The characters Louise and her wheelchair-bound father previously appeared in The Killing Kind (1973), which was also written by Tony Crechales and George Edwards. In this film the roles were played by Carrie Snodgress and Ray Milland, in the other, by Luana Anders and Peter Brocco.
Getting director George Edwards to Wichita, KS, for filming proved to be a difficult and costly process. Edwards feared flying so he started out to Kansas on a train. However, he fell ill on board and ended up taking a cab from Arkansas to Kansas afterward. It cost $1,500.
In the 2004 documentary "A Gary Graver Movie," Graver claimed that writer/director George Edwards was distracted and kept leaving the set, putting him in charge of directing the film. Graver took credit for directing the entire attic sequence and he built such a rapport with star Carrie Snodgress that she took a pivotal role and allowed him to use her home as the primary shooting location for his own film Trick or Treats (1982).
Marjorie Eaton is the only cast member to return from The Killing Kind (1973), though she portrays a different character.
The address on the envelope that Louise sends is the real address for the Wichita Public Library.