Lori Lethin said she liked that she got to do all her own stunts. She said, "I'm kind of an outdoor gal, and also a bit of a tomboy, so the idea of running around, doing my stunts and being chased, was really fun for me."
Despite popular belief that the film was shelved for five years after being shot, it has been confirmed that it was shot in early 1980 and released the following year.
Star Lori Lethin said that the mood during shooting Bloody Birthday was actually quite light hearted, despite the film's disturbing content. Her young co-stars were often laughing between takes during production.
According to director Ed Hunt, the murder sequences were originally shot to be more graphic, but the stronger footage was edited out of the final cut.
The astrology book Joyce consults is "Linda Goodman's Sun Signs." None of the material she supposedly reads out loud is from the book, however.