The last MGM/United Artists release to be released on home video by CBS/Fox Video.
The movie was originally supposed to go straight to video. However, director Gary Sherman felt that the movie was good and strong enough to go into a general theater release. MGM was more interested in putting the film direct to video on account of the lucrative profits it stood to make from it. Nevertheless, MGM allowed the movie to go into a limited theater release of about 200 theaters over a weekend. The movie made four million dollars in that one weekend prompting Sherman to push for a wider release. However, MGM eventually declined and put the movie straight to video and on HBO from which they made a substantial amount of money.
Richard is loosely based on Richard Ramirez, the notorious "Night Stalker" who killed fourteen people in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas between April 1984 and August 1985. Victims reported the smell of "Leather" and had scary eyes.
In Katherine and Lisa's apartment, there is a very prominent black and white photo of Katherine and a presumably a toddler aged Lisa. In real life, that photo was of Cheryl Ladd and her daughter Jordan Ladd.