Writer Sadie Katz loosely based the movie on a break-up in her own life.
Sadie mentions Misery (1990), saying Kathy Bates was "very good in it". Billy Zane, who plays Kevin, worked with Bates in Titanic (1997). Additionally, Kevin's neighbor, Mrs. Wilkes, has the same surname as Bates' character in 'Misery'.