originally titled "california", the script was written by tim metcalfe with stephen levy in 1987. metcalfe later commented their intentions were "to scare an audience, to comment on our national obsession with 'true crime' stories, and to punish myself for my morbid preoccupation with the subject of murder and murderers." the script was optioned in november 1990 by propaganda films, by request of director dominic sena. sena would go on to mention his positive impression on the script was mainly based on the premise and the character of early grayce.