The film reunited director Carl Franklin and star Denzel Washington, who had previously collaborated on the 1995 film Devil in a Blue Dress.

The movie was remade in India in 2005 under the title Zeher.

WAP and Java mobile phone games based on the film were released in the UK in partnership with O2 and Momentum Pictures, produced by Kalador Entertainment Inc.

On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 65% approval rating based on 150 reviews, with critics summarizing it as a 'fun and stylish thriller if you can get past the contrivances.'

Roger Ebert praised the film's stylish approach to genre material and highlighted its Florida Keys setting as a strength, despite acknowledging the plot 'cheerfully piles on the contrivances.'

The film won Best Theatrical Film at the 2004 Black Reel Awards, and Sanaa Lathan won Best Actress at the same ceremony.