The film posits a fictional representation of the last days in the life of Edgar Allan Poe. In reality, no one actually knows how Poe spent his last days, his death being shrouded in mystery. He was found, delirious, on the streets of Baltimore on October 3, 1849, wearing clothes that were not his own. On the night before his death, he was reported to have repeatedly called out the name "Reynolds." He died on October 7, 1849, as depicted in the film. All medical records, including his death certificate, have been lost.
Edgar Allan Poe only made $9 for his poem "The Raven". However, in 1845 $9 would be equivalent to approximately $300 today.
Although set in Baltimore, the film was actually made in Hungary and Serbia with a mainly British cast playing Americans. John Cusack is the only American in the main cast.
When talking about navigation techniques Poe, played by John Cusack, mentions he went to West Point and was expelled. This is historically correct, Poe was a cadet at West Point during Robert E. Lee's tenure as Academy Superintendent prior to the Civil War.
The first trailer was released on 7 October 2011, 162 years to the day after Poe's mysterious death.