FAQ

As of now, there is no evidence that the novels are connected to this film. Christopher Pike is not listed anywhere as a writer for the film. Pike's novels are definitely similar in the fact that they are both about a killer who stalks teens for not sending out a chain letter. In the novels, the teens committed a heinous crime to deserve the chain letters.

In the USA, the film was only shown in selected cinemas and received an R-Rating (for strong bloody sadistic violence throughout, language and brief nudity). This censored version was not really cut but rather offers more harmless alternative material. Still, there is more than 1 minute of difference between the releases; that's because of an absolutely irrelevant final scene that can really just go without. Nonetheless one can find a detailed comparison between both versions with pictures here.