The character of Vogler was based on Bergman himself.
The original Swedish title is "Ansiktet" which means "the face." It was released theatrically in the United Kingdom as "The Face."
The character name Vergerus is one that recurs throughout Bergman's work and is generally associated with lack of emotion and heartlessness.
Distantly inspired by G.K. Chesterton's play "Magic" which was a favorite of Ingmar Bergman's. He staged a theater production of that play in Swedish.