Mickey Spillane was a personal friend of writer/director Max Allan Collins and appeared in the movie as a favor. When Spillane arrived to film his part, he was ill and running a dangerously high fever. Concerned for his health, crew members tried to talk him out of filming, but he insisted on going on with the show.
Scream queen Brinke Stevens was an acquaintance of writer/director Max Allan Collins, whom he had met while the two were making personal appearances at comic book conventions. When asked about her involvement with the film, Collins commented, "Brinke was happy to have a chance to do something with her clothes on, I think."
Then 11-year-old Rachel Lemieux had no prior professional acting experience; she was discovered at an open audition in an Iowa mall and beat out more than 200 girls for the role. Other top contenders for the part appeared in classroom scenes.
Miguel Ferrer, a close personal friend of writer/director Max Allan Collins, was originally attached to the movie in the role of Lt. March. Ferrer bowed out when he was offered a paid job on another film. 'Jason Miller (I)' was then contacted and promptly accepted the role.