But in the original script someone who may or may not be an assassination target was identified only as a businessman,

It was a very concise, taut script, ... I simply chose not to have a standard car chase or any of that nonsense. I felt it was all about what's going on between these two characters. And the moment they're separated, I want to figure out how to get them back together again. I've actually had a lot of people thanking me for not making the movie go any longer than it had to.

It's a thriller, it's definitely not a horror film, but it has enough of the elements that also work in horror films like suspense.

It's obviously not buckets of blood; it's a psychological thriller, ... For me, it was kind of an announcement that I can step out of the horror context and hold my own with the best of them.

Everybody's making horror films and, to me, not especially well. I don't know if it's (due to) the corporations taking over studios or what it is. But it really calls for some young filmmakers to come in and just do something from their hearts.

Everyone from Tom Cruise to Jude Law was talked about for this role - and not everyone was available, and some we couldn't afford.