Anecdotes

Matthew McConaughey had just graduated college and planned on moving to California when he auditioned for this movie. He read for the part of a young motorcyclist who rescues Jenny at the end and rides off with her into the sunset (a role that was eventually eliminated). Before he left, writer / producer / director Kim Henkel asked if he knew of anyone who might be right for the role of the villain, Vilmer. McConaughey suggested two friends from acting class and left. He was about to get in his truck and drive to California when he stopped and realized, "What was I thinking?" He immediately turned around and asked Henkel, "Hey, can I audition for Vilmer?" Henkel gave him a spoon from the kitchen, told him to pretend it's a knife and tasked him with scaring his secretary. Then, in the middle of the audition, he told him to pretend his mechanical leg was malfunctioning. McConaughey was so convincing that he won the role of Vilmer on the spot.

When asked about this movie, Renée Zellweger said, "It was dangerous. I don't know if any of it was legal. It was a great workout. Running from a guy with a live chainsaw is excellent motivation. It was a lot of fun. It was my first role, really. I couldn't believe that somebody was going to trust me with that, that somebody was going to take this chance (on me). I was really grateful. I have no shame about that (movie)."

Two years later, Matthew McConaughey shot to fame with Le Droit de tuer ? (1996) and Renée Zellweger shot to fame with Jerry Maguire (1996). Both used the same talent agency. Sony, which owned this movie's distribution rights, was preparing to re-release it, highlighting the pair, when their agent threatened a lawsuit, claiming their clients were being unfairly exploited. The agency also said that if Sony emphasized their names, neither would appear in any future Sony releases. The film eventually got a brief, limited theatrical release in September 1997.

Renée Zellweger reflected on this movie in a 2016 interview, and said: "It was very low budget, so we all shared a tiny Winnebago that the producer of the film--it belonged to him, it was his personal camper. So, you know, make-up was in the front seats and there was a table in the middle for hair, and there was a tiny little curtain by the bathroom. That was where you put your prom dress and your flower on. It was ridiculous. How we pulled that off, I have no idea. I'm sure none of it was legal. Anything we did was a little bit dangerous But what an experience. It was kamikaze filmmaking."

The hospital scene at the end featured two actors and one actress from Massacre à la tronçonneuse (1974): John Dugan played Grandfather, Paul A. Partain played Franklin Hardesty, and Marilyn Burns (credited as "Anonymous") played Sally Hardesty.