Trivia

The entire film was shot using real locations. No sets were used.

This was Heath Ledger's first American movie.

Heath Ledger improvised the moment where Patrick starts playing with the fire.

The school used in the film is Stadium High School located in Tacoma, Washington. The school was first built as a grand, chateau-style railroad station hotel, but after it suffered fire damage, it was renovated into a high school.

Heath Ledger beat out Josh Hartnett and Ashton Kutcher for the role of Patrick.