The character of Amber Caesar was inspired by a real life person that director and writer Christopher M. Cline was actually in a relationship with. Several of the betrayals that befall Khane Black in the film actually befell Cline in the relationship. Amber's referenced, but never shown, psychotic family is also inspired by real people, who performed similar acts of cruelty upon their daughter, and others.
The film's cinematography style and several key plot details were inspired by Orson Welles visionary masterpiece "Citizen Kane". Every character in the film shares a direct reference, in both their names and character traits, to either the film itself, or someone involved in either the creation or slander of the film as referenced in "The Battle Over Citizen Kane".