 Further inspiration for the film came from coverage of the trial of Charles Manson.Using the high publicity generated from the trial, Durston rewrote the script, creating the character Horace Bones, a Manson-like leader of a Satanic cult of hippies that terrorizes the town.According to Durston, the character Horace Bones created a real threat to the town as well as adding scenes that genuinely shocked the audience.