Welcome to Hell
Many surprising truths come to light in The Road, the movie based on Cormac McCarthy's post-apocalyptic novel. First, starve him enough and put him in a soiled hoodie and even Viggo Mortensen can look pretty battered. Second, the end of the world might turn out to be amazingly beautiful. And third, you can preview much of it now in Pennsylvania. "The key was the locations," says director John Hillcoat, who avoided green-screen production to ensure strong performances from his leading men. Stark, sublime landscapes won out as well. From abandoned highways to abandoned churches, TIME presents "The End of the World: A Travel Guide".

• Cinematic Visions of the Apocalypse