- Based on the book, "Death Sentence" - the direct sequel novel to "Death Wish", which itself was made into the movie Death Wish (1974) starring Charles Bronson. The Bronson movie spawned four sequel movies, none of which were influenced by the novel series. The author, Brian Garfield has disliked and does not care for each of the sequels, due to how it departs from his original character and theme in the books.
- Garrett Hedlund shaved his head for his role in this movie.
- Originally, the film was to take place in Boston, Massachusetts before the director decided to have the film set in Columbia, South Carolina. The novel, completely different from the movie, took place in Chicago, Illinois.
- The television at the end of the film has the letters "COULD U" instead of a brand name.
- When Nick puts the gun to the head of one of Bill Harley's men, he asks the man where he is. The man says "Stygian Street". Stygian (2000) is the title of one of James Wan's student films. Stygian Street is also the name of the street of Jigsaw's first lair in Saw (2004), another Wan film. "Stygian" usually refers to the River Styx (near Hades, the underworld).
- Originally, Aisha Tyler's character as the detective was conceived to be a 50 year old veteran male detective.
- The courtroom in which the pre-trial hearing takes place is not actually a trial court. It is actually the South Carolina Court of Appeals; no pre-trial hearing or trials actually take place there.
- Judith Roberts who plays Judge Shaw in this film is also cast in another James Wan 's film Dead Silence (2007) as Mary Shaw. Coincidentally, the Kevin Bacon film Tremors (1990) had the working title "Dead Silence."
- Leigh Whannell has been involved in everyone of James Wan's films. This movie he plays Spink, one of the members of Billy Darley's gang. Leigh had also co-wrote and starred in Saw (2004) and co-wrote Dead Silence (2007).
>>> WARNING: Here Be Spoilers <<<
Trivia items below here contain information that may give away important plot points. You may not want to read any further if you've not already seen this title.
- SPOILER: In the scene where John Goodman's character is killed, graffiti in the background can be seen showing the 'Jigsaw doll' from another movie of director James Wan, Saw (2004).
- SPOILER: The ending contains several homages to Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver (1976), including Billy getting his fingers shot off and Nick being shot in the neck.
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