The cigar that the cigar-smoking man is smoking at the motel is a Croatian Handelsgold.
The movie shares several similarities to "From dusk till dawn". Beside the movie is in the style of a grindhouse production, it starts of as a kidnapping movie close to the Mexican border and takes a sudden turn to a movie about two 'brohers' in a battle against the undead. The main villain is named Togaio, a possible homage to the nightclub in "From dusk till dawn".
The cook in the bar, played by Jeff Motherhead, is a nod to Steven Seagals character Casey Ryback in the "Under Siege" movies. He is also called Casey, has a ponytail, performs the same Aikido inspired moves and has lines regarding Buddhism and peace. Seagals character Casey Ryback was the cook of the submarine in "Under Siege".