The show format and lead role draw influence from real life show Destino Paranormal (2008) and the series lead Zak Bagans who is known for his black muscle shirts and technique of trying to invoke ghost presence by cussing at the supposed specters and inviting attacks.
It was filmed over 10 nights and 2 days.
The setting of the film's fictional Collingwood Psychiatric Hospital in Maryland is actually Riverview Hospital - an abandoned mental institution in Coquitlam, British Columbia built at the turn of the 20th century and closed down in 2012. It has also hosted such films as "Watchmen" and TV shows like "The X-Files".
The director set out to differentiate Grave Encounters from other iconic found-footage films such as Blair Witch Project by being less subtle with the demons. He wanted the demons to "visibly run at you", rather than just move objects and slam doors.
In Dr. Arthur Friedkin's room, there is a book on a table; the book is just one page of runes that is repeated. The runes in the book are an old script used by the Norse (Vikings). The runes can be translated directly into the English language, and the words clearly read out a parody of "I've learned" written by an unknown author. The parody reads as follows: "Steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades, and there had better be a lot of money to take its place. I've learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones who do. I've learned that we don't have to ditch friends because their dysfunction. They are more f**ked up than you think."