Audio problem: The FBI agent is in pursuit of a suspect in a hospital, once he enters the stairwell he draws his Glock handgun, and a click can be heard for a safety disengaging. Glocks are striker fired, they contain no external safeties that can be manipulated that would cause a sound. A sound can also be heard after the gun is already drawn from the holster, representing a holster draw sound. (00:22:22)
Continuity mistake: Shen starts fighting some people in the building with a suit case and an umbrella. At one point he's holding the tip of the umbrella against the black guy's chest with his arm almost fully outstretched. The end of his umbrella is against the right side of the man's tie. When it cuts to the next shot, the end of the umbrella is now on the left side of the man's tie, and Shen's arm is bent in more with him closer. (00:10:16)
Other mistake: Daniel realises that Adereth gave him his own passport. When he looks at it, notice the machine code line; it's the passport of someone born on April 30, 1963, far off from Daniel's age, and more importantly, not matching the ID's date. October 10th 1982. (00:20:30)
Factual error: The movie is set in 1988, but the hurricane mentioned ("Jodie") is from 1977. (00:15:20)
Visible crew/equipment: As the camera moves forward in the opening shot, a clear reflection of a film light can be seen on the side of the fire engine.
Plot hole: The judge was reading from a newspaper that had "New York" and 2015 on the last page, suggesting this is the movie's setting. The article states, " The murderer of the Jeeter girl was executed this morning..." (six years after his conviction in 2009). New York's death penalty was ruled unconstitutional in 2004 and 2007 and is considered abolished. (Although the law remains on the book, it cannot be implemented until/unless it is revised/ rewritten to be constitutional). (00:16:11 - 00:33:28)
Continuity mistake: When Charlie throws Scott over the balcony, he crashes into the chandelier and it partially tears away from the ceiling. Sparks ensue, but the light remains fully functional. The camera switches to Scott on the floor then back to Charlie where the chandelier can be seen worth all but one light out. There is no visible difference in the room lighting. Later, when Charlie is chasing Scott and Annie with the shotgun, Charlie screams "Lights out!" and shoots a fully functional chandelier.
Continuity mistake: After the cartoon segment, Deni entertains some playful banter with his girlfriend and takes off, putting a shirt on while he runs. When the neighbour asks him "Late again?", the guitar strap is on opposite sides of the instrument as the editing switches to a reverse shot. (00:06:40)
Revealing mistake: When Anita goes to destroy their getaway car you see her pour gasoline all over the roof and hood. Then when she lights it on fire it's only burning inside the car. (01:06:40)
Other mistake: Glen/Charlie poured gasoline all over the vehicle he killed Sandra in - including its soft convertible top - but the flames stayed around the car's perimeter. (00:50:54 - 00:51:26)
Continuity mistake: For a second time in the movie, someone buzzes June on the intercom. She tries to overcome her fears and get out of the apartment, but can't. She shuts the door, leans with the left hand on the doorframe by the chain, and lowers her arm. In the next shot, Naomi Watts is breathing deeply still with her hand by the chain. (00:06:05)
Continuity mistake: The amount of blood on 10-year-old Miguel's face and neck after his "jump in" is not consistent. Sometimes there is more (or less) blood on his cheeks and neck and sometimes it appears splattered compared to large areas diluted with blood. The intensity/color of the blood also changes - sometimes it is very red but other times it is paler. The cut on his left eyebrow apparently was not on the far left corner yet sometimes the blood started there; other times, the blood started almost to the middle of his eyebrow. Sometimes he has blood below his eyebrow. Despite all the blood on his face and neck (down to the sagging T-shirt), there is no blood on his white or light grey T-shirt. He also does not get any blood on his jacket. Miguel was repeatedly punched then kicked by several large, muscular adult gang members for 13 seconds (to become a member of the MS-13 gang) but is unrealistically able to get right up then go and pick up and carry his dog - with no limping or signs of pain. (00:29:15)
Continuity mistake: The cigarette the homeless man offered to Frank had a brown filter but was white when Frank had it in his mouth. (00:39:10)
Continuity mistake: After fifteen years, Bethany and Clara meet in unlikely circumstances, They are having a drink together on the porch; throughout the whole scene Clara's glass appears and disappears randomly, sometimes literally full to the brim. (00:02:15)
Continuity mistake: Mario was chewing a mouthful, then lifted his drink to wash down the food, but when the camera shifted, he was back to chewing a mouthful. (00:01:59)
Continuity mistake: The protagonist woke up in the lobby, where he went to wait for the return of his daughter and wife. He goes to the receptionist, talks to her, mentions the doctor. She says she'll have the nurse station pass a message. Sam Worthington in the reaction shot has taken both hands off the counter. Cut, and he is waiting and staring at the nurse, but with the right hand on the counter. (00:34:25)
Continuity mistake: The bartender pours two beers that have no foam on the top. When the beers are set on the table they have about one inch of foam. When the camera angle changes there is no foam. (01:18:45)
Deliberate mistake: Carson's [John Travolta] cat Raymond did not appear to be in the pet carrier when he was running out of the building to his car or when walking to his office and placing the carrier on the desk. (00:02:15 - 00:03:30)
Other mistake: From the time Eliza exits the bar until she drives away, there are discrepancies in the scenery: there are or aren't parking spaces along the road; there's a lot of space between her truck and the truck in the next parking space, but not when she's backing out; the man rattling bottles by the garbage cans is further from the building and her truck when she's getting in and should be visible when she's backing out but isn't; her truck's rear end would be partially blocking the traffic lane, etc. (00:03:15)
Factual error: Mohegan Sun casino is in the state of Connecticut. Connecticut does not have legalized sports betting and did not have it in 2012, when the film is set, therefore Julia would not have been able to place Howard's bet.