The mention of 59 died to save 1 in a mine disaster, is actually based on a real life mining disaster at the Jokerville Mine, in Crested Butte, Colorado. The disaster occurred on January 24, 1884.
Many references to the popular TV franchise Law & Order (1990) are made, including the infamous "Dun! Dun!"
When the alien transforms into Harry it is in the same way that David transformed into a werewolf in An American Werewolf in London (1981).
Alan Tudyk opens a coffin during a funeral service, exposing the dead body to the widow and shocking the bereaved attendees. He did exactly the same thing in Death at a Funeral (2007).
While Asta (Sara Tomko) and "Harry" (Alan Tudyk) are fighting during the autopsy, he says, "I am smarter than you....Don't feel bad; its just the facts. Once you accept it you will stop fighting me," and her rejoinder is, "You want facts? OK, I'll give you two: you're kind of a dick." The last name of the actor who plays Harry is in fact pronounced "two-dick." (The second fact is that Sam loved his life and had no reason to kill himself.)