The werewolf make-up special effects were done by Steve Neill who had been a protégé of Rick Baker who did the make-up on the same 1981 year's An American Werewolf in London (1981).
While feeding the dog, Ed McMahon does a parody of his Alpo Dog food commercial that was made famous for its blooper on the Tonight Show.
Director Larry Cohen has said of this movie: ". . . it's more than a comedy. It has some interesting ideas about how life in America has changed sexually and politically since the early sixties. All of Arkin's friends have changed but he hasn't. And whereas he changes into a werewolf all of the time, his friends change into middle aged people while he is gone, with different values and different ideas. They change as much as he does, actually".
Although credited as the Sports Announcer, Bob Saget can also be seen as an extra during the opening shower scene.
First major cinema movie starring father and son actors Alan Arkin and Adam Arkin in significant roles.