The script for this film was originally written with the title "Holiday Nightmare" and was to be shot on a yacht at Catalina Island in 1974 and Robert Blake was set to star. Then Blake was signed to do the TV series "Baretta" and there was a clause in his contract that he could not do any other projects. It took twenty six years for the writer-director to finally get the financing in the year 2000. But, the producer insisted that the location be in Tehachapi. So, it had to be re-written from a yacht to a mountain cabin. Then Eric Roberts was to do the lead, but canceled out because of a scheduling conflict. John Savage was cast in his place at the last minute and the movie finally got made.