Factual error: The boys go deer hunting somewhere in the Appalachians, but the geology is all wrong. That scene is in North Cascades National Park in Washington State. In addition, the "deer" they are hunting is a Red Stag. Not typically found in the Appalachians.
Suggested correction: Part of the scenery is the North Cascades, including the first mountain shot, Mount Baker, south of the Canadian border.
Someone notes that "Red Stags are not typically found in the Appalachians." In reality, there are no wild red stags in the Eastern US, or anywhere in the US, or in North America, or even in the Western Hemisphere. Red stags are native to most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Anatolia, Iran, and parts of Western Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains of Northern Africa.
Thank you! Growing up in Pennsylvania and hunting deer since the age of ten - The use of the Red Stag in the last scene always bothered me. No trained White Tails, I guess. Great movie other than that.
Factual error: When they are refuelling the helicopter (as a zombie approaches quietly from behind) the actor has put the gas nozzle not into the hole for the gas tank, but into one of the foot-holes that helicopter mechanics use to climb up to the top of the helicopter to do repairs. It doesn't even fit properly. (00:22:55)
Factual error: After Linnet Ridgeway had almost been crushed by a stone falling down from the temple of Karnak, Dr. Bessner advised her to go back to the boat to have a rest. She replied that it can be for just a couple of hours, as she must see the temple of Abu Simbel in the evening. In the next scene, she is really visiting Abu Simbel together with Simon and in the late evening they are back on the Nile steamer. This is absolutely impossible, as the distance between the temple of Karnak and the temple of Abu Simbel is about 400km (250 miles). By that time, it would have been impossible to manage 800km (500 miles) within one afternoon just for a visiting tour. And it is not very logical, as the Nile steamer was going up the Nile to Wadi Halfa, so they would have passed Abu Simbel anyway later during their trip. (00:47:00)
Factual error: When Buddy and the musicians tour bus is towed to the Clear Lake Auditorium for the final concert before the fatal air crash, the canopy states that the concert is on the 3rd of February. The fatal accident that took Buddy, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens occurred at 1am on 3rd February 1959 so the canopy should have read 2nd February.
Factual error: The Force 10 finally manage to escape of the German ammunition depot by train. However, when the train leaves the tunnel and the men jump off the train the engine is a modern red and white electric locomotive. Only one problem: Electric trains did not exist in Yugoslavia until 10 years later. The engine is a mid-60's Swedish type RC.
Factual error: The movie takes place in Chicago, except for one scene that is supposed to be in New York City (when Damien's uncle visits the priest). Two problems. First, as the cab pulls up to the church where the priest is, it goes past a housing project. Anyone who knows public housing construction in New York and Chicago knows that building is in Chicago. Second, when they go out to a trainyard, you can clearly see the Hancock Tower in the background. Of course, that building is in Chicago, not New York.
Factual error: During the early chase, a policeman fires a shotgun at the blue LTD. Each shot is supposed to hit the trunklid, as it comes loose, then flies off, yet the lid is never damaged by the bullets, as if they are passing through the lid, hitting the hinges and lock without leaving any holes or dents in the lid itself. (00:11:40)
Factual error: In the opening, they are playing 'Life in the Fast Lane' by the Eagles, and they do a closeup of the studio turntable playing the last song on an album, but 'Life in the Fast Lane' is the second song on 'Hotel California' - not the last. (00:04:24)
Factual error: In the closing scene, E.J. Bellocq pictures Hattie and Violet with a Kodak Portrait Brownie No. 2. The Kodak Portrait Brownie No. 2 was not introduced until 1929, a dozen years after the movie takes place.
Factual error: When the bad guys collect the $100 million in cash from the vault, it's been laid out in just 2 suitcases. According to US government specifications, that much cash (it is mentioned in the movie that it is in $100 bills) would be a single pile nearly 50 feet high (about 10 times what is shown) and 1,000kg - a full ton of weight.