5 The New Professionals (1999) and Rush (2013).

The Saint first aired on ITV between 1962 and 1969. Season 5 Episode 16, The Fast Women, aired Friday 13th January 1967. Seasons 5 and 6 are available to stream on ITVX.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.  

Contraband (1940)

Posted on by Kent Film Office

Director: Michael Powell
Writers: Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell
Starring: Conrad Veidt, Valerie Hobson, Hay Petrie
Production Company: British National Films
Kent Locations Used: Ramsgate

Set in early World War II, Contraband (1940) is about a Danish sea captain, delayed in a British port when a blackout occurs. The darkness brings chaos with smugglers and spies wanting to take advantage and the captain is forced to participate in a game of cat and mouse through the dark streets of London looking for important papers that belong to the ship. However, he discovers something a lot bigger than a few thieves trying to make a quick profit.

Directed by Michael Powell (A Canterbury Tale (1944), The Red Shoes), the film stars Conrad Veidt (Casablanca, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari), Valerie Hobson (Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), Great Expectations (1946)) and Hay Petrie (One of Our Aircraft is Missing, Crimes at the Dark House).

Ramsgate, particularly the harbour and railway station, doubled as the fictional town Eastgate-on-Sea in the film.

Situated in East Kent,Ramsgateis a beautiful coastal town, home to the Port of Ramsgate, the only Royal Harbour Marina in the country. The area also boasts a beach, amusements, arcades, shops, restaurants and a theatre. Ramsgate has been used as a film location for Eastenders (2007-2022), Big Bad World (2013) and Johnny English Reborn (2011).

Contraband (1940) was released on Saturday 11th May 1940 and is now available to purchase on DVD.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.