In some sources Tom Savini is credited as the film's make-up effects artist and some video prints still bear his credit as "Special Effects Director". Based on Savini, he was only a consultant and threatened to sue over the use of his name to promote the film. Savini said that what he did consisted solely of advice: "I'd tell them that something needed to look more organic, or how something should be lit. But none of the effects work in the film is my own". Savini's name is excluded from the credits in the subsequent Blu-ray releases (U.S. "35th Anniversary Edition" from Code Red and the UK release from 88 Films).
The film's original UK distributor was sent to prison for releasing an unapproved version.
4 time Academy Award winning American director Joel Coen was originally the editor for this film but was fired early in the process.
Director Romano Scavolini claims that all the main special make-up effects for the film were designed and created by Tom Savini and only the prosthetic effects were done by other people (mainly the late Leslie Larraine in Florida). There are also photos placing Savini on set. Savini has distanced himself from the project, saying he was just a consultant for the film. Ed French (who supervised the special make-up effects for the New York sequences) also says that Savini didn't do any hands-on work, only giving advice and direction to the special effects crew.
Made under the title "Dark Games."