Oxford Murders

For The Oxford Murders, a 2007 feature film directed by Álex de la Iglesia, Totom built an extensive WW1 trench system on location. Working from detailed historical research, the construction covered front-line, communication, and support trenches, each laid out to reflect the zigzag patterns, fire bays, and dugouts that defined the Western Front.

Materials were chosen for authenticity throughout: sandbags, wooden frames, corrugated iron, and duckboards, all aged and dressed to reflect the grime and deterioration of active trenches. Rather than filming in an area with existing trench traces, a field location was selected and fully transformed, with a water bowser brought in to add the ground-level moisture the conditions demanded.

Once filming was complete, the site was reinstated and returned to its original condition.

For more on the construction process and the challenges of recreating WW1 environments for screen, see our blog Building Authentic WW1 Trenches.

We’ve been working with Maria Chryssikos since early 2006. See more examples of our work together here:

• The Beekeeper Film
• The Toy Fair Display
• Gatorade Commercial
• Perky The Turkey Sun Newspaper Commercial
• Oxford Murders Film
• Bbathstore Commercials
• Andrex Commercial
• Skye Edwards Music Video