The basis of the film's script was originally meant for the third Silent Night, Deadly Night film, but ended up being used here after the makers of that film turned the original script down.
This marks the first time in the series that doesn't involve a killer Santa.
Screenwriter Zeph E. Daniel incorporated several ideas and scenarios that he had originally envisioned for his previous film, Society (1989), but had been unable to fit into the storyline. This film's U.S. release would predate that of Society by nearly two years.
This marks the first of two times Clint Howard plays a character named Ricky. He is the only actor to play him more than once (not counting archive footage). It is unclear if he is playing the same character from the first two films.
When Ricky turns on the television in Kim's apartment, then laughingly says "Santa Claus killer!" the footage shown is from the beginning of Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out! (1989)