Several costars have appeared in other Wes Craven films. Jsu Garcia appeared in A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Mitch Pileggi appeared in Shocker (1989), Joanna Cassidy appeared in Invitation to Hell (1984), Zakes Mokae appeared in The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988), and Wendy Robie appeared in The People Under the Stairs (1991).
Eddie Murphy wouldn't write another story until Norbit (2007), twelve years later. Interestingly, his co-writer of both movies was his brother Charlie Murphy.
In a November 2011 interview with "Rolling Stone", Eddie Murphy stated that he made this movie for one reason: Paramount agreed to release The Nutty Professor (1996)'s rights in exchange for finishing his deal with the studio. Murphy also said that the wig his character wore was so awful it immediately made people despise the film.
Wes Craven: [the main character experiences traumatizing nightmares that reflect or affect reality] In this film, Detective Rita Veder has nightmares about vampires. Other Craven films such as A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988), and Cursed (2005), respectively, also explore the theme of nightmares being linked to reality through trauma.