The interiors were shot in Calgary, Alberta in the middle of winter with below-freezing temperatures. The exteriors were shot in San Pedro, Belize.
Technically the real Richard Parker did not draw the short straw - he fell overboard and drank seawater. The others were going to draw straws, but decided to take him out rather than wait for his blood to be contaminated from dying of illness.
In the credits the Motion Picture Production Code is 888888, that number was made up and not approved by the MPAA
17 June 2023: Currently streaming on Tubi.