The film was originally scheduled to be directed by John Huston before Ivan Passer was assigned the job.
Ken Russell filmed a similar story with Gothic (1986) about two years earlier. The film Remando al viento (1988), which covered the same events, was released the same year.
Cast members Eric Stoltz and Laura Dern previously both appeared in Mask (1985). According to an interview, Stoltz landed the role of Percy Bysshe Shelley in 'Haunted Summer' due to Dern's suggestion.
Producer Raymond Stross first announced the production in May 1971 which was about sixteen years before the movie debuted.
The film takes place in the 1816. The time-span between that year and when the film was first released is about 170 years.