American film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum used the term "Acid Western" to describe this film as well as the Jim Jarmusch film "Dead Man." The term "acid western" was first coined by film critic Pauline Kael in reference to Alejandro Jodorowsky's film "El Topo."
Robert Downey, Jr., the son of the writer-director of the film, has an uncredited role as a Quasimodo-like child. Elsie Downey who played "the Woman" was Robert Downey Sr.'s wife. Also in the cast were Allyson Downey and Stacy Sheehan, Downey Sr.'s daughter and niece.
Toni Basil, the singer of the hit 1981 song "Mickey," appears as "Indian Girl" in this film.