Director Oz Perkins includes a few nods to his late father, actor and singer Anthony Perkins, in this film. For example, he includes the song "You Keep Coming Back Like a Song," which is performed by Anthony. Another is a clip from the film "Friendly Persuasion," which starred Anthony.
It had been reported that Debbie Harry was initially attached to play Iris Blum, though the role ultimately went to Paula Prentiss. However, director Oz Perkins has stated that the role was always thought for Prentiss, who worked with his father in "Catch-22" (which also, incidentally, featured Bob Balaban) and remained friends since. Harry was indeed cast first, but dropped out a few weeks before filming began.
In an early scene that pans across Iris Blum's bookshelf, the final book seen on the shelf is titled, "The Lady in the Walls." The book is later read and referenced throughout the film by the main character, Lily. Written by Iris the novel is set in the 1800s. It tells the story of Polly, a young bride whose gruesome death is not detailed in the conclusion to the novel. The first words spoken in the movie are almost identical to the opening of the novel, hinting at an interconnection between Polly and Lily. Iris insists of calling Lily by Polly's name throughout the film.
This movie takes place in Braintree, Massachusetts
Writer and director Osgood Perkins is horror movie "royalty." He is a son of Anthony Perkins, the actor who was best known for playing Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho as well as its three sequels.