Wes Craven was inspired to write this film after reading a real-life news story about burglars breaking into a house. When authorities arrived, the burglars had disappeared but they discovered locked doors with noises coming from behind. Children had been locked up inside the rooms by their parents, never allowed to go outside.
Wes Craven chose Wendy Robie and Everett McGill to play the parts of Mommy and Daddy after seeing them play husband and wife on the TV series I segreti di Twin Peaks (1990).
The coin Fool pulls out of Spenser's hand is real. It is known as an American Gold Eagle and contains 1oz of 22 karat gold. It would have been worth approximately $708 in 1991.
Shortly before his death, Wes Craven was developing a television show version of this film on the SyFy Channel.
Hilary Swank auditioned for the role of Roach. Roach was originally written to be either a male or female.