filmed entirely at universal studios, "the 'burbs" presented technical and logistical problems for dante and the crew. "i can't think of many pictures since "lifeboat" that all take place in the same area," dante said as production got under way. "there was a lot of temptation to broaden it and go outside the neighborhood, but it seemed to violate the spirit of the piece. it's almost the kind of thing that could be a stage play except that you could never do on-stage what we've done in this movie."