Prior to the film, actors Chris Bellant, Craig Kelly, and Costa Nicholas each had varying degrees of musical experience. Bellant barely knew how to play the guitar, while Kelly, a former drummer for many Scottish pop-punk bands, had to learn bass, and Nicholas with many years of experience as a guitarist, had to learn how to play the drums.
Shot in 23 days.
Titled after the Gaslight Anthem song of the same name.
The film is a mostly autobiographical take on writer/director Ryan O'Leary's first romantic experiences and experiences being in a punk rock band in high school.
Early versions of the characters in The Backseat were featured in O'Leary's short film from 2009, A Bloody Mess. Actors Lori Hamilton and Vanessa Cuccia reprised their roles from the short for The Backseat.