The series is adapted from Melissa Moore's 2018 true-crime podcast Happy Face and her 2009 autobiography Shattered Silence, co-written with M. Bridget Cook. Moore is the real-life daughter of Keith Hunter Jesperson, known as the Happy Face killer.

Development began in September 2020 when Jennifer Cacicio and Robert and Michelle King were reported to be developing the project for CBS All Access, before it was officially greenlit by Paramount+ in October 2021.

Dennis Quaid signed on in February 2024 to play the Happy Face killer, with Annaleigh Ashford cast the same month as his daughter Melissa Moore.

James Wolk and Tamera Tomakili joined the cast in March 2024 as Melissa's husband Ben and her friend/producer Ivy, respectively.

Principal photography took place in Vancouver from March 19 to June 19, 2024.

In May 2024, some scenes were filmed at New Westminster City Hall, which stood in for locations in Texas.

Michael Showalter served as an executive producer on the series and directed the first episode.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a 57% approval rating from 23 critics with an average score of 6.5/10, while Metacritic gave it a weighted score of 55 out of 100 based on 13 reviews, indicating mixed reception; the series was canceled after one season in July 2025.