Director J. Lee Thompson fell ill during the making of this film, the picture was finished by second unit director, Robert C. Ortwin Jr..
This movie represented the eighth and penultimate of nine teamings of director 'J Lee Thompson' with star actor Charles Bronson. Prior to this movie they had made together St. Ives (1976), The White Buffalo (1977), Cabo Blanco (1980), 10 to Midnight (1983), The Evil That Men Do (1984), Murphy's Law (1986) and Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987). After this picture, they made their final collaboration, Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects (1989).
The cult compound scenes in the desert is actually a Christian camp in Acton, CA. The location is open for rent with old stone rooms to stay in, buildings and a chapel. The location was also used in the 1980 TV movie The Enola Gay, along with an episode of Knight Rider.
The elders of this movie's religious groups are played by three stars of old Western movies, Charles Dierkop, Jeff Corey and John Ireland.
The three red Autocar semi trucks in the chase scene are the three trucks Sylvester Stallone used in the filming of the movie "Over the Top". The painted signs "Hawk Hauling"on the doors were covered with signs that said "Colorado water company". One truck is currently being restored by a private owner.