Susan Sarandon was initially reluctant to tackle the role of the grieving mother in the film, as she's played similar parts in recent years, most notably in Moonlight Mile (2002) and In the Valley of Elah (2007). She was impressed with Writer and Director Shana Feste's eccentric script, and the fact that the film would shoot close to her New York City area house on a quick twenty-eight-day schedule was also appealing. Still, it took a phone call from Pierce Brosnan (who had just signed on to co-star) to finally convince her to commit to the film.
Although Johnny Simmons is four years older than his Aaron Taylor-Johnson, he plays his younger brother.
The film cast includes one Oscar winner: Susan Sarandon; and two Oscar nominees: Carey Mulligan and Michael Shannon.