Warning: This article contains mild spoilers for Hot Frosty
Netflix Christmas romantic comedy, Hot coldfollows Kathy (Lacey Chabert), a grieving widow, who accidentally brings a snowman (Dustin Milligan) to life. Very similar to the original Frosty the snowman, Kathy’s snowman, Jack, helps bring an air of magic and happiness into Kathy’s lifeallowing viewers to see her recover from her past losses. As Hot coldAs the main characters of Kathy and Jack grow closer, Jack also wins over the other members of Kathy’s town with his friendliness and help. The film’s comforting small-town setting and Christmas-themed romance also help set the perfect tone to get audiences in the Christmas mood.
Hot cold is set in the fictional small town of Hope Springs, New York, where Kathy owns a diner. The film creates the feeling that Kathy lives in a close-knit community where everyone knows everyone and that they also know and love Jack as the film progresses. Comments from Hot cold I agree that the film offers sweet Christmas laughs and a heartfelt message about finding joy, and the town’s cute uniqueness, which helps audiences get into the Christmas spirit, left fans of the film wondering where Hot cold was filmed.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
The Canadian capital served as the setting for the film
However Hot cold is set in the town of Hope Springs, which is revealed to be in New York based on license plates visible throughout the film, the film was filmed entirely in Canada. The choice to use Ottawa, as well as several other smaller cities in Ontario, makes sense given the locations’ proximity to upstate New York. Especially when snow is added, separate locations can be easily swapped. The Canadian capital, Ottawa, served as the filming location for many of the film’s important scenes, especially those that required indoor sets.
Although Jack needs to take regular breaks outside in the cold to avoid melting, much of Hot cold it actually takes place inland, which means it can be difficult to truly glimpse images of Ottawa. Many of the film’s interior scenes, such as those in the doctor’s office and high school scenes, were filmed in unused school buildings in Ottawa. Additionally, brief glimpses of the city’s buildings can be seen when Kathy and Jack go shopping.
Brockville, Ontario, Canada
Brockville provided beautiful views for the film’s winter scenes
Also called the City of a Thousand Islands, Brockville was the scene of many scenes of Hot cold. Downtown Brockville is known for being very picturesqueand when covered in snow, it was the perfect Hope Springs Christmas. The real Brockville is a small town that has beautiful architecture and several popular tourist attractions, so it makes sense that it would also be an ideal location for filming.
The annual Hope Springs Snow Sculpting Competition, where Kathy first sees Jack in his snowman form, was filmed in downtown Brockville
Many of Hot coldThe interior and exterior scenes of were filmed in Brockville. Notably, the annual Hope Springs snow sculpture competition, where Kathy first sees Jack in his snowman form, was filmed in downtown Brockville. Audiences that pay close attention may catch the first glimpses of the street’s beautiful architecture and distinctive fountain in the center of the square. Likewise, Kathy’s diner, as well as the Reclaimed Rags store, where Jack steals his clothes after transforming into a human, occupy buildings on this same street in Brockville.
Mississippi Mills, Ontario, Canada
Mississippi Mills was the real location of Kathy’s house
Although most outdoor landscapes that can be seen in Hot cold is in downtown Brockville, Mississippi Mills, and more specifically, the small community of Pakenham was also used to replace some interior scenes in Hot cold. Although Pakenham itself is quite small, it is known for the ski slopes at Mount Pakenham, which is a popular tourist site, and the Pakenham Bridge, which is the only five-arch stone bridge in North America. Pakenham’s unique and stunning setting helped set the scene for Hope Springs in Hot coldand provided extra locations for the characters to travel to.
Specifically, Kathy’s house, where she and Jack began to bond and fall in love, was located in Pakenham. Exterior photos of the house showed a more residential area, away from the city center and Kathy’s restaurant. As several scenes took place in Kathy’s car as she traveled into town with Jack, it makes sense that Hot cold would create this visual separation by filming in two different areas. It also gives Hot cold a chance to make the town of Hope Springs feel more real and lived-in, a place where the public themselves would like to vacation.